Favorite childrens books? Either for the words or the beautiful illustrations!

Question

Jes · Answer

Everybody Needs a Rock: I give this book to every kid in my life and still keep a copy at home for myself.

Sarah Cooney · Answer

Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey: This is the perfect book. I reread it myself every summer, at the beginning and the end.

sofie · Answer

This Story is Not About A Kitten: I always love Carson’s illustrations and this story is so so sweet.

Val · Answer

Guess How Much I Love You: This book was my favourite as a child and the one I would always ask to be read to me. Can’t go wrong with that story!

Catherine Davis · Answer

Cloth Lullaby: The most charming illustrations and story about Louise Bourgeois’ childhood, life and art.

Emily · Answer

Imagination library: I can give a dozen or two recs specific books. But can I also recommend you sign up your kiddo or the kid in your life for this? Free books until they turn 5. And a lot of gems.

Laura Gardner Longo · Answer

There’s a Tiger on the Train: This book is a whimsical reminder for both kids and parents to appreciate the magical world around us (and hop off our phones). It’s a delight!

Rachel · Answer

I Am Bat (Morag Hood): All of my favorite children’s books are about bats. I don’t know what that says about me as a person. Bat thinks someone stole his cherries. I love bat. I love cherries. I give this to all my friends who have babies.

Carla · Answer

Trouble with Trolls- Jan Brett: She has written many, but I loved this one as a kid. All the little underground hedgehog scenes felt really magical. One of my faves!

Jamie · Answer

Stellaluna: I adore this book, the one I remember most from childhood. Some days you might feel like a bat in a bird’s world, but that’s okay!

Emily H · Answer

Room On The Broom: Everyone’s always yappin about The Gruffalo when this one is sooo much better…? Maybe because it  seems seasonal…? Everything about it absolutely rocks.

Sarah · Answer

Farmhouse: I rec everything Sophie blackhall has written, but Farmhouse is my favorite. A reflection on the passage of time, it will get you in the heartstrings. My 6 year old took this book to kindergarten and reported back that her teacher cried when she read it to the class (which, same!)

Lisa · Answer

Little Bear: The world of Little Bear, Mother Bear and Father Bear is just so sweet. There's so much love and gentle wisdom in these beautiful stories!

Liz · Answer

The Bed Book by Sylvia Plath: I bet you didn't know that Sylvia Plath wrote a picture book. It was one of my favorites when I was young. I still have the first pages memorized. Now, I buy used copies for birthday and baby shower gifts.

Sarah · Answer

The Rainbow Goblins: Ok going out on a limb here to rec my favorite book from my childhood (my kids also enjoy it). It's a little out there, but stick with me. It was published in 1978, and it's a story of goblins trying to steal the rainbow and eat it (an allegory for human greed/destruction). Nature bands together and... kills them. You see their butts. Don't say I didn't warn you. But each page is an unbelievable oil painting, it's BEAUTIFUL (the author/illustrator is an Italian count(?!)). If your kids are into taking things a little dark and weird, they might like this!

Dana Louise · Answer

The Day You Begin: I read this to my students at the beginning of every school year. Then they make a self portrait of themselves to celebrate their unique qualities.

Kelsey · Answer

Every Night Is Pizza Night: By J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

My favorite book to gift and to read. Try it, for science.

molly · Answer

the doubtful guest: this was my best friend’s childhood book and they read it to me recently and it is just perfect. here is a pdf but buy it for your children!!!!!!

thank u @Ada Griffin

Sarah · Answer

All Through the Night: One of our favorite books of all time (so far). So much fun to point out the recurring “characters” and find the orange bus on every page as it drives through the night.

Julie F A T · Answer

The Rabbit Listened: A full grief cycle realized and shared.

Julie F A T · Answer

Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes: “Today was a difficult day. Tomorrow will be better.”

