Picture Books 2009
Ahlberg, Allan
A lonely pencil creates some friends to keep him company, but while catering to their many requests, he makes the mistake of drawing an eraser in this exciting, humorous tale.
Baker, Keith
Joe and his potato friends have all sorts of fun in this adaptation of the familiar nursery rhyme, “One Potato, Two Potato.”
Becker, Bonny
A sign on bear’s house clearly reads “No Visitors Allowed,” but a persistent mouse might make him change his mind.
Bee, William
In this quirky tale set in a cottage on the edge of a dark and scary wood, Mrs. Collywobbles is protected by her little pet frog, or so it seems.
Berger, Carin
In this beautiful autumn story, a nervous oak leaf is afraid to leave the comfort of his tree but finds courage in the company of a friend.
Billingsley, Franny
Big Bad Bunny, a.k.a. Baby Boo-Boo, crashes angrily through many obstacles only to realize she is lost; Mama Mouse soon comes to her rescue.
Calvert, Pam
Glasses are Princess Peepers’ favorite and much-needed accessory until the girls at princess school poke fun at her.
Cordsen, Carol Foskett
The trouble starts when the Benson family oversleeps, and in their rush to reach the market, they forget some important details that provide entertaining results.
Cotten, Cynthia
Who says rain can’t be fun? Adults scatter when a rainstorm hits, but children appreciate the precipitation, especially the activities it creates.
Cottin, Menena
This visually stimulating picture book gives children an idea of what it might be like to experience color through the five senses.
Crow, Kristyn
This rhythmic romp through the swamp features a catchy refrain that will have kids stomping for more.
Cuyler, Margery
Readers will delight in discovering how to gross out a monster as this multicolored, many-legged creature creeps through a house.
DiCamillo, Kate
Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken
In this picture book with four chapters, Louise entertains the chicken coop as she recounts the tales of her many exciting adventures.
Drummond, Allan
DRU Eliza grows up watching grandpa fix his Model T, and when his wheels are finally ready for the road, the ride gets everyone thinking.
Elliott, David
This collection of short poems about the usual suspects of the barnyard also includes some less-celebrated animals.
Fagan, Cary.
Not quite a teddy bear or a rabbit, a stuffed toy is tossed out the window of a hotel by a spoiled boy only to find a happy place where it soothes a fussy baby.
Fitzgerald, Joanne
Yum! Yum!!: Delicious Nursery Rhymes
At the market, piggy meets other nursery rhyme regulars as he prepares for a feast in this food-centered compilation of 13 nursery rhymes.
Foley, Greg
Bear is uneasy when his friend caterpillar disappears into a cocoon, and his worry grows throughout the seasons until spring, when he is pleasantly surprised.
Foreman, Jack and Michael
A father and son collaboration proves the point that a simple word can make a huge difference.
Forest, Heather
The Contest Between the Sun and the Wind:An Aesop's Fable
“I’m much stronger than you!” bragged the forceful wind. “Really?” replied the gentle sun. And so the competition begins.
Fox, Mem
This precious picture book celebrates the diversity and similarity of babies from all over the world.
Frazee, Marla
A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever
Two friends enjoy a special week at the beach during their summer vacation in this hilarious and brightly illustrated story.
Gary, Meredith
Sometimes You Get What You Want
Disappointment is a hard pill to swallow, but youngsters will come to realize that with disappointment also comes triumph.
Gliori, Debi
Careless dragons are destroying the planet, and a little environmental advice from the other animals could help not only the dragons, but also teach us humans a thing or two.
Gorbachev, Valeri
When his father reads him a bedtime story about penguins, Little Turtle decides he wants to be one—at least until bedtime rolls around again.
Graham, Bob
Minimal text and soft, cartoon-style illustrations simply, yet effectively, convey a message of hope after a little boy rescues an injured bird in a bustling city.
Gravett, Emily
A young girl, with the company of her toy monkey, has fun imitating all the different animals she sees at the zoo.
Harris, Robie H
It’s easy to blame others when you’re missing your book, but you might get better results if you are patient and look.
Henkes, Kevin
In this celebration of the seasons, Old Bear sleeps through the winter dreaming that he is a cub again and wakes up to a pleasant surprise.
Hines, Anna Grossnickle
Vibrant colors, textured fabrics, yarn, and buttons create a three-dimensional effect that encourages readers to count along with a much-loved nursery rhyme.
Hole, Stian
Using photo imaging and a comical perspective, a young boy who is nervous about the first day of school learns that everyone has something they are afraid of.
Jenkins, Emily
A young girl is intimidated by some people in her neighborhood, but she discovers that maybe they’re not so scary once you get to know them.
Jenkins, Emily
Dumpling the dog is downhearted when other dogs shun her because she lacks a sense of smell, but her deficit comes in handy when she makes an unlikely friend.
Kohara, Kazuno
Simple illustrations and a resourceful witch prove to readers that ghosts are not really scary.
Lee, Suzy
The back-and-forth dance between the ocean, a curious girl, and some seagulls make this wordless picture book a simple masterpiece.
Lobel, Anita
Young children will delight in filling in the unique sounds animals make in another magnificently illustrated book by Anita Lobel.
Lord, Janet
Everyone in the neighborhood depends on old Albert to fix things, but what happens when he catches a cold and needs some “fixin?"
Lyon, George Ella
Exuberant watercolors complement this whimsical tale about the memories of a little girl and the stories her neighbor tells her.