Favorite Picture Books from My Fluffy Nest

For books I can't find at my library, I use internetarchive.org and read them online or I buy them from Abebooks.com. They are often less than $5 including shipping!

Books with fun and creative layouts. These books might help grab the attention of reluctant listeners.

• Andrew Drew and Drew, by Barney Satzberg

• Green, by Laura Vaccaro Seeger. Clever cutouts.

• There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, by Simms Taback

• ABC3D by Marion Bataille. One of the coolest pop up books I have ever seen. 

• Black and White by David Macaulay. The first time I sat down with this book, I read it like 10 times. It is one of the most original picture books I’ve ever seen. Best for older kids.

• Disney’s Mix and Match Villains by Eric and Susan Goldberg. So clever and funny!

• Round Trip by Ann Jonas. Read it through and when you get to the end, turn the book upside down and read it again!

Books that celebrate diversity. I try to find books by authors who write about their own culture.

• Fry Bread by Devin Noble Maillard, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal. This book inspired me to make some fry bread. Very appealing illustrations.

• Way up and Over Everything by Alice McGill Illustrated by Jude Daly. A story from African American oral history.

• Hiawatha and the Peacemaker by Robbie Robertson, illustrated by David Shannon. A story from Native American oral history. Timely and priceless lesson. Exquisite art.

• Caribbean Carnival: Songs of the West Indies, by Irving Burgie, Pictures by Frane Lessac. The author is the man who wrote “Day-O.” I  google videos of these songs and then have a Caribbean dance party in our living room for several minutes every time we read this book. So fun!!

• What Can You Do with a Paleta by Carmen Tafolla illustrated by Magaly Morales. Make sure you buy some paletas too!

• All the Colors We Are by Katy Kissinger ill by Chris Bohnhoff. Talks about melanin and how it is the reason we are all different colors

• Goin’ Someplace Special. By Patricia C.Mckissack, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. Author grew up in the segregated south during the Jim Crow laws.

• The Colors of Us by Karen Katz. Gives kids the language and the permission to talk about skin color.

• Colorfull by Dorena Williamson. Illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu. Takes a religious approach to talking about skin color.

• Bowwow Powwow. By Brenda J Child. Author, illustrator Gordon Jourdain, and translator Jonathan Thunder are all Native American. This book came highly recommended by the American Indian Children’s Literature Association and my kids liked it!

• Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai. Memoir in picture book form by the girl who was shot by the Taliban for speaking up about girls going to school.

Books that powerfully teach values. When it comes to this category, I look for metaphors so the lessons are taught in a less preachy, more artistic way.

• Hiawatha and the Peacemaker by Robbie Robertson, illustrated by David Shannon. Forgiveness and peace.

• It’s Mine! A fable by Leo Lionni. Sharing.

• The Empty Pot by Demi. Honesty. Delicate and lovely art.

• The Quilt Maker’s Gift by Jeff Brumbeau and Gail de Arcken. Gratitude, selflessness, giving, minimalism.

• The Little Red Hen illustrated by Paul Galdone. Hard work.

• Home in the Woods by Eliza Wheeler. This is a BEAUTIFUL book. It is about the author’s grandmother during the depression. Love, minimalism, being happy now, making the best of things.

Adventure

• Shackleton’s Journey by William Grill. This story is a great example of how good leadership can inspire an optimistic culture.

• I Spy Treasure Hunt photographs by Walter Wick Riddles by Jean Marzollo. This I Spy book takes me on a vintage adventure. 

• Louise: the Adventures of a Chicken by Kate Dicamilo. I am a kindred spirit with this adventurous chicken!

• The Hat by Tomi Ungerer. Another vintage adventure.

Beautiful

• Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall.  These illustrations. WOW.

• Home in the Woods by Eliza Wheeler. A true story about the author’s grandmother.

Books with great uses of poetic devices (rhythm, rhyme, cumulative stories)

• The Rose in My Garden, words by Arnold Lobel. Pictures by Anita Lobel. Fun cumulative tale.

• There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, by Simms Taback. Fun cutouts!

• Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle, Illustrated by Jill McElmurry. Read aloud, this actually sounds like a little truck driving around in the country.

• Drummer Hoff, adapted by Barbara Emberley, illustrated by Ed Emberley. So fun to read out loud. The pictures remind me of stained glass windows.

• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson. Fun rhythm and very witty.

Books with Fun Songs

• Over in the Meadow by John Langstaff, illustrated by Feodor Rojankaovsky. This lilting melody is so appealing to me.

