The Ultimate List of the Best Picture Books, Endorsed by Kids And Parents

Inside: To make this list of the best picture books for kids, every picture book had to earn the seal of approval from kids of all ages…and from parents, too.

Here’s the problem with most lists of the best picture books: Those lists typically leave out two of the most important criteria for deciding whether a picture book really is the best.

1. Do kids actually enjoy this book? (For example, sometimes adults like books with a “message” even if kids find them boring.)
2. As a parent, is this book something you’d want to spend money on and let into your home, knowing that you may end up reading it to your kid 72 billion times a day?

Because if as you’re reading a “best picture book,” you find yourself fantasizing about setting it on fire and roasting marshmallows over the flames – then it’s not the best picture book for your collection.

Kids are no dummies. When there’s a book you despise reading, they’ll eventually pick up on that.

Reading works best when it’s something you look forward to so you can be close to your child and feel connected. Not so much when you’re gritting your teeth and skipping every third word to get through it as fast as possible.

Note: If your child has progressed from picture books to chapter books, check out the special bonus list of the best chapter books for kids after this list!

How This List of the Best Picture Books Is Different

Below, you’ll find two “best of” sections. The first section will give you the absolute best picture books known to mankind, according to my stringent criteria, which I’ll get to in a minute. The second section will give you my themed lists for different situations, from the best books about kindness to the books that will make your child feel loved.

But how are my book lists different?

• Every time I put together a new list of the best picture books in a certain category, my kids and I read hundreds of books to find the best. Each list takes months to finalize because the librarian looks at us funny if we walk out with more than 50 books at a time. What makes it to the final list is just the best of the best.
• We have a wide range of ages in our family, from infant to tween – and a healthy variety of reading tastes, too. And so I can’t guarantee that every kid will love every book on these lists of the best picture books, but I can tell you that every one of these books wowed my test audience of four very different kids, plus me and my husband. I’m also pretty annoying about telling friends and family to give these books as birthday and holiday and “just because” presents, and every single time they report back: Everyone loved the book! The kid and the parents.
• I’m kind of obsessed with picture books, which means I’ve read thousands and thousands of picture books as an adult. I’m also the pickiest one in my family. If a book doesn’t have a good hook or fizzles out at the end or is just kind of blah, I’m ruthless about getting that book out of our house as soon as possible.

Life is too short for books you don’t love.

Related: It’s Science: Reading Aloud to Your Kids Makes Them Smarter And Kinder {Printable}

Photo by Kelly Sikkema

48 All-Time Best Picture Books Most Loved by Kids And Parents

Here are the absolute best picture books for kids that meet the tough criteria above. To be clear, these books aren’t all award winners, and you won’t see the titles most children’s literature gurus would put on a “best picture books” list.

But the point of this list isn’t to share which books professionals think are the best. You could find that anywhere. The point of this list is to give you the tried-and-true children’s stories most loved by kids and parents.

In our family, we find ourselves coming back to these books again and again. We have most memorized by heart. And when my toddler comes up to me holding one of these books, I smile because I look forward to reading it for the 72 billionth time.

Note: If your child has progressed from picture books to chapter books, check out the special bonus list of the best chapter books for kids after this list!

Note: indicates my family’s absolute top favorites on the list. These are the books my kids can’t get enough of!

1. Bark, George – Even though we’ve read this picture book hundreds of times now (if not thousands!), my kids still giggle every time.
2. Bear Snores On – Babies love the rhythm of this book, and it stands the test of time as they grow into toddlers and preschoolers.
3. The Book With No Pictures – This picture book (without pictures) will crack your kid up! For some read-aloud inspiration, check out this video of the author reading it to a group of kids.
4. The Carrot Seed – This book shows kids the power of a fierce belief in yourself even when everyone else thinks you can’t do it.

5. Charlotte and the Quiet Place – Charlotte is a little girl who likes quiet, but everywhere she goes, she’s overwhelmed with noise. The book steps through what Charlotte does to find a quiet space and how to practice mindful breathing. We breathe along with Charlotte, and my little ones can’t help but calm down as a result.
6. Click, Clack, Moo – This is a silly story that everyone loves, and who knows – it may even help prepare kids for the day they need to ask for a raise.
7. Dragon Was Terrible – This is one of the best stories I’ve seen that helps kids assign positive intent to someone they’re not getting along with. Plus, it’s hilarious.
8. Duck for President – The humor in this book crosses party lines, and kids learn a valuable lesson about seeking fame.

