70+ Picture books

Welcome to 5 days of book lists, publishing Monday to Friday, this week.

Today I am talking about picture books. These are an eclectic and personal selection. I've avoided books that I don't enjoy reading aloud but there are doubtless, many lovely picture books that I just haven't seen. Please add your favourites in the comments.

There are over 70 items on the list but in reality, far more than this number of books as some of these are series or authors.

Some of these books are out of print and loved from my childhood. Others are newer. Some are published in the UK and others in the US.

L means that I have found them in the library here in the UK.

F denotes that they are Five in a Row books. Five in a Row is a series of manuals explaining how to use particular books as unit studies. We loved this curriculum but even if you don't use it, the book lists are worth browsing,

These are arranged by subject.

Animal

• Beatrix Potter books-L. F (Peter Rabbit) These are beautifully illustrated, very English and full of wonderful vocabulary. Please don't go for the dumbed down versions!
• James Herriot picture books e.g. Moses the kitten.
• Hairy Maclary series by Lynley Dodd. L. A New Zealand series in rhyme about a dog and a series of friends.
• Mog series by Judith Kerr except Goodbye Mog. L
• Farm stories by Kim Lewis especially Just like Floss. L.We didn't like the Last Train which is about a ghost train.
• The owl who was afraid of the dark Jill Tomlinson illustrated by Paul Howard.  I don't usually like abridged books but this illustrated abridgment of the short chapter book is a winner.
• Eric Carle books in particular The hungry caterpillar, The tiny seed and The very busy spider but there are plenty more. L
• The story about Ping Marjorie Flack F
• Lazy lion and other animal stories of the African plains Mwenye Hadithi and Adrienne Kennaway L
• Tiptoes the mischievous kitten Noel Barr
• Owl babies Martin Waddell
• Farmer duck Martin Waddell and Helen Oxenbury L
• A kitten called Moonlight Martin Waddell 
• John Joe and the big hen Martin Waddell
• Kipper series Mick Inkpen L
• Duck in the truck and series Jez Alborough L
• Bear series by Sarah Hayes L
• Daisy series by Jane Simmons L
• Windy Edge Farm books Jill Dow
• Dear Zoo Rod Campbell-for younger children with lift up flaps.

Machines

• Wheels by Shirley Hughes
• Virginia Lee Burton's books: Mike Mulligan and the steam shovel (L), the Little House and Katy and the Big snow. There are a couple of other books which may well be worth reading just I haven't seen them.
• Amazing Machine series but Tony Ross and Ant Parker. Two of my sons have virtually memorised these books which have rhyming text, full of onamantopaeias. The other son probably would have done too but we didn't have the books when he was young!
• Little red train series by Benedict Blathwayt.
• Mr Little's noisy train/boat/truck Richard Fowler

Childhood

• Alfie books by Shirley Hughes L. Alfie goes camping is an especial favourite.
• Lucy and Tom by Shirley Hughes
• Dogger by Shirley Hughes L
• Moving Molly by Shirley Hughes
• Nursery collection Shirley Hughes. For very young children.
• Amber on the mountain Tony Johnston
• When the teddy bears came Martin Waddell and Penny Dale
• Whatever next Jill Murphy L
• Peace at last Jill Murphy 
• Peepo Allan and Janet Ahlberg
• Fancy Nancy Jane O'Conor and Robin Glasser

Rhyme and poetry

• Julia Donaldson books L. There are two which mention witches (Room on the broom and Charlie Cook's favourite book) which we avoid but generally, these have great rhyming text and are beloved of little children. The Gruffalo is the most famous although my children particularly like Monkey Puzzle and the Snail and the Whale.
• Ten in the bed Penny Dale L
• Paul Revere's ride Longfellow illustrated Ted Rand
• We are going on a bear hunt Michael Rosen L
• Stopping by woods on a snowy evening Robert Frost illustrated by Susan Jeffers
• Out and about Shirley Hughes

History

• Edwardian series by John S Goodall. These books have no words but beautifully detailed pictures of Edwardian times.
• Ox cart man Donald Hall
• A new coat for Anna Harriet Ziefert
• Follow the drinking gourd Jeanette Winter
• Ottoline at the British Museum Sally Craddock and Corinne Pearlman

Art

• Katie series by James Mayhew-a gentle and fun introduction to art. L
• The Little Painter of Sabana Grande by Patricia Maloney Markun
• Degas and the little dancer Laurence Anholt

Christian

• When God made the world by D and N Sayers is a simple book with photos and the Biblical account from Genesis 1.
• New Testament books by B.A. Ramsbottom
• 365 Great Bible stories Carine McKenzie-this is a new acquisition and is proving popular.
• The safe place Patricia St John

Geography

• How to make an apple pie and see the world by Marjorie Priceman combines geography, science and a recipe.
• Little Nino's Pizzeria by Karen Barbour always leads to a frenzy of restaurant play. This has bright pictures which has lead onto discussion of Matisse. US.
• Cranberry thanksgiving Wende and Harry Devlin. US.
• Mama Panya's pancakes Richard and Mary Chamberlin. Kenya
• Grandfather's journey Allen Say Japan
• A pair of red clogs Masako Matsuno Japan
• Mirette on the high wire Emily McCully Paris
• My Grandma went to market Stella Blackstone L A counting hop around the world.
• Sticky jam: the story of sugar Meredith Hooper and Katharine McEwen
• Madeline series by Ludwig Bemelmans. This is a classic series about a little girl and her Parisian boarding school. Most are set in Paris although Madeline in London is not!

Counting

• One bear at bedtime Mick Inkpen
• Ten seeds Ruth Brown

Eclectic

• Percy the Park Keeper series by Nick Butterworth L
• The lighthouse keeper series by David and Ronda Armitage
• Robert McCloskey books. I can only recommend three as they are all we have read but these are fantastic old fashioned books set in the US in the 1940s. We have read Blueberries for Sal, Lentil and Make way for Ducklings. F
• Little Tim books by Edward Ardizzone. L. These are classic books although I can't remember them from childhood. Best for the oldest end of the picture book age range.
• The Tiger who came to tea by Judith Kerr. I wonder about the hidden meaning of this book as Judith Kerr's family had to leave Nazi Germany but the children love this at face value.
• Harold and the Purple crayon by Crockett Johnson.  F.There are others in the series but I haven't seen them. This is  what I thought was a rather odd book about a boy who drew the story but it has been much loved by Youngest Son and tends to precipitate a drawing fest.
• The winter garden Ruth Brown
• Hallibut Jackson David Lucas
• The blue balloon Mick Inkpen
• Mr Gumpy's motorcar and Mr Gumpy's picnic John Burningham L. F.

There are so many more and the children and I love to discover new favourites so please feel free to add further suggestions.

The Schoolhouse Crew are writing 5 days of blog posts on different subjects: do click on the banner to pop over to read more (from 6am ET).