In celebration of Picture Book Month, I’ve yet again reached out to some of my favorite librarians for their takes on the best picture books of 2019. Like my August and October posts, the following are in the words of the librarians themselves.
“A Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzel. This poetic story took my breath away. It has everything a perfect picture book needs – simple, thought-provoking, stunning, and needs to be read by everyone.” – Anna, CT
“My favorite picture book of 2019 is The Boring Book by Shinsuke Yoshitake. How often have parents and caregivers heard that dreaded phrase, ‘I’m bored’? The Boring Book features a very young, very bored narrator on his quest to discover what ‘boring’ means, with many funny and profound moments along the way!” – Catherine, CT
“The Important Thing about Margaret Wise Brown was my top picture book of the year. I love that it truly celebrates her immense contribution to children’s literature. It’s deliberate, whimsical and totally unique. The important thing about Margaret Wise Brown’s biography is that you read it!” – Grace, NY
“The Neighbors by Einat Tsarfati follows a young girl as she makes her way up the stairs of her apartment building. She imagines who lives behind each door. With really rich illustrations, there’s so much to find and explore on each page! Did I mention there’s a twist?” – Jen, NY
“I know I talked briefly about it in my World Mental Health Day post, but Charlotte Agell’s Maybe Tomorrow? was definitely my favorite picture book of the year. The way it tackles grief and friendship is just so beautiful; I think grown-ups and children alike can learn a lot from Norris and Elba.” – Kate, CT
“Here’s my list: The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh by Supriya Kelkar, The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota’s Garden by Heather Smith, and The Little Red Stroller by Joshua Furst.” – Leah, MA
“With gorgeous illustrations that echo the magic of a Miyazaki film, Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando by Andrea Wang tells the story of the creativity and persistence behind the invention of cup noodles. This delicious and inspirational take shines with the inventor’s intention to bring about peace through food accessibility.” – Samantha, CT
A few honorable mentions you should check out (as we all had trouble choosing just one favorite):
I Want a Dog by Jon Agee
The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes
I Am Perfectly Designed by Karamo and Jason Brown
Hair Love by Matthew Cherry
Camp Tiger by Susan Choi
Grandpa’s Stories by Joseph Coelho
Carl and the Meaning of Life by Deborah Freedman
Rumple Buttercup: A Story of Bananas, Belonging, and Being Yourself by Matthew Gray Gubler
IntersectionAllies: We Make Room for All by Chelsea Johnson, LaToya Council, and Carolyn Choi
Hey, Dog by Tony Johnston
A Big Bed for Little Snow by Grace Lin
When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Luckoff
Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons
Lubna and Pebble by Wendy Meddour
My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero
Moth by Isabel Thomas
It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book about Gender Identity by Theresa Thorn
A Home in the Woods by Eliza Wheeler
This post addresses the following ALSC Core Competencies: IV. Knowledge, Curation, and Management of Materials