9. Ducks Don’t Wear Socks – This is out of print, but it’s well worth getting a gently used copy on Amazon. Perfect for kids who could stand to loosen up and get in touch with their silly side.
10. Elephant and Piggie – You can’t go wrong with this series. Technically, they’re easy readers not picture books, but even babies love these stories.
11. Everywhere Babies – Babies don’t judge, and they love looking at all kinds of babies.
12. Extra Yarn – This is a quirky, lovely story about what happens when you throw kindness around like confetti. My kids ask for this one nearly every day!

13. George and Martha – Kids may not pick up on the dry humor at first, but parents definitely will.
14. Good Night, Gorilla – Forget Curious George. If you’re looking for a mischievous primate, this gorilla’s got your back.
15. Horrible Bear – This picture book does an excellent job of teaching kids how to assume the best in others while also making you giggle.
16. How to Put Your Parents to Bed – In this book, the child is the one putting the parents to bed. And so our favorite time to read this book is to get the wiggles out well before bedtime. Here’s how.

17. I Am a Bunny – This simple, soothing text moves through each of the seasons until the end, where the bunny cuddles up for a long winter sleep, looking forward to spring. Perfect for calming kids down before sleep!
18. I Just Want to Say Good Night – If you have a child who stalls at bedtime, this is a must read. Perfect for toddlers!
19. I Want My Hat Back – Kids love the twist at the end of this picture book. Even though we’ve read this book countless times, my kids still giggle at the end!
20. Library Lion – Such a silly idea when you look at it objectively: a lion in a library? But this is one of the sweetest stories you’ll ever read.

21. Little Excavator – Toddlers and preschoolers especially love this picture book because of the fun sound effects – but also because they can 100 percent relate to being told you’re not big enough to do something.
22. Mrs. Biddlebox – This is possibly my favorite picture book of all time, and I don’t say that lightly. Unfortunately, it’s out of print. The good news is you can get a used copy in good condition on Amazon. Mrs. Biddlebox wakes up in a bad mood, but instead of sitting around like a grouch, she tackles that bad mood and turns it around in time for sleep. We reach for this book anytime my little ones and I have butted heads during the day, and it’s the perfect tool to help us process the bad mojo and end the day on a positive note.
23. My Rhinoceros – This story makes no logical sense at first, but the absurdity is what makes it awesome. Your kids will giggle, and so will you.
24. Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed – Plant the seed with your kids before they’re teenagers that fitting in isn’t the goal in life.

25. No Matter What – Because of this picture book, “no matter what” has become a common refrain in our house. It’s the perfect phrase to remind my kids of my unconditional love for them, and saying it immediately conjures up this sweet story we’ve shared together countless times.
26. Not a Box – This is a great little book about the power of your imagination.
27. The Old Woman Who Named Things – This beautifully told story will warm the hearts of all ages.
28. Our Tree Named Steve – I know this is just a book about a tree, but I cry every time and then end up with a big watery smile at the end. If you’ve ever felt The Giving Tree is depressing and/or creepy, you need this book instead. (And if you have no idea what I’m talking about with The Giving Tree, here’s a quick summary of why some people don’t appreciate it.)

29. The Paper Bag Princess – This should be required reading for every girl before she starts dating.
30. Peek-a-Who? – This is a simple story that babies love, but because it has 10 words total, my older kids love “reading” it to the youngest even if they can’t read yet.
31. Plant a Kiss – My whole family has this book memorized (even the toddler’s got most of it down). A powerful message of putting out kindness into the world and expecting nothing in return. The world lost an amazing gift when Amy Krouse Rosenthal left us.
32. Princess in Training – Of all the alternative princess picture books out there, this is our favorite. And I’ll never forget that one of my middle child’s first words was chiming in with the “Hi-yah”s in this book!

33. The Rabbit Listened – I never get tired of reading this picture book to my kids. It’s a simple but perfect example of how to be there for someone who’s struggling, without trying to jump right into fixing it. My kids ask for this one at least once a day. A must have!
34. Rosie Revere, Engineer – The perfect rhythm of this picture book puts my little ones to sleep every night. We love Ada Twist, Scientist, and Iggy Peck, Architect, too,
    but Rosie is our absolute favorite from this author.
35. A Sick Day for Amos McGee – Being a friend means showing up, and no other picture book demonstrates that as beautifully as this story does.
36. Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon – This is perfect for preparing kids how to handle themselves when another kid picks on them. Poor Ronald Durkin.

