Picture Book Recommendations

Picture books are often young readers' first introduction into the wonderful world of books. We want to help you find books that make kids' reading experiences delightful-- for the adults who read them and the kids who listen to them. 

Who Will Make the Snow? By Taras Prokhasko, Marjana Prokhasko (Illustrator), Marjana Prokhasko, Jennifer Croft (Translated by), Boris Dralyuk (Translated by) Cover Image
By Taras Prokhasko, Marjana Prokhasko (Illustrator), Marjana Prokhasko, Jennifer Croft (Translated by), Boris Dralyuk (Translated by)
$22.00
ISBN: 9781953861740
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Elsewhere Editions - December 12th, 2023

This is a lovely, charming, fully-illustrated chapter book about a family of moles. At 80 pages, it is shorter than "A Wind in the Willows" and more substantial than "Frog and Toad Are Friends." It is gentle and thoughtful-- a good family read-aloud to last a while and keep coming back to. Translated from the Ukrainian.


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When Rubin Plays By Gracey Zhang, Gracey Zhang (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Gracey Zhang, Gracey Zhang (Illustrator)
$18.99
ISBN: 9781338648263
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Orchard Books - July 18th, 2023

Stunningly vibrant illustrations and text filled with exuberant vocabulary make this a book to cherish. 20 years from now, I can imagine adults leaving an exciting concert and saying, "Hey, do you remember that picture book from when we were little? About the boy and the violin and the jungle and the cats?" --Tegan


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Bark Ship Bonnie: A Picture Book By Stephanie Staib, Fiona Lee (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Stephanie Staib, Fiona Lee (Illustrator)
$16.99
ISBN: 9781951836542
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Cameron Kids - March 7th, 2023

I love this! Beautiful illustrations and language, and so much to ponder and enjoy about the sea life. Start your nautical phase now! --Tegan


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Naming Ceremony: A Picture Book By Seina Wedlick, Jenin Mohammed (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Seina Wedlick, Jenin Mohammed (Illustrator)
$18.99
ISBN: 9781419756269
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Abrams Books for Young Readers - April 11th, 2023

So sweet! As someone who has never experienced this tradition, I loved being welcomed into Amira's family's culture and seeing family and friends celebrating her new baby sister in such a loving way. This would make a good baby shower gift. --Tegan


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Maurice By Jessixa Bagley Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9781797211732
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Chronicle Books - May 9th, 2023

Jessixa's books always have so much heart in them! Readers will fall in love with Maurice (and Paris).

*Local fans: We'll host a Parisian party for "Maurice" on Saturday May 13 from 5:30- 7:00! Meet Jessixa Bagley and celebrate joie de vivre! You can see more information at our event listing.*

Also: The first 100 preorders with our store get a very special, limited edition art print by Jessixa Bagley. Wow!


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Clover: A Picture Book By Nadine Robert, Qin Leng (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Nadine Robert, Qin Leng (Illustrator)
$19.99
ISBN: 9781990252143
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Milky Way Picture Books - September 13th, 2022

Is it possible for a picture book to be quiet and epic at the same time? I think this manages! It's beautiful and adventurous and loving and thoughtful. (I also adore that Clover's gender is never specified.) --Tegan


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Booker the Library Bat 1: The New Guard By Jess Brallier, Jeff Harter (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Jess Brallier, Jeff Harter (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9781645950462
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Pixel+Ink - November 15th, 2022

This adorable picture book is inspired by the real bats that live in Portugal’s oldest library. Yes, the illustrations represent the elegant beauty of the Joanine Library in Coimbra. Yes, bat guano is a plot point. Because it has suspense and more text than some picture books, it makes a great all-family read-aloud. --Tegan


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99 Tomatoes and One Potato: A Seek-and-Find for Curious Minds By Delphine Chedru Cover Image
$15.99
ISBN: 9781419753770
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Abrams Appleseed - March 29th, 2022

This is so clever and fascinating! Each big, bold page has 99 items that fit a category and ONE that doesn't belong. It's a beautiful seek and find type of book that can spark interesting conversations. I could happily spend days poring over these pages, and I think kids will, too. 


Room for Everyone By Naaz Khan, Mercè López (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Naaz Khan, Mercè López (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9781534431393
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books - November 9th, 2021

Hop on the daladala (a kind of minibus taxi) on the way to the blue crystal waters of Zanzibar! The vibrant illustrations play with color, perspective, and texture. Rhythmic language dances across the pages as more and more people and their belongings pile into the vehicle on the way to the beach. It seems there can’t possibly be room, but “after some wiggles and giggles and fun, they made enough room for everyone.” Even the typeface becomes flexible, with words such as “shuffle,” “squirm,” and “squeeze” taking up extra space on the page. 

