Great Picture Books for Young Children
I have five younger siblings that all love when I read aloud to them. As such, I have read my fair share and more of picture books. Many of them have been good quality reads, while others haven’t.
Over the years, it has become apparent which books are more favored over others by my younger siblings for various reasons. I have discovered that they prefer stories filled with humor and/or animals, as wells as cute stories about young children.
Here is the list of books that seem to be a huge hit in our house. They may well be a big hit in your house too, if they aren’t already.
1. The Gobble Gobble Moo Tractor Book by Jez Alborough
The Gobble Gobble Moo Tractor Book by Jez Alborough is a really entertaining book. The kids really love this one.
Here the link to a video in which Jez Alborough reads the book himself.
The kids just love this book. It is so funny, and entertaining, believe me.
While Farmer McDougal sleeps, the barnyard animals mess around with his tractor. Each animal contributes a sound, that mimics the sound of a real tractor. The mouse makes a squeaking sound, just like the the tractors squeaking tires, and so on.
2. Giggle, Giggle, Quack by Doreen Cronin
Giggle, Giggle, Quack by Doreen Cronin is one of the most hilarious picture books ever. I have read it over and over to the little kids.
Farmer Brown decides to go on a much needed vacation. He leaves his brother, Bob in charge of his farm while he is gone. Bob is not a farmer. The naughty duck on the farm takes advantage of this. Disaster ensues!
3. Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens
Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens is a classic story of a Lazy Bear, and a witty Hare. While Bear sleeps the days away, Hare and his family works to save up food. Bear shares his land with Hare under two conditions. One being that Hare works the land. Two is that bear gets exactly half the crop. Before planting a crop Hare asks Bear if he would like the ‘tops or the bottoms’ of the crop. When bear replies tops, Hare and his family plant root crops and the like.
This is definitely one of our favorite picture books.
4. The Gardener by Sarah Stewart
The Gardener by Sarah Stewart is about a young girl, Lydia Grace Finch, who is sent to live with her Uncle for a time, whilst her parents look for work. Set in the 1930’s depression era, the story is told through letters from Lydia Grace, to her parents and grandmother. She is busying herself with helping her Uncle Jim around his bakery, and secretly planting a surprise roof-top garden. Her ultimate goal is to make her Uncle Jim smile.
5. Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
Another family favorite is Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey.
I couldn’t even count on my hands how many times I have read this book aloud (at one point I hid this book, because it was so popular.)
Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk! The sound the round, little blueberries make when they hit the bottom of little Sal’s bucket. Little Sal has gone blueberry picking with her mother. But so has baby bear! A delightful book, with a funny mix-up. This is a book that should be read to every little child.
My younger siblings love these five books. I have read each of them many times before, and I am certain many times to come. I know that they love these books, because when they don’t love a book, you will quickly find it back on the shelf, or in the library basket, depending on where they got it from.
Have you or your children read any of these books? What are some of their favorite picture books? I would love to hear about them in the comment section below.
Happy Reading & Writing!