Recommended 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

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

Petra by Marianna Coppo

February 21, 2018 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Tundra Books] Is Petra a mountain? A pebble? An egg? An island? Or a child’s pet rock? Well, whatever Petra is, she knows that she is going to be amazing and that with each new day and each new phase in her life — something wonderful is bound to come of it. Petra is a joy of a picture book that gently guides readers to ponder themes of flexibility, self-perception, change, time, and anticipation. Petra herself is […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Change, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Children's Books, kidlit, Picture Book, Picture Books

Rot, the Cutest in the World! by Ben Clanton

December 20, 2017 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Simon & Schuster/Atheneum Books for Young Readers] Released out into the world yesterday – Rot, the Cutest in the World! is a picture book about a mutant potato entering a cuteness contest. It expertly touches on themes of beauty, high self-confidence, context, and who’s to judge. Rot explains these complex lessons in a fun, honest, and hilarious way. In Rot, the Cutest in the World!, Ben Clanton uses tons of humor to send a clear message that […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Children's Books, Humor, kidlit, Picture Book, Picture Books

Small Walt – by Elizabeth Verdick and Marc Rosenthal

November 27, 2017 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books] In this enchantingly illustrated and uplifting story, we cheer for a small snowplow as he goes out in a big snow storm and surmounts even bigger challenges. Expert storytelling combined with a perfect blend of retro and modern illustrations makes Small Walt a win for young fans of snowplows everywhere. Where to Get Small Walt: [Affiliate Link]: Amazon.com [Local Bookstore]: Addendum Books [Public Library]: Worldcat.org Small Walt, with his sweet smile, kind […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Children's Books, kidlit, Picture Book, Picture Books

Little Mouse Finds a Friend by Jeni Leidenfrost and Jessica Linn Evans

November 25, 2017 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Jovial Press] Here’s a sweet picture book about a small mouse that finds and adopts a caterpillar as a pet. Little Mouse Finds a Friend‘s characters are charming, it is beautifully illustrated, and the factual information is memorable and interesting. We meet Little Mouse one day as he is getting ready to head outside and play. No one else in his family is interested in joining him, so he heads off by himself. After meeting up with […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Moths, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Atlas Moth, Children's Books, kidlit, Picture Book, Picture Books

If Picasso Painted a Snowman by Amy & Greg Newbold

November 21, 2017 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Tilbury House Publishers] In If Picasso Painted a Snowman, a very friendly hamster introduces 17 different artists and their particular iconic style to readers in a fun and memorable way. Readers are brought into the story by the use of a direct second-person conversational tone making them instantly feel part of the story. It’s an immediately absorbing and engaging book that is both informative and accessible. The book opens with the hamster postulating, “If someone asked […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Art, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Children's Books, kidlit, Picture Book, Picture Books

The Peanut Fart/花生米样的屁 by Xiaoming Wang and translated by Adam Lanphier

November 15, 2017 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Candied Plums] You’ll never believe how much this book will make you care about a snail and his fart. You’ll be awed at how beautifully illustrated and how compellingly told this unusual picture book is. You’ll laugh, the kids will laugh, and you’ll find yourself amazed at how creative and touching The Peanut Fart is. The Peanut Fart combines stunning artwork and profound humor in such a creative and unique story that I didn’t know how […]

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

Hamsters Don’t Fight Fires! by Author Andrew Root and Artist Jessica Olien

November 14, 2017 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Andrew Root] Hamsters Don’t Fight Fires is, in its own way, a masterpiece. It is funny, impossible, sweet, encouraging, and bizarrely realistic and logical. In theory, it shouldn’t work. In theory, a book about a hamster wanting to be a firefighter should be kinda funny and cute at best. Instead, the story and illustrations come together in this beautiful and strangely perfect way that leaves its readers feeling hopeful and energized. You need to read this […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Children's Books, Firefighters, Hamsters, kidlit, Picture Book, Picture Books

The Picture Book Review

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

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