--from Tegan's review for the Christian Science Monitor Dec. 2021

The bus fills up and the illustrations keep expanding until a truly spectacular cross section of the overloaded daladala is followed by the cathartic release. Ahhhhh. After the characters climb out to enjoy the beautiful beach, readers should stay on board for a glossary of Arabic and Swahili words as well as a page about Zanzibar and its culture. This is a book you will be happy to read again and again because it’s so full of sunlight and energy.


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Where Three Oceans Meet: A Picture Book By Rajani LaRocca, Archana Sreenivasan (Illustrator) Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9781419741296
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Abrams Books for Young Readers - August 24th, 2021

Beautiful! It will make kids want to explore the world and their own heritage-- and it will make adults like me cry in a good way.  --Tegan


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Bathe the Cat By Alice B. McGinty, David Roberts (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Alice B. McGinty, David Roberts (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9781452142708
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Chronicle Books - February 8th, 2022

Delightfully silly! It made me giggle out loud, and it just might make chore-time a little more fun if we say, "Alright, time to rock the rug!" This family just looks like a lot of fun, and I think readers will enjoy spending time with them. --Tegan


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Eyes That Kiss in the Corners By Joanna Ho, Dung Ho (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Joanna Ho, Dung Ho (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9780062915627
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: HarperCollins - January 5th, 2021

Charming, celebratory, and absolutely beautiful! Hits home in a wonderful way.


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The Pirates Are Coming! By John Condon, Matt Hunt (Illustrator) Cover Image
By John Condon, Matt Hunt (Illustrator)
$16.99
ISBN: 9781536212167
Availability: Available to order - Usually arrives at our store in 1-5 days
Published: Candlewick Press - July 7th, 2020

In this book, a boy repeatedly raises false alarms that the pirates are coming (like "The Boy Who Cries Wolf"), but watch for the very fun twist at the end. I got a real kick out of the hiding spots the villagers choose when the boy cries pirates, and I think young readers will enjoy the refrain, speculating about pirates, playing peek-a-boo to "hide" whenever the boy shouts, and spending time alone after the read-throughs, just looking at all the silly illustrations. 


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Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut By Derrick Barnes, Gordon C. James (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Derrick Barnes, Gordon C. James (Illustrator)
$18.95
ISBN: 9781572842243
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Agate Bolden - October 10th, 2017

Treat yourself to an immersion in the community feeling and sense of self-worth that shine throughout this gorgeous book. It's difficult to choose, but I think my favorite pages might be the second-to-last about tipping the barber. Come check it out in person. You'll be glad you did!


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The Trouble with Penguins By Rebecca Jordan-Glum, Rebecca Jordan-Glum (Illustrator) Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9781250208484
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Roaring Brook Press - November 3rd, 2020

Absolutely adorable! The penguins are extremely expressive and relatable. Plus, marshmallows are integral to the plot!


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Natsumi! By Susan Lendroth, Priscilla Burris (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Susan Lendroth, Priscilla Burris (Illustrator)
$18.99
ISBN: 9780399170904
Availability: Available to order - Usually arrives at our store in 1-5 days
Published: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers - March 13th, 2018

So fun! Natsumi is an exuberant girl whose family doesn't always appreciate her energies. She tries a variety of traditional Japanese arts until her grandfather introduces her to something that is a perfect fit. 


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All Are Welcome (An All Are Welcome Book) By Alexandra Penfold, Suzanne Kaufman (Illustrator) Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780525579649
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Knopf Books for Young Readers - July 10th, 2018

This is a beautiful and brave book. The inclusive colorful, joyous illustrations help get across its  very important message, which was inspired by a statement made by Seattle public school teachers in response to the Muslim ban, and the illustrations are inspired by a local school. All Are Welcome makes me very proud to be a Seattleite!


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Maria the Matador By Anne Lambelet, Anne Lambelet (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Anne Lambelet, Anne Lambelet (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9781624146565
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Page Street Kids - February 5th, 2019

I love this almost as much as I love churros! It's the story of a girl who loves churros so much, she's willing to risk everything for a lifetime supply. She is creative and caring and peaceful, so her matador style might suprise you... Sweet and charming!


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There Must Be More Than That! By Shinsuke Yoshitake Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9781452183220
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Chronicle Books - October 6th, 2020

If you're feeling bummed out about the state of the world, take a page out of this girl's book! She's got some great ideas about the future--she's just the sort of thinker we need right now! (Particularly if you're thinking about how you'd like your eggs for dinner.)


