So, let’s get to it. This is our list of the most popular picture books that all will love reading.
Books are an important investment
We have all heard about the benefits of reading to children. A study published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics quantifies the benefits through number of words. They argue that children’s book reading sessions are more lexically diverse than standard caregiver-child dialogues and have significant benefits for children’s vocabulary development.
Here’s the gist
According the the journal article, parents who read 1 picture book with their children every day expose them to about 78,000 words a year. Cumulatively, over the 5 years before kindergarten entry, they estimate that children from literacy-rich homes hear a whopping 1.4 million more words during storybook reading than children who are never read to.
(Source)
1. Oh The Places You’ll Go
Dr. Seuss’s wonderfully wise Oh, the Places You’ll Go! is the perfect send-off for grads—from nursery school, high school, college, and beyond!
2. The interrupting Chicken
Surprise! the little red chicken is back and as endearingly silly as ever in David Ezra Stein’s follow-up to the Caldecott Honor–winning Interrupting Chicken.
3. The Word Collector
Some people collect stamps. Some people collect coins. Some collect art. And Jerome? Jerome collected words.
4. The Good Egg
Meet the good egg. He’s a verrrry good egg indeed. But trying to be a so good is hard when everyone else is plain ol’rotten.
5. Little Blue Truck Leads the Way
Beep! Beep! Beep! Meet Blue. A muddy country road is no match for this littel pick up, untill he gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of the muck.
6. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish
From counting to opposites to Dr. Seuss’s signature silly rhymes, this book has everything a beginning reader needs! Meet the bumpy Wump and the singing Ying, and even the winking Yink who drinks pink ink.
7. Dragons Love Tacos
A #1 New York Times bestselling phenomenon, this deliciously funny read-aloud from the creators of Robo-Sauce and Secret Pizza Party will make you laugh until spicy salsa comes out of your nose.
8. Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late
Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! is a bestselling children’s picture book by Mo Willems. Released by Disney-Hyperion in 2006, it is part of Willems’s “Pigeon” series.
9. The very hungry caterpillar
THE all-time classic picture book, from generation to generation, sold somewhere in the world every 30 seconds!
10. Everything Is Mama
Jimmy Fallon was on a mission with his first children’s book to have every baby’s first word be dada. And it worked! A lot of babies’ first words were DADA. However, everything after that was mama.
11. Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise
Surprise! The little red chicken is back — and as endearingly silly as ever — in David Ezra Stein’s follow-up to the Caldecott Honor–winning Interrupting Chicken.
12. The Day the Crayons Came Home
From Maroon Crayon, who was lost beneath the sofa cushions and then broken in two after Dad sat on him; to poor Turquoise, whose head is now stuck to one of Duncan’s stinky socks after they both ended up in the dryer together; to Pea Green, who knows darn well that no kid likes peas and who ran away.
13. My Mouth Is A Volcano
Louis always interrupts! All of his thoughts are very important to him, and when he has something to say, his words rumble and grumble in his tummy, they wiggle and jiggle on his tongue and then they push on his teeth, right before he ERUPTS (or interrupts).
14. Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker
Lacey Walker loves to talk. She talks all day, and sometimes all night. But when she loses her voice, Lacey learns the importance of listening. She learns about all of the things she misses out on every day. This relatable picture book teaches an important life lesson for preschoolers and older.
15. From Head to Toe
Giraffes can bend their necks, monkeys can wave their hands, and donkeys can kick their legs. And so can you! Throughout this interactive board book, the animals of From Head to Toe invite young readers to copy their antics as they play.
16. Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?
Bill Martin’s playful story introduces a parade of rowdy zoo animals, all illustrated in Eric Carle’s instantly recognisable, clean, crisp style. A perfect addition to this fun, noisy tale is a ten button sound panel.
17. Rumble in the Jungle
Join this rhyming safari and meet everyone from the elphing elephant to the gangly giraffe, and maybe even the terrible tiger!
18. ABC Animal Jamboree
Explore the animal alphabet from Angelfish to Zebra in this rhyming romp! Critically acclaimed team Giles Andreae and David Wojtowycz have combined the popular poems of their bestselling picture books Commotion in the Ocean and Rumble in the Jungle into one dazzling collection!
19. Numbers, Colors, Shapes
Your little one will soon learn their first numbers, shapes and colors with this bright board book. There are 100 color pictures which they will love to look at, and 100 simple first words to learn, too.
20. The Serious Goose
Meet a very Serious Goose in late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s first fun and funny picture book! There is nothing silly about this goose. You cannot make her laugh, so don’t even try!
21. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
Pete the Cat goes walking down the street wearing his brand-new white shoes. Along the way, his shoes change from white to red to blue to brown to WET as he steps in piles of strawberries, blueberries, and other big messes!
22. Good Night Good Night Construction Site
An unabridged board book for kids version of the bestselling, best-beloved hardcover, perfect for small hands! Even the roughest, toughest readers will want to turn off their engines, rest their wheels, and drift to sleep with this sweet and soothing story.
23. I Love You Night and Day
A message of unconditional love through the seasons is wrapped in a warm and exuberant board book-perfect for baby showers, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and love all year round!
24. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
Now the very youngest readers can join in the fun with this Classic Board Book™ edition of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. Full of delightful comedy and high drama, this tale of a brave family’s joyous romp through sweeping landscapes is sure to win new fans.
25. Bathtime Mathtime
Take one messy baby, two busy feet, three rambunctious friends, four wayward ducks, and five floaty bubbles–and get a tubful of fun as one family’s bathtime routine turns into a nightly ritual they can “count on”!
26. Little Penguin Gets the Hiccups
Poor Little Penguin has a major case of the . . . HIC! . . . hiccups. It all started last week on chili night. Since then he’s tried everything to get rid of them, but nothing—HIC!—works. So when his friend Franklin suggests that a good scare might do the trick, Little Penguin is willing to give it a try . . . all he needs is a little help from YOU!
27. Home Sweet Home: a Lift-the-Flap Book
Curious young readers will love to take a journey with Baby Owl as she flies far and wide over the forest and the river, the farm and the mountains, then back to her nest, in this adorable, interactive board book.
28. Never Touch a Dragon
This dragon-themed touch-and-feel book is perfect for young children! They will love reading the funny rhyme that warns of the dangers of touching a dragon and then ignoring the advice! Innovative silicone touches feature throughout the book, with a different texture for children to explore on every spread.
