Picture Books | The Picture Book Review

Anna and Johanna: A Children’s Book Inspired by Jan Vermeer Written by Géraldine Elschner and Illustrated by Florence Kœnig

July 13, 2018 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Prestel Publishing] What if there was more to Vermeer’s paintings? What if there were stories that we didn’t know about the people he painted? What if there were secrets? Connections? Incredible events and coincidences that we never imagined? Wouldn’t that make an interesting story? Wouldn’t it be fun to imagine? In Anna and Johanna, Géraldine Elschner has written such a book about the women in Vermeer’s The Milkmaid and in The Lacemaker, and the way she […]

Categories: 2018, Children's Books, Fine Art Picture Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Art, Picture Books about Birthdays, Picture Books about Siblings, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Art, Book Review, Children's Books, kidlit, Picture Book, Picture Books

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Little Rabbit’s Questions – 小兔子的问题 – by Dayong Gan and translated by Helen Wang

March 19, 2018 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Candied Plums ] Little Rabbit’s Questions — with its black-and-white ink illustrations and elegant touches of blues, reds, and yellows — is a stunning picture book with new takes on classic themes of growing up and a mother’s love for her child. One day while Mama Rabbit and her child, Little Rabbit, are outside, Little Rabbit begins to ask questions. “Why are your eyes so big? Why are your ears so long? Why does your nose twitch? […]

Categories: 2017, Bilingual Picture Books: Mandarin/English, Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Bilingual, Book Review, Children's Books, kidlit, Mandarin, Picture Book, Picture Books

An Interview with Marianna Coppo! – Author and Artist of Petra

March 16, 2018 by The Picture Book Review

Marianna Coppo was kind enough to let me interview her. I asked her everything from where the idea of Petra came from, to what it was like for her to write Petra, to questions about if she has any thing she does to cultivate her creativity. I love her responses. I hope you all enjoy the interview — it was a priviledge to get to chat with her. Hello Marianna! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat […]

Categories: 2018, Interview, Picture Books • Tags: Art, Author Interview, Books, Children's Books, Illustrator Interview, Interview, kidlit, Picture Book, Picture Books

Harriet Gets Carried Away by Jessie Sima

March 15, 2018 by The Picture Book Review

[Reviewed from Copy Courtesy of Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers] Harriet Gets Carried Away is a wonderful and adventurous story about Harriet and her amazing imagination — or possibly about Harriet and her real and incredible journey to Antarctica (it depends on what you think really happened). Either way, this story, with its enchanting illustrations, adorable characters, and fantastic blending of reality and fantasy, makes for a wonderful read with children. It playfully and effortlessly elicits amazing conversations […]

Categories: 2018, Diverse Picture Books, Picture Books, Picture Books about Penguins • Tags: Book Review, Books, Children's Books, kidlit, Penguins, Picture Book, Picture Books, Recommended Picture Books

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Norman The Slug with the Silly Shell by Sue Hendra

March 14, 2018 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Aladdin/Simon & Schuster] Norman the Slug with the Silly Shell is a light-hearted and brightly-illustrated picture book about finding a way to be who you want to be – especially if you weren’t born that way. Norman is a slug, but when he looks over at the snails, he’s in awe of them. He wants a beautiful shell like they have. He really wants to hang out with them and join in on their group pyramid. […]

Categories: 2017, Picture Books, Picture Books about Being Different, Picture Books about Being Yourself, Picture Books about Belonging • Tags: Book Review, Books, Children's Books, Picture Book, Picture Books

Lots More Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing by Judi and Ron Barrett

March 13, 2018 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book/Atheneum Books for Young Readers] In 1988, Judi and Ron Barret created Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing to help out parents everywhere in answering the universal and boggling question, “Why don’t animals wear clothing?” It’s a very funny book that makes us giggle and provides some solid examples as to why it would be a bad idea for animals to wear clothing. Now in 2018, Judi and Ron Barrett are back with even […]

Categories: 2018, Picture Books, Picture Books about Animals, Picture Books about Belonging, picture books about inclusiveness • Tags: Animals, Children's Books, Clothing, kidlit, Picture Book, Picture Books

BRAVE by Stacy McAnulty and Illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

March 12, 2018 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Running Press Kids] “Brave kids can save the world. Just by being…brave.” Have you read Brave yet? If not, you need to. It’s an amazing picture book. With it’s powerful, direct text, and bold, bright illustrations, Brave will floor you. As an adult, it will put you in awe of everything your kids have to do daily just to grow up. Good luck making it through the first few readings without having to fight back tears. […]

Categories: 2017, Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Bravery • Tags: Book Review, Brave, Children's Books, Picture Book, Picture Books

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Who Was That? by Olivier Tallec

March 9, 2018 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Chronicle Books] In Who Was That? readers learn that they are not as observant as they think they are, but that won’t stop them from laughing about it. In asking us questions about what we’ve just seen, this book deftly and playfully shows us how vulnerable we are to oversight and misdirection. You’ll feel compelled to stop, go back, and examine each page. Even when you’re sure that you’re ready for the next page turn and […]

Categories: 2018, Children's Books, Humor, Kidlit, Picture Books • Tags: Book Review, Children's Books, Chronicle Books, Olivier Tallec, Picture Book, Picture Books, Who Was That?

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The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates and Juniper Bates

March 7, 2018 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Paula Wiseman Book/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers] The Big Umbrella is a beautiful and reassuring picture book about friendship, inclusiveness, and shelter from the rain. Set in a background of muted blues, grays, browns, and green — the contrast of the bright, red umbrella with its warm and adorable smile is a huge win that warms your heart. This beautiful umbrella meets readers on a rainy day. We see it waiting patiently by the […]

Categories: Picture Books, Picture Books about Belonging, picture books about inclusiveness • Tags: inclusiveness, Picture Book, Picture Books, umbrella

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The Picture Book Review

Reviews of Children's Board Books, Picture Books, Activity Books, and Graphic Novels

Category Archives: Picture Books

Anna and Johanna: A Children’s Book Inspired by Jan Vermeer Written by Géraldine Elschner and Illustrated by Florence Kœnig

Little Rabbit’s Questions – 小兔子的问题 – by Dayong Gan and translated by Helen Wang

An Interview with Marianna Coppo! – Author and Artist of Petra

Harriet Gets Carried Away by Jessie Sima

Norman The Slug with the Silly Shell by Sue Hendra

Lots More Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing by Judi and Ron Barrett

BRAVE by Stacy McAnulty and Illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

Who Was That? by Olivier Tallec

The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates and Juniper Bates