The best picture books for kids picture books for kids

Full of funny, uplifting stories and brilliant illustrations, these will undoubtedly become a favorite for storytelling.

Whether you're reading to your child or teaching them to read themselves, kids will want to return to these picture books again and again. Full of sweet characters, playful stories, and beautiful illustrations, these are just some of the best picture books for kids of all ages.

For more inspiration, don't miss the best books for babies and the best bedtime stories for kids. And our pick of the best sticker and activity books will keep little minds entertained for hours.

Picture books for babies and toddlers

Fruit
by Valerie Bloom

This award-winning picture book is a fun and educational counting poem by Valerie Bloom, with beautiful illustrations by David Axtell. How Much Fruit Can a Little Girl Eat? Count from one to ten and learn the names of different Caribbean fruits. The rhyming text helps little ones learn to count as they discover the many delicious fruits of the Caribbean.

Freddy the Frog
by Axel Scheffler

Follow Freddy the Frog as he sinks into slime, races his friends and creaks all day! Little kids will love this colorful board book with sliders to pull on, tabs to press and soft rhyming text to enjoy together.

Five More Minutes
by Marta Altés

A little fox gives his dad with little time some advice on what 'time' really means and how to make the most of it in this charming and funny story from award-winning picture book maker Marta Altés.

We Go Lion Hunt
by David AxtellDavid Axtelladventure

This picture book through the African savannah, full of beautiful illustrations of beautiful animals, is a rendition of a well-known children's poem. Two sisters look for a lion that lives on the African savannah. They go through swishy swashy long grass, a smashing splashing lake and a big dark cave - but when they finally meet the lion they have to run, run, run all the way home.

It's mine!

From the creator of the much-loved toddler classic, Dear Zoo, Rod Campbell It's Mine! is a hide and seek that the little ones will love. Full of bright, bold illustrations and exciting jungle animals, the best is saved for last with its surprise pop-up ending and the thick card pages make it the perfect baby book for kids who love to explore by touch.

There's an Owl in My Towel
by Julia Donaldson

This beautifully illustrated book is full of gentle humor as any baby activity is thwarted by a variety of unexpected animals. It's hard to have breakfast with a mole in your bowl, but who wouldn't want to be in bed?

WOW! Said the Owl
by Tim Hopgood

Tim Hopgood's bold, engaging, beautiful picture books will help kids learn more about colors.

When it's time to go to bed, owls just wake up. But a curious little owl decides to stay awake all day and discovers a world full of color! But when night comes again, the stars above her head are still the most beautiful of them all.

With My Mummy
by James Brown

This moving celebration of the special relationship between mother and child is told in soft rhyme by James Brown, while charming illustrations by Cally Johnson-Issacs bring the story to life in this beautiful picture book.

Picture books for ages 3-5

The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Book
by Lucy Rowland

Ben is determined to finish the bedtime story his mother read to him, even though he can't quite read it yet. To his surprise and delight, the story comes to life when three little pigs knock on his bedroom door. . . A playful rhyming version of the beloved fairy tale The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Book is a celebration of the magic of reading and storytelling.

Coming to England
by Floella Benjamin

Baroness Floella Benjamin traveled from Trinidad to London with her older sister and two younger brothers when she was only ten years old, as part of the Windrush generation. This is her inspiring true story. Arriving in England to be reunited with the rest of her family, cold and unfriendly London was not quite what Floella expected. This beautifully illustrated and powerful true story of overcoming adversity is full of Floella's signature optimism and joy.

Watch David Olusoga, historian and author of Black and British: A short, essential history, read Coming to England for CBeebies Bedtime Stories:

M is for Melanin
by Tiffany Rose

This cheerful and powerful alphabet book teaches kids their ABCs and celebrates black kids, all kids love the skin they are in. Each letter of the alphabet contains affirmative, black-positive messages, from E is for Empowerment, to L is for Lead to W is for Worthy.

I Can Catch a Monster
by Bethan Woollvin

Bo the Brave is a rebellious girl on the hunt for a terrifying monster. Her brothers say she is too small to catch a monster, but Bo is smart, strong and has big ideas of her own. She's looking for a beast, but can she defeat the furious griffin, crack the hideous and the big scary dragon? Or will she find new friends instead? This is a vibrant picture book with a powerful message about standing up for yourself and not judging by looks.

Just One of That Days
by Jill Murphy

Fans of Jill Murphy's classic picture book Peace at Last will love this new story featuring Mr Bear, Mrs Bear and Baby Bear. Mr and Mrs Bear wake up late and it is raining. Mrs. Bear breaks her glasses and Mr. Bear spills his coffee. It's only one of those days, but the Bear family muddles through it, and at the end of the day, there's even a surprise for Baby Bear.

