Story
These books are listed alphabetically by author and then the date published. Stories are critical for thinking and learning. I include the illustrators-essential to a good picture book.(Click here for an alpha list of all books.)
Nadine Brun-Cosme
Robert Burleigh
Priscilla Burris
Marilee Robin Burton
Nancy Carlson
Catia Chien
Katie Cleminson
Matthew Cordell
David Covell
Ray Cruz
James Dean
Julia Denos
Kris Di Giacomo
Kelly DiPucchio
Michael Escoffier
Theodor Geisel
E. B. Goodale
Kevin Henkes
Richard Jackson
Oliver Jeffers
Crockett Johnson
Judith Kerr
Michelle Knudsen
Eric Litwin
Renata Liwska
Jonathan London
Elaine Magliaro
Gianna Marino
Mercer Mayer
David Mcphail
Wendell Minor
Richard T. Morris
LeUyen Pham
Antoinette Portis
Chris Raschka
Peggy Rathmann
Frank Remkiewicz
Christian Robinson
Esphyr Slobodkina
Lane Smith
Elizabeth Rose Stanton
Olivier Tallec
Jeremy Tankard
Katherine Tillotson
Jeanne Titherington
Andrea Tsurumi
Deborah Underwood
Judith Viorst
Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
Brendan Wenzel
Eliza Wheeler
Sam Winston
Toni Yuly
David Mcphail
”A Bug, a Bear, and a Boy”
Illustrated by ?; Copyright © ?; Scholastic;
This is a simple story of friends doing fun things. It provides lots of opportunity for size comparisons.
Wendell Minor
”Night Train, Night Train”
Written by Robert Burleigh and illustrated by Wendell Minor; Copyright © 2018; Charlesbridge, Watertown, MA;
This is a lovely book. The images are dark like the night with colored lights that shine as a child looks out the window of a train. It is like being there. Rhyming text evokes the sounds of a train moving down the track.
Richard T. Morris
”Bear Came Along”
Written by Richard T. Morris and illustrated by LeUyen Pham; Copyright © 2019; Little, Brown and Company, New York Boston;
A group of forest animals take a wild ride down a river. The word "until" is used repeatedly to encourage anticipation of a coming event. The final event has much drama and a highlight in the fun. The illustrations cleverly portray the action in each scene including the movement of the river.
LeUyen Pham
”Bear Came Along”
Written by Richard T. Morris and illustrated by LeUyen Pham; Copyright © 2019; Little, Brown and Company, New York Boston;
A group of forest animals take a wild ride down a river. The word "until" is used repeatedly to encourage anticipation of a coming event. The final event has much drama and a highlight in the fun. The illustrations cleverly portray the action in each scene including the movement of the river.
Antoinette Portis
”Not A Box”
Written and illustrated by Antoinette Portis; Copyright © 2006; HarperCollins Children’s Books (HarperCollins Publishers), New York, NY;
Lot’s of questions to answer. Why are you doing these things with that box? If it’s not a box…what is it? The pictures tell the answers.
”Wait”
Written and illustrated by Antoinette Portis; Copyright © 2015; Roaring Book Press, New York, NY;
This is a very contemporary, real-life story. A child wants his Mom to "wait" while he stops to see interesting things in the city. Mom is in a "hurry"! Only two words on these pages, the pictures tell the story.
Chris Raschka
”New Shoes”
Written and illustrated by Chris Raschka; Copyright © 2018; HarperCollins, New York, NY;
This book explores the idea of new shoes through the eyes of a small child. The scenes, the images, the words and the sequence of events are crafted to show us what a young one sees and thinks. Just enough of everything to bring the memory back to a little one not ready yet for too much detail.
Peggy Rathmann
”Good Night, Gorilla”
Written and illustrated by Peggy Rathmann; Copyright © 1994; Putnam Juvenile
As the zoo keeper says good night to each animal the little gorilla uses the keeper’s keys to unlock each cage. The animals follow him home and his wife brings them back. Interesting elements of the story are found in the illustrations!
Frank Remkiewicz
”Froggy Gets Dressed”
Written by Jonathan London and illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz; Copyright © 1992; Penguin Books USA, Inc., New York, NY;
This book is about a frog who dresses to go outside to play in the snow. He must come back in several times because he forgot clothing items. It's fun and funny with a humorous ending.
Christian Robinson
”Gaston”
Written by Kelly DiPucchio and illustrated by Christian Robinson; Copyright © 2014; Simon & Schuster, New York, NY;
This is a charming story about two very different dog families and how they raised their puppies. The poodles were quite proper and the bulldogs were quite rambunctious. They discover that one pup from the poodle family and one from the bulldog family are obviously with the wrong group and switch places.
Esphyr Slobodkina
”Caps for Sale”
Written and illustrated by Esphyr Slobodkina; Copyright © 1940; HarperCollins
A peddler carries many hats on his head to sell. While he naps monkeys take the caps up into a tree. They do not return the caps until the peddler throws his own cap down. Then the monkeys follow suit!