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The Barnabus Project By Terry Fan, Eric Fan, Devin Fan Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9780735263260
Availability: Available to order - Usually arrives at our store in 1-5 days
Published: Tundra Books - September 1st, 2020

This is an adventure tale of daring escape! Barnabus, half mouse, half elephant, leads his "imperfect" friends to freedom. This sweet story's message is about loving yourself, friendship, and the power of imagination. --Erin


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Maud and Grand-Maud By Sara O'Leary, Kenard Pak (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Sara O'Leary, Kenard Pak (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9780399554582
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Random House Books for Young Readers - August 18th, 2020

This charming book is as cozy as Maud and Grand-Maud's matching flannel nightgowns. If we can't have our own visits with Grand-Maud, we can make do enjoying Maud's.


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Folk Tales from Japan: Fables, Myths and Fairy Tales for Children By Florence Sakade, Yoshio Hayashi (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Florence Sakade, Yoshio Hayashi (Illustrator)
$14.99
ISBN: 9784805314722
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Tuttle Publishing - August 4th, 2020

An absolute favorite! I grew up on these stories--how great to have them all in one book! Memorable, silly, and packed with charming illustrations. Get it! Love it! Tell me which story you enjoyed most (and why it's "The Rolling Mochi Cakes")!


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Margaret's Unicorn By Briony May Smith Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9781984896537
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Anne Schwartz Books - September 15th, 2020

A delightful story about chance encounters, friendship, and appreciating the time we (us and unicorns, obviously) have together. Features rolling hills, blustery weather, and unicorns that are sweet (but not overly so). 


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The Lost Spells By Robert MacFarlane, Jackie Morris Cover Image
$26.00
ISBN: 9781487007799
Availability: Available to order - Usually arrives at our store in 1-5 days
Published: Anansi International - October 27th, 2020

It feels a bit trite to call “The Lost Spells” magical, but I was—and am still—genuinely spellbound by this book. Enchantment of this sort is Macfarlane and Morris’s specialty (see, “The Lost Words”). Their nature poems and illustrations are so alive they breathe. They also flutter, caw, and root. Everyone—and this is a book for everyone, no matter your age or opinions on poetry—who reads these spells will find themselves doing the same. This is a good thing. If we learn the spells now, maybe they won’t be lost.


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Something's Wrong!: A Bear, a Hare, and Some Underwear By Jory John, Erin Kraan (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Jory John, Erin Kraan (Illustrator)
$18.99
ISBN: 9780374313883
Availability: Available to order - Usually arrives at our store in 1-5 days
Published: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) - March 23rd, 2021

Something's wrong. But this little bear just cannot figure out what, and goodness, is the suspense getting to him. Features copious anxious babble, best friends, and some wonderfully wide-eyed blank stares. This book had the whole staff giggling! 


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We Wait for the Sun By Katie McCabe, Raissa Figueroa (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Katie McCabe, Raissa Figueroa (Illustrator)
$18.99
ISBN: 9781250229021
Availability: Available to order - Usually arrives at our store in 1-5 days
Published: Roaring Brook Press - February 9th, 2021

If you love "Blueberries for Sal," take a look at this! It has the same potential as a classic, with sensory details and family connection that are wonderfully evocative plus gorgeous illustrations to bring the magic of the scenes to life. 


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My First Day By Phùng Nguyên Quang, Huynh Kim Liên Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9780593306260
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Make Me a World - February 16th, 2021

A young boy goes to school by boat! He's independent and eager to learn--and he's got things to teach us about his commute! Illustrations are bright, beautiful, and full of movement. 


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Sato the Rabbit By Yuki Ainoya, Michael Blaskowsky (Translated by) Cover Image
By Yuki Ainoya, Michael Blaskowsky (Translated by)
$17.95
Email or call for price
ISBN: 9781592703180
Published: Enchanted Lion - February 23rd, 2021

Sometimes you become a rabbit. That's all right! It's a lovely way to see the world, as Sato can attest.


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Daisy By Jessixa Bagley Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9780823446506
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Neal Porter Books - March 2nd, 2021

Author and illustrator Jessixa Bagley's Daisy is teased at school, so retreats to her own special place where she collects treasures everyone else overlooks--and then a sweet friend comes along. I love Bagley's art and the message: there's someone for everyone.  --Erin


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The Little Mermaid By Jerry Pinkney Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9780316440318
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - November 3rd, 2020

A gorgeous reimagining of a childhood classic that emphasizes the power of friendship. --Rachel