More wonder-ful, readable picture books?
February 27, 2020 7:59 AM Subscribe
Where The Wild Things Are is just right. Delightful to read aloud, perfect balance of words and pictures per page. Evocative, imaginative illustrations. My two year old and I both love it before bed.
Can you recommend any other kid's books that might provide a similar experience?
I loved the Frog and Toad books as a kid and they're fun to read as an adult. Owl At Home is also excellent.
My kids favorite picture books:
Ganeshas Sweet Tooth
I Just Ate My Friend
My favorite picture book:
Days of the Blackbird
posted by selfnoise at 8:10 AM on February 27, 2020 [3 favorites]
My kids favorite picture books:
Ganeshas Sweet Tooth
I Just Ate My Friend
My favorite picture book:
Days of the Blackbird
posted by selfnoise at 8:10 AM on February 27, 2020 [3 favorites]
Yeah, the Caldecott Medal is awarded annually to the best children’s picture book of the year.
Here’s a list of winners.
The Snowy Day is classic (from the year before the Wild Things!)
There’s also basically everything by Anna Dewdney and Eric Carle.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 8:18 AM on February 27, 2020 [3 favorites]
Here’s a list of winners.
The Snowy Day is classic (from the year before the Wild Things!)
There’s also basically everything by Anna Dewdney and Eric Carle.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 8:18 AM on February 27, 2020 [3 favorites]
Around that age we really loved Blexbolex’s Seasons. Fewer words per page, but I felt the same wonder.
posted by eirias at 8:19 AM on February 27, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by eirias at 8:19 AM on February 27, 2020 [2 favorites]
Everything by Sandra Boynton.
I especially love Barnyard Dance and Your Personal Penguin.
posted by FencingGal at 8:26 AM on February 27, 2020
I especially love Barnyard Dance and Your Personal Penguin.
posted by FencingGal at 8:26 AM on February 27, 2020
Bear Snores On is cute and the poetry is really fun to read aloud. I never got tired of it. Nice art too.
Also, The Mitten has gorgeous art and a cute story.
I didn't have as much success with In the Night Kitchen (also by Sendak) with my kids but my mom tells me it was my favorite at that age.
posted by rouftop at 8:29 AM on February 27, 2020
Also, The Mitten has gorgeous art and a cute story.
I didn't have as much success with In the Night Kitchen (also by Sendak) with my kids but my mom tells me it was my favorite at that age.
posted by rouftop at 8:29 AM on February 27, 2020
"Night House, Bright House" was a hit with my kids.
posted by MonkeyToes at 8:37 AM on February 27, 2020
posted by MonkeyToes at 8:37 AM on February 27, 2020
Dragons Love Tacos has a similar word to picture ratio, and is a fun story!
posted by shortyJBot at 8:37 AM on February 27, 2020
posted by shortyJBot at 8:37 AM on February 27, 2020
Now Open the Box and Down the Back of the Chair are two of my favorite books to read and fit that description.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 8:44 AM on February 27, 2020
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 8:44 AM on February 27, 2020
Each Peach Pear Plum. Ten years later my daughter and I both still know it by heart.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 8:45 AM on February 27, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 8:45 AM on February 27, 2020 [4 favorites]
A little bit older, but not too much, I read these with my boys to help them with their english reading. They're lovely, lovely books:
Hilda
posted by From Bklyn at 8:47 AM on February 27, 2020
Hilda
posted by From Bklyn at 8:47 AM on February 27, 2020
The Owly books and graphic novels are wordless but all about the wonders of nature.
posted by praemunire at 8:49 AM on February 27, 2020
posted by praemunire at 8:49 AM on February 27, 2020
Seconding In the Night Kitchen (also by Sendak) and The Snowy Day. Also Whistle for Willie, City Moon, and All the World.
