So here’s the thing – picture books, they are like my favorite kind of children’s book. You may not know that I used to run the children’s department at the local bookstore that used to be in my town (grrr to online shopping). I ran story time and created Best Of shelves and basically got to know children’s books pretty well. And while I couldn’t exactly curl up with a middle reader or young adult book in my spare time and get to know the section vividly, picture books I often got to peruse, in preparation of story time and to give recommendations to parents and grandparents and the like. And now I’m the mother of a two year old boy who LOVES himself a bedtime story or five. I cannot pick just one favorite, people. It’s absurd to even try to ask me – but I CAN give you a Top 10 List of Awesome Picture Books to have in your repertoire. Own them. Love them. We’ll start with…

1. Duck for President by Doreen Cronin – She did Click Clack Moo, Diary of a Worm and a million other children’s books you’ve probably heard of – that’s one of my favorite things about children’s books – there are like ten or twelve fabulous authors who wrote everything under the sun, with a few brilliant one hit wonders thrown in for good measure. I can literally picture the entire children’s department when you name an author, I see the aisle, the books around it, the really amazing ones worth mentioning. Duck For President is a big favorite of mine – it’s infectiously fun to read, a great story, awesome illustrations, and the whole explanation of what it’s like to run for office, and what it’s like to run an office. It’s just awesome. A good book to grow with.
2. Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin – Speaking of Doreen Cronin and her million and one amazing books, have you read Diary of a Worm? Because it’s wonderful. You really really should check it out. There’s also a Diary of a Spider so it’s like a cute little series. This was a big hit at story time, for some reason it’s fascinating just reading about what the little worm does throughout his day, being all relateable and completely not… It’s kind of like those movies Antz and A Bugs Life in that it shows kids a new perspective on a creature they thought they had pretty well figured out. But it’s a book, which makes it better. Plus, what’s cuter than a worm holding a pencil? Seriously. Don’t you just wanna hug him?
3. Curious George by H.A. Rey – Seriously, what don’t I love about this curious little monkey? These picture book classics were adorable and loved by all long before the fantastic movie or the wonderful tv show on PBS were around. I think I decided my son would love Curious George before he was even born, but lucky me the kid totally adores that monkey regardless of my opinions. And I swear my son was a monkey in a past life, hence the nickname, because seriously he and George could be brothers or something. But all that aside, seriously, this collection book is like a must have in our family and so much fun to read as a bedtime story or just one of those great “crawl into your lap” moments during the day.
4. How Does a Dinosaur Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen – Jane Yolen is another one of those authors who can do no wrong in my eyes. I fell in love with this series while working at the bookstore and have recently begun to share them with my son who seems to find them equally amazing. These books start out by showing you the bad behavior your own child might exhibit in each situation, like going to bed – but hugely exaggerated because a dinosaur is doing it. Then they show what you should do – saying, see, the dinosaur knows how to behave. The illustrations are incredible and as a huge bonus, they even list the name of the dinosaurs illustrated underneath each picture. The huge nerd in me squeals over things like that. As if I needed more reasons to love this series.
5. The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone – Remember when Grover was like the coolest monster on Sesame Street? Before Elmo, Zoe and Abby took over the preschool crew quicker than you can say quick things? When I was a kid, I adored this book – I think I still read it all the time even when I was really too old to read that kind of a book, you know in between Baby Sitters Club books or something. When my husband was younger, he used to read this book every night to his little brother. And now we both love reading it to our son who thinks it’s pretty hysterical indeed. This is one of those books that as a family we just love sharing together and all enjoying the awesomeness of childhood together as a family. It’s pretty great.
6. The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka – Well the man is brilliant and so is this book – which tell’s the wolf’s perspective of the classic story of the 3 little pigs. Who doesn’t like to read a great spin on an old favorite? And this one is really wonderfully well done, with great illustrations. It’s one of those books with an incredible attention to details, which I’m always a big huge sucker for. There are actually quite a few really good takes on the 3 Little Pigs out there, but this one in my opinion is truly a classic worth knowing about. Read your kids the original story, then read them this one telling the Wolf’s side of things – then, you can let them decide whose story they like best. Whose the real guilty party here?
7. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems – Finally a story, kids of all ages can say NO to. This book is all about a pigeon who really wants to drive the bus – and it interacts with the kids (the audience) who are informed in the beginning to NOT let him drive the bus – let them have fun with it – my husband and I love begging and pleading our case with MM who is always firm – unlike his friend SB who often says, “Okay,” just to get a rise out of us! I think this book is terrific for kids who are in that “terrible two” stage of loving to be defiant – and who are also really big into silliness and playing pretend. My son ignored this book for almost two years (we got it as a shower present) then woke up one day in LOVE with it.
8. Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems – Trixie and her father have a pretty happy trip to the laundry mat at the opening of this book, also by Mo Willems. But, on the way home, readers will notice that her stuffed bunny has been left behind  – unfortunately, her father, who can’t understand her gibberish, does not notice. Unable to figure out what’s bothering her, he tries to soothe her, but she goes on crying and going all “limp body sack of potatoes” – I think all you parents reading this know what I mean. They walk all the way home like this, Trixie miserable, her father miserable and clueless. They arrive at home and Mom immediately sees that “Knuffle Bunny” is missing (of course, the mom always knows) and so dad treks all the way back to the laundrymat where he finally finds the toy among the wet laundry. This book, if it isn’t obvious, is incredible. I really really love it and plan to buy it soon.
9. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown – Up until recently this was the Every Night Bedtime Story. I knew it inside out, could recite it in my sleep with my hands behind my back – you know, the usual. Like every other sleep deprived book. But despite being placed in potentially permanent hiatus, we really did love this one. It’s simple, it’s a classic, the illustrations are wonderful and detailed just right. It’s catchy and easy to remember – oh so important and reading out loud doesn’t sound forced and contrite the way that so many potentially good children’s books do. Readability and Likeability make this one an A + choice in my book. Also especially after reading Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner, reading the line, “goodnight nobody” always evokes this really cool sentiment for me. It’s cool.
10. Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann – but you know me, I gotta be different – I’ve got to be the one to tell you that Goodnight Gorilla is better – better I say, than Goodnight Moon. I used to love reading this one at story time and it was always my kind of little known treasure to recommend to people looking for something a bit different. IT’s a really cute little story of a zoo keeper, his animals, his wife and their life. It’s adorable. It’s hysterical and endearing and memorable and wonderful and oh goodness just read it already.

What are your favorite children’s picture books? Have you blogged about it yet in the Children’s Classics Carnival at 5 Minutes for Books?