Here are my favorite 10 picture books (as of today). Much is revealed about a person through a list like this.  My list shows that I like laughing, surprises, mysteries and seeing the world from different view points. I love to share all four experiences with my students. 

The Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau by John Agee

I rarely get surprised by the plot of a picture book but this one surprised me.  It is a GREAT book to use for critical thinking and discussion.  I won’t give away the ending. You will just have to read it for yourself! 🙂

Sweet Tooth by Margie Palatini

Margie Palatini is probably my favorite picture book author.  I literally laughed all throughout this book. It also is a favorite of my 2nd graders. They return to it over and over again.

Gone with the Wand by Margie Palantini

Margie Palatini again.  Honestly, I almost chose her books for all 10 of my book picks.  She has such a rich vocabulary in her writing. She plays with words and she has such a strong voice as a writer.  I think if I read her words separately from her name, I would know it was hers.  Upper elementary teachers need to check her out too!

An Undone Fairy Tale by Ian Lendler

This is a very clever, unusual book. It starts out as a regular fairy tale but then the narrator begins interacting with the reader because he/she is reading too fast for the illustrator to complete the illustrations.  This causes a HILARIOUS cause and effect.  One example: the knight rides on a fish because that’s all the illustrator had handy.  I am smiling just thinking about this book.

The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord

This book was my very favorite as a child. I always loved books but this is one I remember actually carrying around and rereading.  I’m not sure why I was so attracted to it.  Maybe because I hate wasps and that was the town’s problem to solve.  The illustrations add more to the story.

The Wolf Who Cried Boy by Bob Hartman

Wolf is tired of eating “moose” for dessert and other wolf food. He really wants boy and finds a whole troop of them but his parents do not believe him because he tricked them two times before.  My boys especially like this book.

Six Perfectly Different Pigs by Adrienne Geoghegan

This book is wonderful to teach diversity is a good and to embrace what makes you different.

Have I Got a Book for You! by Melanie Watt

If you have not noticed yet, I like to laugh- a LOT.  Melanie Watt is an author that makes me do that.  This book just cracks me up.  No one works harder to sell a book than her main character.

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg

If you have never looked at this book, go do it today.  The books starts out with a mystery and the reader is left with strange illustrations and just one written line for each.  I know a lot of upper grade teachers use this book but I have found that my 2nd graders have wonderful ideas for these illustrations.  I shared this book last year and they talked about it for weeks.  I had two students who worked together to write the “missing” stories for the illustrations.

The Very Smart Pea and the Princess-to-be by  Mini Grey

If you want to work on point of view in a fun way, use this book.  The story is told from the Pea. You need to pay attention to the illustrations in the back because they also tell a story.

 

I hope I introduced you to a few “new” ones. Happy Reading! 🙂