Picture Books
We asked our staff, "What is your favorite picture book?"
Read below for their answers!
Plus, picture book recommendations from Beaufort County readers
Every Dreaming Creature
by Brendan Wenzel
Recommended by Kim Cappisillo,
Library Assistant
This is the perfect book to read to your children before bedtime.
The Magical Yet
by Angela DiTerlizzi
Recommended by Libby Voight,
Branch Manager
Angela DiTerlizzi's The Magical Yet, The Curious Why, and The Marvelous Now are some of my favorite picture books for families. They have really positive messages about patience, curiosity, and dealing with boredom, frustration, and anxiety that are relevant for kids and adults alike. Plus they have such beautiful and bright illustrations they are a joy to read.
It's A Tiger!
by David LaRochelle
Recommended by Julie Bascom,
Branch Manager
This is a fun, tricky book with lots of opportunities for participation.
The Americans
by Robert Frank
Recommended by Jay Karr,
Senior Library Assistant
This is a book of photographs of America and Americans, shot in a photojournalistic style and with a Beatnik sensibility, by Swiss photographer Robert Frank in the 50s. Frank was the recipient of a Guggenheim fellowship and traveled across the country gathering images for the book. Its full of great and evocative pictures from around the US, including some taken on St. Helena Island. It features an introduction by Beat writer Jack Kerouac, author of "On the Road." "The Americans" would be my first-choice as a photo book to recommend to a friend.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
by Bill Martin Jr.
Recommended by Darnell Glover,
Library Assistant
This is a story that has always engaged my granddaughters as they are introduced to colors and different animals.
The Invisible Parade
by Leigh Bardugo
Recommended by Leigh Ramey,
User Experience Librarian
Leigh Bardugo is a popular dark fantasy author for teens and adults, and this is her first picture book! In this story, Cala is grieving the recent passing of her grandfather and doesn't want to attend her family's Dia de los Muertos celebration. Then she discovers the magic of the night and meets spirits who help her to think differently about death. The illustrations are stunning, and the story is powerful. One of the best picture books of the year!
The Bakery Dragon
by Devin Elle Kurtz
Recommended by Lyndsay Malphrus,
Bookmobile Library Specialist
A wonderfully colorful book about Ember the dragon. Ember has always been different from the other dragons and he loves tasty treats. A perfect book about sharing and generosity!
Odder: An Otter's Story
by Katherine Applegate
Recommended by Madison Kozma,
Library Assistant
I love this book because it combines my two favorite things to do in Monterey as a kid -- scouting sea otters and going to the aquarium. It's about a California Sea Otter's life in the Monterey Bay and how she helps other otter pups who are in similar situations that she was in. (Thanks, Allison, for the recommendation on it.)
Frog and Toad Are Friends
by Arnold Lobel
Recommended by Ryan Easterbrooks,
Information Services Librarian
"I wrote 'Dear Toad, I am glad that you are my best friend. Your best friend, Frog.'"
In my nearly 34 years of life, no book has given me as much pure joy as Frog and Toad. The older I get, the more I relate to them and their relationship. With time, I find I'm becoming more and more like Toad.
Verdi
by Janell Cannon
Recommended by Katherine Argall,
Library Assistant
"Verdi" has been one of my favorite books since I was kid... and why I look for the enclosure with the green tree python at every zoo I visit. Kid-me related to Verdi's terror of growing into a dull-as-dishwater adult. Unlike cruel children's books like "Peter Pan" and "The Chronicles of Narnia" series where all the cool stuff runs out after one catches a bad case of "years," Verdi discovers going green doesn't mean his crazy figure eights have to end!
Gibberish
by Young Vo
Recommended by Olivia Perry,
Children's Programmer
I love this book as it beautifully explains through art and words what it is like being in a new place. This book shows what it is like to not understand a language or a culture. It is a beautiful reminder that what is normal to us is not normal to someone else.
Corduroy
by Don Freeman
Recommended by Sydney Whiteside,
Library Specialist
My absolute favorite picture book as a kid was Corduroy by Don Freeman. My sweet mother most likely had the whole book memorized from reading it so often. The book follows Corduroy, a department store teddy bear, who longs for a loving home. Deemed as damaged due to his missing button, Corduroy sets out on a mission to find his button and his forever home. Call me emotional, but the end of this story still makes me tear up!
The Quacken
by Justin Colón
Recommended by Sarah Froese,
Bookmobile Library Assistant
This is a fun story about a campground and a really, really big duck. With a bit of suspense and some good laughs this picture book is a delight. Just remember, DON'T feed the ducks!
Ghost Cat
by Eve Bunting
Recommended by Alyssa Krob,
Digital Services Librarian
This is a cute story about a lighthouse keeper and her ghost cat, and how during a terrible storm, he helped get the beacon lit. Despite having a phantom kitty, this story isn't at all scary and would be suitable for all ages. The illustrations are beautiful and there's an authors note in the back with a brief history of lighthouses!
Press Here
by Hervé Tullet
Recommended by Traci Cox,
Marketing and Communications Manager
My children adored this book! It's creative, interactive (but not in the way you might think), and amazes young children. For even more fun with color, check out its sister book, "Mix It Up."
White Rabbit's Color Book
by Alan Baker
Recommended by Collin Stiglbauer,
Information Services Librarian
This was a staple in my house growing up, and I have so many happy memories of pulling it off my shelf to look at the illustrations.
No Cats in the Library
by Lauren Emmons
Recommended by Rachel Dowden,
Library Assistant
No Cats in the Library is a beautiful picture book that shares the story of Clarisse, a cat that adores books, as she tries to sneak into the local library. Once in, Clarisse is delighted to find that children love to read to her! This heartfelt story showcases the educational benefits of letting children read to animals, reminding me of the "Read to a Dog" program available through our own library system.
Picture books recommended by our community
