A Dozen Favorite Picture Books

by Cynthia Light Brown

The blog post last week by Kitty and her daughters triggered incredible nostalgia. I went down to my lair of picture books that I haven't the heart to give away (I tell my family I'm saving them for grandchildren, but really they're for me). Whittled the hundreds down to dozens, then down to one dozen. One in the middle is the favorite of my middle daughter (now 18 years old, and getting ready to take a gap year in Nepal, so her choice isn't surprising).

Here they are, from younger to older age range:

 

KING BIDGOOD'S IN THE BATHTUB by Audrey Wood, illustrated by Don Wood

 

EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM by Janet and Allan Ahlberg

 

GOTTA GO! GOTTA GO! by Sam Swope, illustrated by Sue Riddle

 

BLUEBERRIES FOR SAL by Robert McCloskey

 

OFFICER BUCKLE AND GLORIA by Peggy Rathmann

 

A BIRTHDAY FOR FRANCES by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Lillian Hoban

 

RED RIDING HOOD retold and illustrated by James Marshall

 

ZOOM AT SEA by Tim Wynne-Jones, illustrated by Eric Beddows* Katie's favorite

 

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK retold and illustrated by Steven Kellogg

 

RAPUNZEL retold and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

 

BABA YAGA AND THE WISE DOLL by Hiawyn Oram, illustrated by Ruth Brown

 

THE MOUSEHOLE CAT by Antonia Barber, illustrated by Nicola Bayley

 If you ask me next week, I might come up with a different set - there are so many wonderful ones. I notice that they all have great writing and illustrations. Wonderful illustrations pull you in - and it's what sells most picture books these days - but great writing keeps you coming back.

Most of these authors and illustrators have many other wonderful books - enjoy!