Check out the list of great illustrated picture books for kids
Plume
Ages 3 to 7
In this lovely book, young readers are introduced to a variety of beautiful birds, from the familiar chicken to the exotic ibis. But lurking in the background of every page is a cat, who also seems very interested in the birds.
With its funny illustrations and engaging concepts, this clever counting book will invite readers to linger over every page.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
- New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books (2017)
- Society of Illustrators “The Original Art” Annual Exhibition 2017
- 2018 USBBY Outstanding International Books
- 2017 Foreword Indies Award-Honorable Mention
Purchase Plume at Amazon, Christianbook.com, Eerdmans, or your local bookstore.
The Secret Cat
Ages 4 to 8
An imaginative book for anyone who’s ever wanted a pet
Lucy wants a pet more than anything, even though her mom always says no. But one night, Lucy hears a scratching sound from behind her wallpaper, and a ghostly cat named Silvring appears. Silvring takes Lucy on an adventure and introduces her to a world filled with secret pets just like hers. Not all the secret pets are as friendly as Silvring, though.
Filled with magical realism, this beautiful book will resonate with animal lovers of all ages.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
- Junior Library Guild selection
- Shelf Awareness starred review
Purchase The Secret Cat at Amazon, Christianbook.com, Eerdmans, or your local bookstore.
The Watcher
Ages 6 to 10
A poetic story inspired by Psalm 121
Jordan lives in fear of Tanya, the class bully. But Tanya has worries of her own, no matter how much she tries to ignore them. It seems impossible that Jordan and Tanya could be anything other than enemies, but the Lord is watching over them, guiding each of them along a path that might just help them to understand one another.
Nikki Grimes takes the words of a Psalm 121 and masterfully transforms them into a golden shovel poem of compassion, friendship, and faith. Coupled with powerful artwork from Bryan Collier, this heartfelt story is one that readers will treasure.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
- Kirkus Reviews Best
- Children’s Books of 2017
- Kirkus Prize Finalist
- 2018 WORLD
- Picture Book of the Year
- 2018 NCTE Notable Poetry Book
- Junior Library Guild Selection
- Catholic Press Association
- Children’s Book Award—
- Honorable Mention
- 2017 Foreword INDIES
- Award—Bronze Winner
- Kirkus Reviews starred review
- Publishers Weekly starred review
- Shelf Awareness starred review
- Booklist starred review
Purchase The Watcher at Amazon, Christianbook.com, Eerdmans, or your local bookstore.
Paul Writes (a Letter)
Ages 6 & Up
A charming introduction to Saint Paul and his epistles
Caldecott Medal-winner Chris Raschka breathes new life into the letters of Paul the Apostle with this inviting book. Each sumptuous page distills the main themes of Paul’s epistles into approachable, appealing language. Chris Raschka expertly depicts Paul’s sincerity and compassion, sadness and pain, giving readers a true sense of who Paul really was.
Paul Writes (a Letter) celebrates how one of the most beloved biblical figures changed the world through the written word.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
- Publishers Weekly starred review
- Booklist starred review
- Booklist Top Ten Religion and Spirituality Books
Purchase Paul Writes (a Letter) at Amazon, Christianbook.com, Eerdmans, or your local bookstore.
Sweet Dreamers
Ages 4 to 8
A gorgeous bedtime book from an award-winning creator
From the celebrated creator of Plume and The Blue Hour comes another enchanting animal book. Countless cozy animals are settling in for the night, but they all sleep in different ways. A bat dreams upside down, a hedgehog snuggles into a pile of leaves, and a humpback whale spins in its sleep like a ballerina.
With its poetic language and lush illustrations, Sweet Dreamers will dazzle young readers as they drift off to sleep themselves.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
- Kirkus Reviews starred review
- School Library Journal starred review
- Shelf Awareness starred review
- Publishers Weekly starred reviews
Purchase Sweet Dreamers at Amazon, Christianbook.com, Eerdmans, or your local bookstore.
A Story Like the Wind
Ages 9 to 14
A masterful story about the power of hope
Rami is in a small dinghy filled with strangers, all of them refugees seeking a safe harbor. But with no motor, no oars, and a rising tide, their situation looks bleak. So Rami pulls out the only thing he brought with him—a violin—and begins to tell his fellow refugees a story through his music. And his story, about an indomitable white stallion and its struggle for freedom, gives them all the strength to remember the past and hope for the future.
A Story Like the Wind is a beautifully illustrated fable that shows how music and stories can bring people together. Readers of all ages will be entranced by this sweeping story that feels both new and timeless.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
- 2019 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
- New York Journal of Books Notable Children’s Books
- 2019 USBBY Outstanding International Books
- Kirkus Reviews starred review
- Foreword Reviews starred review
- School Library Journal starred review
The Second Sky
Ages 4 to 8
An inspiring story about finding your true element
Ever since he first hatched, Gilbert has wanted to fly. But with his big, clumsy feet and small, fluffy wings, learning to fly is a bigger challenge than Gilbert anticipated. His fellow penguins tell him to give up, but Gilbert is sure that if he keeps trying, he’ll be able to soar…
Young readers will fall in love with this sweet, motivating story about overcoming obstacles and discovering your hidden talents.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
- Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2019
- Kirkus Reviews starred review
- 2019 Parents’ Choice Book Awards—Recommended
Rain
Ages 4 to 8
A poetry collection celebrating the wonders of the natural world
This haiku collection will enchant both nature lovers and budding poets. The spare, lyrical text describes a series of short vignettes, each of them taking place in a different kind of rain, from thunderstorms to falling flower petals. The poems—some serious, some gently humorous—depict scenes from all over the globe: a horse struggling to plow a field, a father changing a tire while his children play, and two friends making up after a fight.
With its majestic artwork, this introduction to a classic poetic form will inspire readers to write their own haiku as they experience the amazing world around them.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
- Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2018
- Society of Illustrators “The Original Art” Annual Exhibition 2018
- Kirkus Reviews starred review
- 2019 NCTE Notable Poetry Book
Hidden City
Ages 4 to 8
A poetic book highlighting everyday nature
The perfect blend of science and poetry, Hidden City demonstrates that nature can thrive anywhere, even in highly populated areas. In this graceful collection of poems, skyscrapers serve as perches for falcons, streetlights attract an insect buffet for hungry bats, and an overgrown urban lot offers shelter to both flora and fauna. Hidden City also includes engageing supplementary materials, which provide scientific information about the animals and plants featured in the book.
Coupled with beautiful collage illustrations, the poems in Hidden City offer readers the perfect reminder to notice and care about their environment.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
- Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators—Lee Bennett Hopkins Award
- 2019 NCTE Notable Poetry Book
- 2018 California Reading Association Eureka! Gold Award
- Society of Illustrators “The Original Art” Annual Exhibition 2018
- New York Public Library Best Books for Kids 2018
- Bank Street College Best Children’s Books
The Little Barbarian
Ages 4 to 8
A wordless picture book that captures the imagination
Being a barbarian is no easy task. A barbarian must be able to survive an army of one-eyed giants or a pit of venomous snakes. He must bravely fight off manticores, dragons, and sea serpents. Luckily, a barbarian can always rely on his trusty steed to see him through any peril.
Readers of all ages will savor this wordless picture book with its clever twist ending.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
- The Horn Book starred review
- Kirkus Reviews starred review
- Publishers Weekly starred review
- Boston Globe Best Children’s Books of 2018
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