Picture Book Classics

Picture Book Classics

It's often risky to create a list of "classics."
A "classic" book has lasting significance or worth, and everyone has an opinion as to which titles should be included.
Many of these books have been read to children for decades and still retain their value and importance in children's literature;
other fairly new titles are generally considered to be among the best picture books of the last few years.

The importance of reading aloud to babies and children has been shown in scientific studies.
The Library hopes that this list will get parents started on the road to a lifetime of literacy with their young readers.

All titles below are in the " j " picture book collection unless otherwise indicated.
Library staff will be happy to help you find these and other great books to read with your children.

Click for the complete list (print-friendly version)

Bemelmans, Ludwig.
Madeline.
(Viking, 1939)
Madeline, smallest and naughtiest of the twelve little charges of Miss Clavel, wakes up one night with an attack of appendicitis.
Caldecott honor book.
Check the Library Catalog

Bridwell, Norman.
Clifford the Big Red Dog.
(Four Winds, 1963)
Emily Elizabeth describes activities she enjoys with her very big, very red dog and how they take care of each other.
Check the Library Catalog

Brown, Margaret Wise.
Goodnight Moon.
(Harper, 1947)
A little bunny bids goodnight to all the objects in his room before falling asleep.
Check the Library Catalog

Carle, Eric.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
(Philomel Books, 1987)
A hungry little caterpillar eats his way through a varied and very large quantity of food until, full at last, he forms a cocoon around himself and goes to sleep.
Check the Library Catalog

De Paola, Tomie.
Strega Nona.
(Prentice-Hall, 1975)
When Stega Nona leaves him alone with her magic pasta pot, Big Anthony decides to show the townspeople how it works.
Caldecott honor book.
Check the Library Catalog

Freeman, Don.
Corduroy.
(Viking, 1968)
A toy bear in a department store wants a number of things, but when a little girl finally buys him, he finds what he has always wanted most of all.
Check the Library Catalog

Gag, Wanda.
Millions of Cats.
(Coward, 1928)
How can an old man and his wife select one cat from a choice of millions and trillions? Newbery honor book.
Check the Library Catalog

Hoban, Russell.
Bedtime for Frances.
(HarperCollins, 1960)
Frances has trouble going to sleep because of frightening sounds and objects.
Check the Library Catalog

Johnson, Crockett.
Harold and the Purple Crayon.
(HarperCollins, 1955)
Harold goes for an adventurous walk in the moonlight with his purple crayon.
Check the Library Catalog

Keats, Ezra Jack.
The Snowy Day.
(Viking, 1962)
The adventures of a little boy in the city on a very snowy day.
Caldecott medal winner. (Reading Rainbow collection)
Check the Library Catalog

Leaf, Munro.
The Story of Ferdinand.
(Viking, 1936)
A young bull named Ferdinand who would prefer to sit peacefully under a tree and smell the flowers is chosen for the bullfights in Madrid when a sting from a bee makes him stomp and snort like the fiercest bull of all. (Reading Rainbow collection)
Check the Library Catalog

Lionni, Leo.
Swimmy.
(Pantheon, 1968)
A little black fish in a school of red fish figures out a way of protecting them all from their natural enemies.
Caldecott honor book.
Check the Library Catalog

McCloskey, Robert.
Make Way for Ducklings.
(Viking, 1941)
Mr. and Mrs. Mallard proudly return to their home in the Boston Public Garden with their eight offspring. (Reading Rainbow collection)
Check the Library Catalog

Numeroff, Laura Joffe.
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.
(Harper, 1985)
The cycle of requests a mouse is likely to make after you give him a cookie takes the reader through a young child's day. (Reading Rainbow collection)
Check the Library Catalog

Piper, Watty.
The Little Engine That Could.
(Platt & Munk, 1930)
Although she is not very big, the Little Blue Engine agrees to try to pull a stranded train full of toys over the mountain. (Reading Rainbow collection)
Check the Library Catalog

Potter, Beatrix.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
(F. Warne, 1902)
Peter disobeys his mother by going into Mr. McGregor's garden and almost gets caught.
Check the Library Catalog

Rey, H. A.
Curious George.
(Houghton Mifflin, 1941)
The curiosity of a newly-captured monkey gets him into continual trouble.
Check the Library Catalog

Scieszka, Jon.
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs.
(Viking, 1989)
The wolf gives his own outlandish version of what really happened when he tangled with the three little pigs.
Check the Library Catalog

Sendak, Maurice.
Where the Wild Things Are.
(HarperCollins, 1963)
A naughty little boy, sent to bed without his supper, sails to the land of the wild things where he becomes their king.
Caldecott medal winner. (Reading Rainbow collection)
Check the Library Catalog