37. Stick and Stone – This is a cute story about the power of friendship, and adults love the puns.
38. The Story of Ferdinand – This classic picture book shows kids the importance of staying true to yourself.
39. The Stray Dog – Kids never seem to get tired of this award-winning picture book, which isn’t always a given with the award winners. And it’s such a perfectly sweet story that you’ll love it, too.
40. Strictly No Elephants – This cute book helps kids think about the ramifications of excluding others and how that makes others feel.

41. The Stuff of Stars – This is a gorgeous, gorgeous picture book that will help your child understand her place in the world. I’ll never forget the first time we read this one, my 5-year-old turned to me and said, “Wow. I loved that.” And every time we’ve read it since, it’s instilled that same sense of awe.
42. Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes – Young kids love this book for the diverse pictures of babies from all over the world. Don’t forget to count or tickle your little one’s toes for every “ten little fingers and ten little toes” refrain! Guaranteed giggles.
43. That’s Me Loving You – This picture book has magic woven into each page. My kids ask for this one every day, and I never get tired of reading it. It’s especially perfect for kids who have separation anxiety when you’re away from each other during the day or if you travel for work.
44. There Might Be Lobsters – Because of this heartwarming story, anytime anyone in our family is feeling nervous about something, one of us will say “There might be lobsters!” You’ll understand after you read it. :-)

45. We Don’t Eat Our Classmates – This is a hilarious picture book that shows kids the true meaning of the Golden Rule. Humor + powerful life lesson = SCORE!
46. What Do You Do With a Problem? – This is the perfect story to teach kids the power of perseverance.
47. Wolfie the Bunny – This is the best picture book about being a big sibling that I’ve ever come across. Kids and adults will laugh out loud at this one!
48. Yes Day! – Because of this book, we now have a tradition in our family that on your birthday, you get a “yes day.” This is a quick but perfect story from one of our favorite children’s authors of all time, Amy Krouse Rosenthal.

The Best Picture Books for Every Situation

We may not have every situation covered quite yet, but we’re working on it. We focus on a topic for a few months, read hundreds of books related to that topic, then I publish the cream of the crop.

To suggest a book list idea, let me know in the comments.

• Board books: The Best Baby Board Books That Will Delight Your Baby (And You)
• Bedtime stories: 10 Soothing Bedtime Stories for Kids Who Fight Sleep
• Christmas and winter holidays: The Ultimate List of the Best Christmas Books for Kids
• Interactive books: 12 Best Interactive Books for Kids That Will Get the Wiggles Out
• Friendship: The Ultimate List of the Best Picture Books About Friendship
• Kindness: The Ultimate List of the Best Children’s Books About Kindness
• Love: 10 Picture Books About Love That Will Make Your Kids Feel Absolutely Loved
• Toddlers: The Ultimate List of the Best Books for 2-Year-Olds

Bonus! 12 Awesome Chapter Books for Kids

No child is too old to listen to a great picture book. Some high school teachers who are members of this community even read one picture book every day to their students! But if you’re on the lookout for awesome chapter books for kids, I gotcha covered.

In our family, my 12-year-old still loves when I read picture books aloud, but she also devours chapter books any chance she gets. She passes me her favorites, then when I’m done I give them back and she rereads them. In other words, we’ve read a lot of chapter books for kids too.

You can’t go wrong with these chapter books for kids:

1. The Princess in Black – For kids just starting to make the transition to chapter books, this is a fun series about a monster-fighting princess who leads a double life. Both girls and boys love this series!
2. Because of Winn Dixie – In this sweet chapter book, Opal has just moved to a small town with her dad, and her whole life changes when she crosses paths with a stray dog in the grocery store. I’ve read this aloud to my kids three times now, and the story captures their little hearts every time!
3. The Wild Robot – This is a heartwarming story of a shipwrecked robot named Roz who has to learn how to survive in the wilderness. Our whole family fell in love with Roz! While there are some tense scenes, Roz rises above it all to demonstrate the power of kindness and community. After your child finishes this one, expect them to be anxious for the sequel right away: The Wild Robot Escapes.

