The best picture books we read this year

I was recently asked on Twitter to share my favorite gift books for children, so I thought I’d put together a list of the best picture books my kids and I read this year. These aren’t necessarily books that were published in 2015. Since nearly all of them came from the library, I’d guess that most are at least a year old.

Every two weeks or so, the boys and I stop by one of several nearby library branches, and I browse the bookshelves while Levi and Asa fight over toys in the children’s section. You might not know this about me, but I’m especially talented at finding awesome picture books at the library. My husband says so all the time.

Sometimes I choose books based on their covers. Sometimes I quickly read them. Usually I just have a sixth sense that my boys will love what I pick.

You’ll notice that most of the books on the list are geared towards preschoolers rather than toddlers, although a handful are available as board books. Asa will usually sit and listen to the same books we read to Levi, but there are a few on the list that just a little bit too long to hold his full attention. I’ve put an asterisk next to the titles that are particularly long.

Also, you might notice that Mo Willems and Oliver Jeffers are each on the list twice. I couldn’t help it; they’re both just really talented children’s book authors.

 

The Best Picture Books We Read in 2015:

1. A Sick Day for Amos McGee
2. Beekle*
3. Boy + Bot
4. Count on the Subway
5. Dragons Love Tacos*
6. Go Go! Stop Stop!
7. Hippopposites
8. Knuffle Bunny Free*
9. Leonardo the Terrible Monster
10. Mamoko
11. Mr. Tiger Goes Wild
12. Oink-a-Doodle Moo
13. Rex Wrecks It
14. Stanley the Builder
15. Stuck*
16. The Crocodile Who Didn’t Like Water
17. The Day the Crayons Quit*
18. The Pigeon Needs a Bath
19. The Watermelon Seed
20. You Are (Not) Small

Although it’s not a picture book (that’s part of the gimmick), I couldn’t leave out The Book with no Pictures. The BJ Novak title is Levi’s current favorite book because BOO BOO BUTT.

Cracks him up every time.

What were the best picture books you read to your kids this year? 

PS – More books for toddlers and two year olds.