Sendak is just perfect, hard to match. We have a board book version of Pierre but there are too many words per page for this age, I think.
posted by rustcellar at 8:51 AM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
Sendak is just perfect, hard to match. We have a board book version of Pierre but there are too many words per page for this age, I think.
posted by rustcellar at 8:51 AM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
I came in also to recommend Each Peach, which was an "every night" choice for our kids for years. The same author and illustrator also have The Jolly Postman, which was also a favorite although it did not top Each Peach. The Jolly Postman has all kinds of clever book-within-a-book things, like letters that you remove from an envelope in the book, which kids love.
Also, my kids loved poem books for children. Poetry Speaks to Children is great - it is fun to read with them, but it also comes with a spoken-word CD that they can play and follow along with, which is great for them working on pre-reading on their own. Often if the kids were demanding "one more book" at bedtime (after multiple books), I could bargain with them to read just "one or two poems," which are shorter than reading a new book but were sort of a fun "dessert" after storytime.
posted by Mid at 8:57 AM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
Also, my kids loved poem books for children. Poetry Speaks to Children is great - it is fun to read with them, but it also comes with a spoken-word CD that they can play and follow along with, which is great for them working on pre-reading on their own. Often if the kids were demanding "one more book" at bedtime (after multiple books), I could bargain with them to read just "one or two poems," which are shorter than reading a new book but were sort of a fun "dessert" after storytime.
posted by Mid at 8:57 AM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
William Steig's children's books are delightful (don't blame him for the Shrek movie). My favorite: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble.
ETA: I own a signed copy.
posted by sjswitzer at 9:01 AM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
ETA: I own a signed copy.
posted by sjswitzer at 9:01 AM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
We also loved Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad are Friends. Really, though, any of his books.
posted by sjswitzer at 9:13 AM on February 27, 2020
posted by sjswitzer at 9:13 AM on February 27, 2020
Right now for picture books we really like the Katie Morag books (probably more text-heavy than Where the Wild Things Are, but still fun to read and the illustrations are gorgeous). Also Hairy Maclary, which have wonderful rhythm to read aloud. I also like the Llama Llama books for reading aloud, and in terms of a great bedtime story we read Neil Gaiman's Blueberry Girl every night for about a year, at my kid's request.
posted by cpatterson at 9:27 AM on February 27, 2020
posted by cpatterson at 9:27 AM on February 27, 2020
Any of the "How Do Dinosaurs..." series are amazing. I particularly love the illustrations in How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?
posted by bfranklin at 9:31 AM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by bfranklin at 9:31 AM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
Seconding (nthing?) Arnold Lobel and William Steig—Dr De Soto was a big hit with our kid. Also Tomie De Paola, and Trina Schart Hyman for illustrations. I loved the book Tight Times, but it’s a little heavy. Also some friends gave us The Cat At Night when E was little and he still loves it.
posted by pepper bird at 9:54 AM on February 27, 2020
posted by pepper bird at 9:54 AM on February 27, 2020
When my kids were young, Harold and the Purple Crayon was a favorite.
posted by maurice at 9:56 AM on February 27, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by maurice at 9:56 AM on February 27, 2020 [2 favorites]
My youngest is 25 years old and I still read More More More every now and then for nostalgic reasons. It's just so full of love.
posted by rekrap at 9:56 AM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by rekrap at 9:56 AM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
We (the kid is just 3) really like Jon Klassen's Hat Trilogy. Also the Shape Trilogy. And I'll second the "How Do Dinosaurs" books.
We also get a lot of mileage out of fairly indiscriminate binges at the public library. Recent library hits were Mr. Wuffles and The Night Gardener.
posted by implied_otter at 10:08 AM on February 27, 2020
We also get a lot of mileage out of fairly indiscriminate binges at the public library. Recent library hits were Mr. Wuffles and The Night Gardener.
posted by implied_otter at 10:08 AM on February 27, 2020
Tons of great suggestions above!