Counting Creatures
by Julia Donaldson

This beautiful picture book is a fun, interactive counting book with see-through pages, fold-out flaps and bright, beautiful illustrations. The little ones will love comparing the creatures, exploring their habitat and learning the correct names for all baby animals.

The Little War Cat
by Hiba Noor Khan

This beautifully illustrated picture book is inspired by a true story. A little gray cat is trapped among the ponies and crashes of the people in boots that have turned the city of Aleppo into a city she can hardly recognize. But then an unlikely friend shows up and shows her that there is still a lot of kindness in the world. And soon the little gray cat realizes how she can make a difference too.

Cave Baby
by Julia Donaldson

This 10th anniversary special issue of this wonderful adventure story is a must-have picture book for little Julia Donaldson fans. A furry mammoth takes a small baby on an exciting journey. On the way, they meet a saber-toothed tiger, a jumping hare, a laughing hyena and maybe even a large brown bear. But where are they going? And what has it to do with the scribbles the baby made on the cave wall?

Monkey Puzzle 20th Anniversary Edition
by Julia Donaldson

Help Monkey find his mother in this special 20th anniversary edition of Monkey Puzzle, featuring special never-before-seen content. It's not much fun to be lost in the jungle, and Monkey just wants to find his mom. Can the friendly butterfly help?

Arlo The Lion Who Couldn't Sleep
by Catherine Rayner

a friendly mindfulness message especially helpful for little ones who have trouble sleeping. Arlo the lion is exhausted, but he just can't fall asleep no matter what he tries. But then he meets Owl, who can sleep all day. Can she teach Arlo some special tricks?

Poo! Is that you?
by Clare Helen Welsh

This is the stinking funny story of Lenny de Lemur who took a vacation to the Amazon rainforest. He's about to take a nap if he gets a foul odor. What can it be? Lenny decides to track down the source of the scent and meets many smelly creatures along the way to learn all about how they smell and why.

Albert Talbot: Master of Disguise

Ben Manley

can be brave when confronted with adversity. This fun and playful story celebrates the joy of imaginative play and the freedom to be whoever you want.

My Dad is a Grizzly Bear
by Swapna Haddow

Could Daddy be a Grizzly Bear? He has a fluffy coat, big legs and loves the outdoors. He sleeps a lot, and he ate all the honey. What else could he be? Sometimes when it's scary at night there is nothing better than a big bear hug.

What the Ladybug Heard on the Coast
by Julia Donaldson

The adventure continues for the little ladybug in Julia Donaldson and Lyde's beloved children's picture book series Vandia Monks. The clever little ladybug goes to the beach for a day, but those two bad guys, Lanky Len and Hefty Hugh, have no good plans again. Join the ladybug as she meets a group of sea creatures and prevents Lanky Len and Hefty Hugh from performing their usual tricks. Animal-loving little ones will love spotting the story's coastal residents in this glittery coastal adventure.

Starbird
by Sharon King-Chai

Starbird is an original fable about freedom and love, stunningly illustrated by Sharon King-Chai. Starbird's songs delight everyone who hears them, but when the Moon King locks Starbird in a cage as a gift to his daughter, all the color and life begins to drain into his voice. With beautiful illustrations and shiny silver foil, this beautiful picture book makes a wonderful gift for any child or adult.

The Grizzly Itch
by Victoria Cassanell

Victoria Casanell's wonderful story of a bear who can't scratch its itch after hibernation will teach children the importance of friendship and helping others. Readers of all ages will love spotting the animals in each painted scene as they follow Bear's mission to scratch his Grizzly Itch once and for all.

I'm Not an Elephant
by Karl Newson's

Laugh out loud at the adventures of the fat, imaginative little mouse, who is accused of being an elephant by a gecko. Mouse is pretty sure this isn't true, but what else could Mouse be? An owl? A sheep? A yak? A cow? Mouse convinces the others that it is the inside that counts in this vibrant and distinctive picture book.

Kiki and Jax
by Marie Kondo

Marie Kondo on how tidying up can bring joy to the lives of young children. Kiki and Jax are best friends - Jax likes to sort, but Kiki loves to collect and collect a lot of things. When Kiki's house gets too cluttered with things for the friends to play in, Jax teaches Kiki how to sort everything and keep only those things that bring joy!

The Truth About Old People
by Elina Ellis

This funny, sweet picture book pays tribute to grandparents and old people. When you're little, everyone taller than you seems really old. But being a parent doesn't mean you are boring, slow, or quiet! From Elina Ellis, Macmillan Prize for Illustration winner, The Truth About Old People tackles ageism without being preachy.