• Caribbean Carnival: Songs of the West Indies, by Irving Burgie, Pictures by Frane Lessac. We google videos of these songs and then dance in our living room for several minutes every time we read this book. So fun!

• There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Simms Tabak. Clever cutouts and kids love this song.

• The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night. An old song illustrated by Peter Spier. I love Nickel Creek’s version of this song and I really enjoy singing the book to my kids.

• Frog Went A Courtin’ by John Langstaff pictures by Theodore Rojankofsky. So fun to sing this one.

• Winken, Blinken, and Nod by Eugene Field illustrated by Johanna Westerman. To hear the tune I like, listen to my Instagram story entitled “fun songs.”

• Take Me Out of the Bathtub by Alan Katz illustrated by David Catrow. Alan Katz really mastered the comedy in this book.

• Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Tabak. Jewish folk song. The book has fun cutouts!

Open-Ended Play

• Not A Box by Antoinette Portis. Read this, then put a big cardboard box in the backyard and see what happens.

• This is my Dollhouse by Giselle Potter. Same as above!

• Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran illustrated by Barbara Cooney.  Throw some boxes and rocks and sticks outside. Invite some neighborhood kids over and see what happens over a few days.

Humor, Wit, Cleverness

• The Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems. Every one of these books makes me smile and they are my 3 year old’s favorites! The author's understated illustrations and text are so full of expression and humor!

• Mouse Tales by Arnold Lobel. This is an older book with very clever, fanciful stories.

• This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen. 

• The Monster at the End of this Book. A classic that I didn’t know about until recently!

• Snail Crossing by Cory R. Tabor. Laughed out loud! My kids especially loved this one.

• Richard Scarry’s Best Lowly Worm Book Ever by Richard Scarry. My favorite page is the one that explains worm anatomy.

• Gotta Go! Gotta Go! by Sam Swope illustrated by Sue Riddle. I think this is a clever perspective on the migration of butterflies.

• When Dinosaurs Came With Everything by Elise Broach illustrated by David Small. The book treats the idea of having a dinosaur as a pet as not surprising or impossible, just inconvenient.

• Edwina The Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct by Mo Willems. Love the understated wit of Mo Willems.

• A Chocolate Moose for Dinner written and illustrated by Fred Gwynne. Homonyms!

• The Skunk by Mac Barnett illustrated by Patrick McDonnell. So classy, clever and original!

• Tea Rex by Molly Idle. Reminds me of my kids.

• CDB! By W. Steig. Have someone else try to read it out loud to you. It’s pretty funny!

Beautiful/Fanciful Innocence of childhood

• Peter in Blueberry Land by Elsa Beskow. I enjoy learning about the Waldorf style of early childhood education and this has that same feel.

Non Fiction

• The Cloud Book words and pictures by Tomie de Paola. I like how this book teaches the names of the clouds in an artful, humorous way.

Social/Emotional  and other Life Skills

• The Secret Remedy Book: A Story of Comfort and Love by Karin Cates, Illustrated by Wendy Anderson Halperin. How to climb yourself out of a bad day.

• I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness by Susan Verde, Art by Peter H Reynolds. Mindfulness is an evidence-based way to manage mental health. Kids tend to be naturals at mindfulness, but I really like this book.

• Maybe Tomorrow? By Charlotte Agell, illustrated by Ana Ramirez Gonzalez. Recommended to me by a therapist. How to grieve and how to be a friend to someone grieving. I’ve read this so much that my 3 year old has it memorized.

• They all Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel. Clever illustrations that teach different people can have different perspectives and still be telling the truth as they see it.

• Good Pictures, Bad Pictures, Jr. by Kristen A. Jenson, illustrated by Debbie Fox. Teaches skills on what to do when they see pornography. This book is a good starting point for the hundreds of teaching moments we will need to have on this subject!

• This is My Dollhouse by Giselle Potter. Creativity, minimalism, imagination.

• The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room by Stan and Jan Berenstain. Inspires kids to clean and organize!

• Mindful Moments at Bedtime by Paloma Rossa. This is a beautiful book that I think makes a lovely bedtime ritual.

• The Color Monster: A Pop-up Book of Feelings by Anna Llenas. This was recommended to me by a therapist and it is so much fun!

• What do you do with a problem? By Kobi Yamada. I can so relate to this one.

• Maybe by Kobi Yamada illustrated by Gabriella Barouch. This book makes me feel of my own potential and the potential of everyone I meet.

• The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone. Teaches hard work.