Kelly P · Answer

still stuck by shinsuke yoshitake: If you need a picture book that will make you lol (all Yoshitake’s books are brilliant)

Katherine · Answer

How Music Came to the World: One of my favorites when I was little, stunning illustrations for a story based on an Aztec myth. Bonus points for teaching kids how to read the names Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca!

Wynne · Answer

Giving Your Friends' Kids Books That Will Radicalize Them: Of course as your resident fat friend who does eating disorder work every baby I know is getting a copy of this gorgeous book about body diversity! Now available as a board book! Did I buy 10 copies of this book? Yes I did! No baby friend of mine is gonna grow up fatphobic, transphobic and ableist if I have anything to do with it!! Another great pick IMO is The Paper Bag Princess which my girl power/feminist baby go-to.

wren · Answer

Frederick (book) 1967 children's book by Leo Lionni: A poet mouse. i had this book growing up and it explains value of creativity, and is also so cute.

Michael Bolognino · Answer

Mike Curato - Author & Illustrator: I met Mike at my first "real" job after college, at Cranium (we made games, books, and toys, and Mike famously once drew me into a puzzle holding a hotdog).

Mike is the author and illustrator of several award winning books for kids, teens and adults. His most recent graphic novel, Gaysians, won the 2026 GLAAD Award for Original Graphic Novel/Anthology.

And all of my kids' friends are obsessed with his kids books, starting with Little Elliot Big City.

More about Mike:

Mike Curato is an author and illustrator of books for children, teens, and adults. He is best known for his Little Elliot picture book series and his young adult graphic novel, Flamer, which received several honors including the 2020 Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ Young Adult, the 2021 Massachusetts Book Award for Young Adult, and was listed as one of NPR’s Best Books of 2020. Flamer also has the distinction of being one of the most banned and challenged books in the United States, and Mike has become a fierce advocate of free speech. He continues to create books that center love, compassion, and friendship. Mike’s debut adult graphic novel, Gaysians, released in June of 2025 to critical acclaim.

Original artwork is available for sale from R Michelson Gallery.

Maggie Dodson · Answer

Little Owl Lost: Beautiful artwork and my daughter squeals with delight when we read it.

Maggie Dodson · Answer

We Found A Hat: Jon Klassen is GOAT. Truly an absolute joy to read this one.

LaTonya Yvette · Answer

Going to throw in my own book!: The Hair book. A few times a week, I get stopped about it. Folks love how accessible it is for autistic kids as well.

Ona · Answer

Du Iz Tak?: The author makes up her own language but you and your child can figure out what she’s saying the more you read it. Gorgeous illustrations and a sweet story.

Varsh · Answer

Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers: Beautifully illustrated book about a boy who finds a penguin at his door and decides to help it get home to the South Pole.

Kate Vee · Answer

The Moomintroll series by Tove Jansson: These books are the absolute best. Stories full of curiosity and the beautiful freedom of childhood and love. They impacted the culture of our family in many, many ways. If you can get the Drawn and Quarterly editions, do it! They are gorgeous and will train your young people to always love a book that needs a map at the beginning to set the scene. My son told people we had made a mistake and that his actual name was Snufkin for YEARS.

Mo · Answer

Goodnight Moon: Great for a bedtime story. It's fairly short and most of the words are just "Goodnight (insert object)" which makes it easy to read in a soothing tone. I also love the art

Paige · Answer

When You Find the Right Rock: So many other favorites/honorable mentions, impossible to choose: Miss Rumphius, A Stone Sat Still, Mel Fell, Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, Farmhouse, Nightsong, Hush, Hush Forest, Mouse’s Wood - A Year in Nature

Elena · Answer

Bunny & Tree: No words, just lovely illustrations that tell their own story which you can embellish how you please. Every reader makes it different so kids love making new adults take them through it. My friends kids introduced us to this one and it’s a favorite to gift.

Elena · Answer

Grump Groan Growl: Read this to all my friends kids and they love it, especially helpful to turn a grumpy mood around. And bell hooks!!