Possibly the most popular category for children’s books is picture books. Everyone loves a good picture book because the words are fewer and generally have more impact. Also, the illustrator can turn a regular story into a knockout. Especially because of its brevity, the picture book usually has a very simple story: the boy has a horrible day at school, the pigeon dreams of driving a bus, machines transform a construction site, a tree gives generously instead of taking. , and so on. Picture book stories can be very powerful. They can make us laugh out loud, shed tears, feel comfort, care more about others, or identify with the main character. They can arouse almost any emotion on earth.
1. The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein: This is the unlikely love story between a boy and a tree. When the child is young and needs shade or wants to climb the branches, the tree pleases him. Then, when the boy grows up, he wants something that can spell the end of the tree, but the tree keeps giving it to him out of love. Although there may be several ways to interpret this story, the true message of love shines through. Even when the boy is an old man, he eventually uses the tree stump to rest and the tree is there for him.
2. Alexander and the Horrible, Bad, Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst, Ray Cruz: You have to know that your day is going to be bad when you wake up with gum in your hair. Alexander finds himself seeing more and more trouble as the day goes on. From the gum in his hair to dropping his sweater in the sink and tripping over his skateboard, he’s in the midst of one of the worst days of his life. Children and adults alike will love this story of a boy, his bad day, and the humor that accompanies the story. Bad days happen to everyone and we can all identify with Alexander.
3. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crocket Johnson:Harold is a little boy who has an imagination that can help him deal with problems using his trusty crayon. This is an adventurous and endearing story with a story that will delight and amuse. Harold gets help from his crayon drawing a boat to save him from drowning, he creates landmarks to help him find his way home, so his creativity and sense of adventure are contagious and help, in turn, our own imaginations. to fly.
4. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Judy and Ron Barrett: There is nothing better than a good storm, especially when it comes to fresh and delicious food, right? That may sound good if it’s raining cooking, but when the things that rain from the sky turn into larger portions and messier meals, it can be a little scary. When there’s orange juice rain, hamburger hail, and mashed potato snow, you don’t have to go to the grocery store anymore. This book is fun to read and even more fun to discuss with your kids, who think it’s a great idea for a storm.
5. Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus, Mo Willems: Here’s a charming story when a pigeon uses the tactics of a little boy to get its way. When the bus driver has to leave the bus for a moment, he warns the readers not to let the pigeon drive the bus. Asking nicely doesn’t get the bird what it wants, so it goes from begging, bribing, arguing, manipulating, and finally throwing a tantrum like a misbehaving child. The funny and realistic commentary throughout this story will leave you laughing and feeling weirdly good.
6. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig: Once a pebble collecting donkey finds his lucky stone, the madness begins. Once Sylvester accidentally turns into a stone, it seems all is lost, because he can’t turn back into a donkey. But he eventually returns to his donkey and begins to desire much more carefully.
7. Olivia and the Fairy Princesses, by Ian Falconer: This book is once again starring the most imaginative pig in the world. Olivia embarks on a quest for identity with very ethereal goals, and being a princess is NOT one of them! Olivia is having an identity crisis. There are too many sparkly and frilly princesses these days, and Olivia is pretty fed up. She needs to stand out! She has to be the zenith! She wants to do more than fit in! So what will she be? Read it and find out.
8. Never Take a Shark to the Dentist (and Other Don’ts) Judy Barrett: Well, this book offers sage advice that would be useful to just about anyone. Don’t take a shark to the dentist, don’t sit with a porcupine on the subway, don’t take a goat to the library, don’t take a raccoon to the bank… well, you get the idea. A fun instruction book about us and animals.
9. The Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales, Jon Scienszka: These pretty stupid tales are not like the fairy tales you may have known growing up. They are, rather, written with sarcasm and humorous scandal. By mixing the original stories and adding characters from other fairy tales to some of the old favorites, the humor and hilarity are infectious. Children tend to like the unexpected and can also appreciate a bit of sarcasm. This book is a lot of fun as the kids try to correct the writer and find it overwhelmingly impossible.
10. Machines at Work, by Byron Barton: During a busy day at the construction site, workers use a variety of machines to tear down a building and start building a new one. And most children, in particular, don’t seem to resist imagining themselves operating the huge machines that shape and reshape the earth. (After all, that’s why they’re called bulldozers.) For machine lovers, this one is irresistible.
Special Mention: You Are Special, The Gardener, Owen and The Velveteen Rabbit. In You Are Special, Lucado shows how no child should feel worthless or inferior because God doesn’t create garbage. The Gardener is a charming story about a country girl who moves to the city and brings a bit of the country with her. Owen reminds me of my little brother, who carried a blanket with him everywhere until the sorry thing was so tattered it just fell apart. And The Velveteen Rabbit is a wonderful classic that just didn’t seem to fit on this list. Well, maybe a future list.