Van Allsburg, Chris.
The Polar Express.
(Houghton Mifflin, 1985)
A magical train ride on Christmas Eve takes a boy to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa Claus.
Caldecott medal winner. (Reading Rainbow collection)
Check the Library Catalog

Click for the complete list (print-friendly version)

	Bemelmans, Ludwig. Madeline. (Viking, 1939) Madeline, smallest and naughtiest of the twelve little charges of Miss Clavel, wakes up one night with an attack of appendicitis. Caldecott honor book. Check the Library Catalog
	Bridwell, Norman. Clifford the Big Red Dog. (Four Winds, 1963) Emily Elizabeth describes activities she enjoys with her very big, very red dog and how they take care of each other. Check the Library Catalog
	Brown, Margaret Wise. Goodnight Moon. (Harper, 1947) A little bunny bids goodnight to all the objects in his room before falling asleep. Check the Library Catalog
	Carle, Eric. The Very Hungry Caterpillar. (Philomel Books, 1987) A hungry little caterpillar eats his way through a varied and very large quantity of food until, full at last, he forms a cocoon around himself and goes to sleep. Check the Library Catalog
	De Paola, Tomie. Strega Nona. (Prentice-Hall, 1975) When Stega Nona leaves him alone with her magic pasta pot, Big Anthony decides to show the townspeople how it works. Caldecott honor book. Check the Library Catalog
	Freeman, Don. Corduroy. (Viking, 1968) A toy bear in a department store wants a number of things, but when a little girl finally buys him, he finds what he has always wanted most of all. Check the Library Catalog
	Gag, Wanda. Millions of Cats. (Coward, 1928) How can an old man and his wife select one cat from a choice of millions and trillions? Newbery honor book. Check the Library Catalog
	Hoban, Russell. Bedtime for Frances. (HarperCollins, 1960) Frances has trouble going to sleep because of frightening sounds and objects. Check the Library Catalog
	Johnson, Crockett. Harold and the Purple Crayon. (HarperCollins, 1955) Harold goes for an adventurous walk in the moonlight with his purple crayon. Check the Library Catalog
	Keats, Ezra Jack. The Snowy Day. (Viking, 1962) The adventures of a little boy in the city on a very snowy day. Caldecott medal winner. (Reading Rainbow collection) Check the Library Catalog
	Leaf, Munro. The Story of Ferdinand. (Viking, 1936) A young bull named Ferdinand who would prefer to sit peacefully under a tree and smell the flowers is chosen for the bullfights in Madrid when a sting from a bee makes him stomp and snort like the fiercest bull of all. (Reading Rainbow collection) Check the Library Catalog
	Lionni, Leo. Swimmy. (Pantheon, 1968) A little black fish in a school of red fish figures out a way of protecting them all from their natural enemies. Caldecott honor book. Check the Library Catalog
	McCloskey, Robert. Make Way for Ducklings. (Viking, 1941) Mr. and Mrs. Mallard proudly return to their home in the Boston Public Garden with their eight offspring. (Reading Rainbow collection) Check the Library Catalog
	Numeroff, Laura Joffe. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. (Harper, 1985) The cycle of requests a mouse is likely to make after you give him a cookie takes the reader through a young child's day. (Reading Rainbow collection) Check the Library Catalog
	Piper, Watty. The Little Engine That Could. (Platt & Munk, 1930) Although she is not very big, the Little Blue Engine agrees to try to pull a stranded train full of toys over the mountain. (Reading Rainbow collection) Check the Library Catalog
	Potter, Beatrix. The Tale of Peter Rabbit. (F. Warne, 1902) Peter disobeys his mother by going into Mr. McGregor's garden and almost gets caught. Check the Library Catalog
	Rey, H. A. Curious George. (Houghton Mifflin, 1941) The curiosity of a newly-captured monkey gets him into continual trouble. Check the Library Catalog
	Scieszka, Jon. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. (Viking, 1989) The wolf gives his own outlandish version of what really happened when he tangled with the three little pigs. Check the Library Catalog
	Sendak, Maurice. Where the Wild Things Are. (HarperCollins, 1963) A naughty little boy, sent to bed without his supper, sails to the land of the wild things where he becomes their king. Caldecott medal winner. (Reading Rainbow collection) Check the Library Catalog
	Van Allsburg, Chris. The Polar Express. (Houghton Mifflin, 1985) A magical train ride on Christmas Eve takes a boy to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa Claus. Caldecott medal winner. (Reading Rainbow collection) Check the Library Catalog

2/12/08 Duluth Public Library, 520 W. Superior St., Duluth, MN 55802

2/12/08
Duluth Public Library, 520 W. Superior St., Duluth, MN 55802