Crocodile

not Gemma Merino

water kept everyone knows love crocodiles of water, but this little crocodile is different. He doesn't like water at all. In fact, he prefers to climb trees! Could it be that this little crocodile isn't a crocodile at all? Maybe he's just a DRAGON!

The Crocodile Who Didn't Like Water is a funny and uplifting story that proves that being different can be fun!

I Am Perfectly Designed
by Karamo Brown inspirational picture

This book about loving who you are comes from Karamo Brown, star of the hit Netflix series Queer Eye, and his son Jason. Follow a boy and his dad as they spend the day together on the town and talk about all the ways they are designed perfectly for each other.

The Gruffalo
by Julia Donaldson

Do you know the Gruffalo? With its terrible tusks and terrible claws? Join the savvy mouse as he wanders through the deep dark forest and avoid being a tasty meal for a fox, owl, snake and even the Gruffalo!

The Gruffalo is an undisputed modern classic with soft rhyming words that will improve your child's phonetic skills. Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's children's picture books are loved all over the world.

I am a Tiger

by Karl Newson

This is a hilarious and original picture book about a little mouse with big ideas. The cheeky little mouse convinces the other animals that he is not a mouse, but a tiger. But if a real tiger shows up, will the intrepid rodent be able to convince the tiger that he's not a tiger, but a mouse?

Brenda is a sheep
by Morag Hood

Brenda says she is a sheep, but she looks very different from her woolly friends. All sheep love Brenda, but Brenda is very hungry and doesn't like the taste of grass. . . She soon starts planning a wonderful party, but will the sheep find she is not quite the same as her? A hilarious tale of acceptance from award-winning Morag Hood.

The Giant of Jum
by Elli Woollard

Fe fi fo fum, here comes the hungry Giant of Jum and he's looking for the tastiest snack of them all. But Jack and his friends don't see a scary giant, they see a wonderfully tall man who can rescue cats from trees and bring them home on his shoulders. Maybe this giant isn't grumpy or grizzly after all. . .

Kids will love this grand twist on a classic fairytale.

I'm Actually Really Grown-Up Now
by Maisie Paradise Shearring

Meena wants to join when the adults are having a party, but only adults are allowed to stay up late. So the next day Meena decided: "I'm really grown up now!" She enjoys planning her own grown-up party, going to work, and experimenting with fashion, but she soon finds out that being an adult isn't as easy as it seems.

There Is a Tribe of Kids
by Lane Smith

Legendary illustrator Lane Smith takes children on a colorful adventure through the natural world, following a child as he weaves through the jungle, dives under the ocean and soars into the sky. Along the way, he makes friends and causes mischief with a dazzling array of creatures, but can he find his own tribe?

A witty and playful exploration of curiosity, discovery and what it means to belong.

Picture books for children ages 5 and up

Alice's Adventures In Wonderland
by Lewis Carroll

This beautiful edition presents Costa Award and Kate Greenaway medalist Chris Riddell's beautiful new visual interpretation of Lewis Carroll's classic story. With a foiled jacket, head and tail bands and a ribbon marker, and lush color artwork throughout, this gorgeous hardback will be treasured for years to come. This is a picture book every Alice fan should have on their bookshelf.

Wild City
by Ben Hoare

Little readers can travel the world and meet the creatures that share our urban spaces in this beautifully illustrated picture book. With lyrical and factual text written by award-winning natural history journalist Ben Hoare and stunning illustrations by Lucy Rose, budding natural historians will be captivated.

This Is Our World
by Tracey Turner

This beautiful gift book is an unforgettable journey through twenty places around the world, bringing the people, customs and wildlife to life. Children from the dusty Red Center of Australia to bustling Beijing lead us through the place they call home. This is Our World is a colorful celebration of our planet's cultural and environmental diversity.

One Day in Wonderland
by Kathleen Krull

This joyous celebration of Lewis Carroll's love of language is a wonderful introduction to his life and the origins of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Award-winning author Katherine Krull uses many of Carroll's own words, from brilliant and ugly to frumpy and grinning, to tell the story of a man whose legacy continues to delight children. One Day in Wonderland is aptly illustrated by Júlia Sardà, making this a book to treasure.

The Misadventures of Frederick
by Ben Manley

Frederick lives in a mansion surrounded by lakes and forests, but he is bored. His life has been very sheltered, so when his friend Emily invites him to play outside, he has to say no - what if he hurts himself? But Emily doesn't take no for an answer. . .

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
by Lewis Carroll

This elegant edition of one of the best-loved children's stories breathes new life into Alice's famous tale. Beautifully illustrated with shiny gold embossing on the cover, this picture book is the perfect gift for Alice fans big and small.

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