Also--if you have a local public library, don't forget to ask the children's librarian for suggestions. They LOVE questions like this!
posted by bookmammal at 10:12 AM on February 27, 2020 [3 favorites]
Also--if you have a local public library, don't forget to ask the children's librarian for suggestions. They LOVE questions like this!
posted by bookmammal at 10:12 AM on February 27, 2020 [3 favorites]
Tiny T Rex
The Antlered Ship
Carmela Full of Wishes
The Golden Glow
The Knight who Said No
The Night Gardener
posted by chuke at 10:25 AM on February 27, 2020
The Antlered Ship
Carmela Full of Wishes
The Golden Glow
The Knight who Said No
The Night Gardener
posted by chuke at 10:25 AM on February 27, 2020
I kind of go by illustrators at this age:
Scott Campbell, especially Hug Machine
Andrea Beaty, famous for her Ada Twist, Scientist books, also has a hilarious series about Ted in a number of different careers.
Dan Yaccarino - the Doug robot series is great.
Anything by Norton Juster.
posted by toastyk at 10:26 AM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
Scott Campbell, especially Hug Machine
Andrea Beaty, famous for her Ada Twist, Scientist books, also has a hilarious series about Ted in a number of different careers.
Dan Yaccarino - the Doug robot series is great.
Anything by Norton Juster.
posted by toastyk at 10:26 AM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
As delightful as Arnold Lobel is, I think his Frog & Toad books probably have too many words on each page for that age?
My kid loved We're Going on a Bear Hunt and The Snowy Day at that age. And All the World is a little long, in terms of there being a lot of pages, but it's beautiful to read and look at.
posted by joyceanmachine at 11:41 AM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
My kid loved We're Going on a Bear Hunt and The Snowy Day at that age. And All the World is a little long, in terms of there being a lot of pages, but it's beautiful to read and look at.
posted by joyceanmachine at 11:41 AM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
Came here to suggest One Snowy Night by Nick Butterworth.
Also, We are in a book! by Mo Willems.
posted by M. at 11:50 AM on February 27, 2020
Also, We are in a book! by Mo Willems.
posted by M. at 11:50 AM on February 27, 2020
10 Minutes Until Bedtime is a great fun book that holds up to rereading over and over and over again. I read this book for years with my two kids, and up until the very end I was still discovering new things in the illustrations.
(For extra fun also get a copy of Good Night Gorilla. It is subtle, but the two books take place in the same neighborhood on the same evening and you can catch glimpses of one from the other.)
posted by Winnie the Proust at 11:52 AM on February 27, 2020 [2 favorites]
(For extra fun also get a copy of Good Night Gorilla. It is subtle, but the two books take place in the same neighborhood on the same evening and you can catch glimpses of one from the other.)
posted by Winnie the Proust at 11:52 AM on February 27, 2020 [2 favorites]
Seconding The House in the Night and Good Night Gorilla. (I wasn't aware of the intertextuality with 10 Minutes Until Bedtime, though, so I'll have to track that one down.) Our kids (3-year-old twins) really like Mo Willems's Pigeon books like The Pigeon Needs a Bath and Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. Also, Divya Srinivasan's Little Owl books, such as Little Owl's Night, are really beautiful. Grumpy Monkey is also great, and as a bonus it helps teach that it's OK to be grumpy sometimes. Taro Gomi's books, such as My Friends, are really pretty as well. Thanks for starting this thread. I'm right there with you in thinking that Where the Wild Things Are is hard to beat.
posted by 6and12 at 1:22 PM on February 27, 2020
posted by 6and12 at 1:22 PM on February 27, 2020
I am fond of Red Knit Cap Girl. It's for sure not Where the Wild Things Are-- nothing is-- but it does create a little world of its own and the images are delightful.
posted by BibiRose at 2:03 PM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by BibiRose at 2:03 PM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
It's always interesting to see what other people like because I & mine like some of these and others leave me cold.
We like the Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson. Some lesser known ones we like (with an emphasis on the ones that *I* like) are Surf's Up by Kwame Alexander, Good Morning, Neighbor by Davide Calì, Time for Bed, Miyuki by Roxane Marie Galliez. A friend brought one from France called Where is my cat? by Camille Garoche - it's cute and great, if you can find it.