• The Berenstein Bears and the Messy Room by Stan and Dan Berenstein. Can inspire room cleaning and organizing.

• It’s Mine by Leo Lionni. Sharing.

• The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken.

Christmas 

• Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry. So fun and I love the vintage feel.

• How the Grinch Stole Christmas! By Dr. Seuss. Such a great message. I especially like the version that has a hologram of a heart on the cover.

• The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry, illustrated by P.J. Lynch. This has always been one of my favorite stories and these illustrations are beautiful.

• The Twelve Days of Christmas. You need some version of this song. I like the one illustrated by Jan Brett and . . .

• The Twelve Days of Christmas illustrated by Emma Randall.

• We Believe in Christmas: How the Symbols of Christmas Remind Us of Christ written by M. Weber Longoria, artwork by Mark Missman and Dona Gelsinger. Here’s a great way to not be annoyed with the commercial part of Christmas.

• My First Little House Books: Christmas in the Big Woods, by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Illustrated by Renee Graef. I like how this book helps to inspire the simple, old fashioned Christmas.

• Little Blue Truck’s Christmas written by Alice Schertle, illustrated by Jill McElmurry. The usual delight that the Little Blue Truck brings, plus fun lights at the end!

• Mortimer’s Christmas Manger by Jane Chapman and Karma Wilson. Such a great Christmas story!

• Christmas Tree Memories by Alike. This inspired me to make a simple ornament for each year of our marriage.

• The Doll’s Christmas by Tasha Tudor (out of print so it’s a little expensive). Love this vintage story with lots of imagination and heart.

• A Letter for Bear by David Lucas. I can relate to the loneliness of this bear and also his initiative to do something about it.

• The Night Before Christmas illustrated by Holly Hobby

• The Christmas Boot by Lisa Wheeler illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. Teaches minimalism and unselfishness.

• Santa Bruce. I love all the Bruce books.

• The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet and Allen Ahlberg. So fun to read all the extras and inserts.

• The Snow Lady by Shirley Hughes. Teaches empathy and respect for the elderly.

• Tomie dePaola’s Christmas Tree Book. Fun nonfiction about the history of Christmas Trees.

• All for the Newborn Baby. By Phyllis Root, illustrated by Nicola Bailey. Really beautiful and unique artwork.

• The Story of Christmas illustrated by Felix Hoffman. The illustrator was a stained glass window artist, so the artwork has a lot of depth and maturity.

• Away in a Manger paintings of the Nativity by boys and girls around the world. Fun to see the children’s drawings from other cultures.

• Olive, the other Reindeer. Very clever.

• Angel Mae By Shirley Hughes. Great heartwarming story.

• The Tree that’s Meant to Be by Yuval Zommer. This book means a lot to me. At times I have felt rejected, but I ended up being loved by the people who I was meant to be with.

• Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee. Fun slapstick humor and rich illustrations.

• Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones paintings by Alison Jay. The birth of Christ from the animals’ perspective. Artwork is really unique with a crackly paint.

• Christmas in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Love the Little House books.

Valentines

• Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by Paul Yalowitz.

• Love is My Favorite Thing by Emma Chichesta Clark

• Love, Z by Jessie Sima

Nature

• The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane illustrated by Jackie Morris. A spell book to bring back words of nature to children in a digital age. This is a book of poems. For kids to sit for it, I need to set them up with a quiet activity or read it out loud during a meal.

• Illuminature by Carnofsky written by Rachel Williams

Halloween

• The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howilt illustrated by Tony DiTerizzi. Love the clever storyline and the cute 1920s fly.

• Little Blue Truck’s Halloween by Alice Schertle, illustrated by Jill McElmurry. Love all Little Blue Truck books.

• Room on the Broom by Julia Donalson illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Fun rhythm and witty story.

• I Spy Spooky Night Photography by Walter Wick, riddles by Jean Marzollo. Reminds me of the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland, my favorite ride.

• The Mundane Ghost by Jeffrey Schweitzer. So original and funny! I absolutely love this book!

Freedom

• Flight for Freedom by Kristen Fulton illustrated by Torben Kuhlmann. Shows what life is like in a country without freedom.

• Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousefsi. Written by the girl who was shot by the Taliban because she spoke up about education for girls.

Travel

• This is Paris by M. Lasek. Part of a series. I picked the Paris one because Paris is my favorite city. Originally published in 1959 and has been updated for the 21st century. I love the color of the pages and the paintings. Basically a travel book for kids

• Possum Magic by Mem Fox illustrated by Julie Vivas. Learn about Australian food.