4. Wonder – A powerful book about kindness and acceptance. If you read this aloud with your child, you’ll end up having so many important conversations. If your child loves this one, check out the companion books next: Auggie & Me and White Bird.
5. The Dragon With a Chocolate Heart – In this fun fantasy, a young dragon gets tricked into drinking enchanted hot chocolate that turns her into a human. My daughter loved this so much that when she finished it, she immediately went back to the start and reread it. The next in this series is The Girl with the Dragon Heart.
6. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library – Twelve seventh-graders win a chance to spend a night in their town’s brand new public library, built by billionaire game-maker Luigi Lemoncello. Mr. Lemoncello then issues them a challenge: Solve the puzzles and riddles he’s left in the library using only what’s in the library, and they’ll be the new spokesperson for Mr. Lemoncello’s company. This is kind of like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory set in modern times and inside a library. Kids love solving the puzzles as they read, and reluctant readers will identify with the main character Kyle who isn’t super into books. When we lend this fun series to friends and neighbors, they gobble it right up.

7. Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow – Morrigan is cursed, and everyone blames her for everything that goes wrong. Because of her curse, she’s also doomed to die at midnight on her 11th birthday, but a mysterious person named Jupiter North shows up just in the nick of time. My daughter raved about this one so much that I had to pick it up myself, and I adored it, too! After Nevermoor, you’ll want to read the next in the series: Wundersmith.
8. The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street – In this story, a family of seven finds out their landlord will be kicking them out of their beloved home right after Christmas. The five Vanderbeeker children are heartbroken, so they come up with a plan to save their home. This was such a heartwarming read! After you fall in love with this family, you’ll want to read the rest of the series.
9. Front Desk – Mia lives in a motel where her parents work. While her parents clean rooms, Mia decides to manage the front desk and do her part to make the guests’ stays enjoyable. This is a powerful story of what it means to treat others with kindness and respect and of doing what’s right even when it’s hard. My oldest was super excited to hear there’s a sequel to this one too!

10. Book Scavenger – Emily has moved 8 times in 12 years. But this time she’s actually excited to move because she’ll be in San Francisco, which is home to her idol Garrison Griswold, book publisher and the creator of Emily’s favorite puzzle game called Book Scavenger. But just when Emily arrives and right before Griswold is to announce the details of his latest and greatest game, he’s attacked and left in critical condition. Together with her new friend James, a fellow puzzle-lover who lives in her building, Emily has to solve the mystery before the people who attacked Griswold catch up to Emily and James too. If your child loves solving puzzles and codes, press this book into their hands, along with the rest of the series.
11. The One and Only Ivan – Ivan is a silverback gorilla who lives at Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, a run-down circus-themed roadside attraction. For years, Ivan is bored but content in this bizarre flavor of captivity for a wild animal. But when he meets a baby elephant named Ruby, he makes an important decision that will change everything. This story is sad in parts but very much worth the read. Such a deeply moving story! If your child loves this book, hand them The One and Only Bob next, which is a follow-up featuring the stray dog named Bob in the first book.
12. Sweep – Nan Sparrow is one of the best “climbing boys” in Victorian London, orphans who do the dangerous work of cleaning chimney flues to protect homes from fire. But she also happens to be a girl. Then one day, she gets caught in a chimney fire. This is a powerful story that touches on some heavy topics, but it’s also infused with an undercurrent of hope that a better life is possible for Nan and her climbing friends. This story will give your child a lot to chew on, plus it’s a fascinating history lesson!

Need More Ideas for the Best Picture Books?

If you’re still thirsty for good picture books, check out these lists from people who know a lot about picture books for kids: Caldecott Award Picture Books; New York Public Library: 100 Great Children’s Books; and A Mighty Girl: Top 100 Picture Books.

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Your Turn

What would make your list of the best picture books? Share in a comment below!

Hi, I'm Kelly. I'm a mom of four, a recovering perfectionist, and the author of Happy You, Happy Family. Parenting is hard enough without all the guilt we heap on top of ourselves. So let's stop trying to be perfect parents and just be real ones. Sound good? Join my mailing list and as a bonus, you'll get 25+ incredibly helpful cheat sheets that will ease your parenting struggles.