In terms of Sandra Boynton, I don't love them all but we do like Moo Baa LaLaLa and Hippos Go Berserk.
posted by vunder at 5:21 PM on February 27, 2020
We like the Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson. Some lesser known ones we like (with an emphasis on the ones that *I* like) are Surf's Up by Kwame Alexander, Good Morning, Neighbor by Davide Calì, Time for Bed, Miyuki by Roxane Marie Galliez. A friend brought one from France called Where is my cat? by Camille Garoche - it's cute and great, if you can find it.
In terms of Sandra Boynton, I don't love them all but we do like Moo Baa LaLaLa and Hippos Go Berserk.
posted by vunder at 5:21 PM on February 27, 2020
JAMBERRY
posted by Potomac Avenue at 6:05 PM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Potomac Avenue at 6:05 PM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
My 2.5 year-old loves Arnold Lobel, and so do I, but I don't think he's what you want here—his books are more text-heavy than you're requesting. Likewise, Sandra Boyton's books, while also wonderful, don't have illustrations you can dive into and swim around for a while.
How about Du Iz Tak?
posted by the_blizz at 6:37 PM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
How about Du Iz Tak?
posted by the_blizz at 6:37 PM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
Wait, how did we get this far and not mention Richard Scarry?
Best First Book Ever, and/or Cars and Trucks and Things That Go are both classics. Not quite story books (though there is a little bit of a story), but great big pages with detailed illustrations with all kinds of items, some real and some silly, and all labeled with names.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 6:43 PM on February 27, 2020 [2 favorites]
Best First Book Ever, and/or Cars and Trucks and Things That Go are both classics. Not quite story books (though there is a little bit of a story), but great big pages with detailed illustrations with all kinds of items, some real and some silly, and all labeled with names.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 6:43 PM on February 27, 2020 [2 favorites]
And also - wait, how did we get this far and not mention Dr Suess??
Horton Hears a Who was my all-time favourite for reading aloud, but it's hard to go wrong with any of them.
posted by rd45 at 3:24 AM on February 28, 2020
Horton Hears a Who was my all-time favourite for reading aloud, but it's hard to go wrong with any of them.
posted by rd45 at 3:24 AM on February 28, 2020
A Sick Day for Amos McGee has a fantastical element that kids love. (Don't get this if you are very much against zoos and don't want to be asked to go to one.)
Yes, Du Iz Tak? is wonderful! Definitely a book to take home.
posted by BibiRose at 5:10 AM on February 28, 2020
Yes, Du Iz Tak? is wonderful! Definitely a book to take home.
posted by BibiRose at 5:10 AM on February 28, 2020
I have a son the same age. His current favorites are:
The Gruffalo
Du Is Tak (and everything else by Carson Ellis)
Hairy Maclary
Frog and Toad
Cars and Trucks and Things That Go
Press Here
Life by Cynthia Rylant
The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren (his #1)
Max and the Two Sticks (about a drummer)
Last Stop on Market Street
posted by melodykramer at 10:20 AM on February 28, 2020
The Gruffalo
Du Is Tak (and everything else by Carson Ellis)
Hairy Maclary
Frog and Toad
Cars and Trucks and Things That Go
Press Here
Life by Cynthia Rylant
The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren (his #1)
Max and the Two Sticks (about a drummer)
Last Stop on Market Street
posted by melodykramer at 10:20 AM on February 28, 2020
This is an Australian classic, so not many may have heard of it, but everyone in my family - siblings and cousins - absolutely adored endless re-readings of this book when we were kids
There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake
posted by Zaire at 2:07 AM on February 29, 2020
There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake
posted by Zaire at 2:07 AM on February 29, 2020
« Older Alarm clock that plays the music I choose | Seeking snowflake shopping/inventory app Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by SaltySalticid at 8:05 AM on February 27, 2020 [2 favorites]