Picture Books for Everyone

Disclosure: I was sent these book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

It can be hard to pick the right picture book for your child. There are so many choices out there with so many different themes, messages and more! Today I am going to share a variety of new picture books with you and I am sure there will be something for each child in this group!! 

Books with Lessons or Messages

Our first book is There's Nothing to Do! by Dev Petty and illustrated by Mike Boldt.  Frog can't think of anything to do and asks his parents and friends for ideas. None of the ideas sound fun until a friend teaches him to enjoy doing nothing. This is a fun story for kids who often complain about being bored. It is  reminder that there are days when just sitting and enjoying the quiet, nature or one's environment can be just as great as doing an activity. The illustrations are colorful and fun. The recommended ages are 3 to 7.

Have you every been lonely? Or perhaps your child is. The next book is for you. It is La La La: A Story of Hope by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Jaime Kim. In this almost wordless book a little girl tries to see if anyone is listening. She keeps singing but does not get a response until she falls asleep and then gets a surprise response. 

 Do you remember meeting a special friend? Perhaps someone you know will always listen to you? Do you have the memory of the feeling when you knew you found a special friend? This book is perfect for any child who is lonely or having trouble with friends. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Our next book is After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) by Dan Santat. This book is narrated by Humpty Dumpty. He describes what happened after the fall. He is a bit afraid of the height of the wall, but he misses being able to watch the birds. The book tells how Humpty Dumpty conquers his fears and bravely does what gives him the most fear. This book is perfect for a child trying to face a fear. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Our next book is perfect for Earth Day. It is The Lumberjack's Beard by Duncan Beedie. The lumberjack is doing his job and chops down the trees in the forest. That night a bird comes to his house and asks the lumberjack where he should live now that his nest is gone. The lumberjack realizes he took knocked down the tree with the bird's nest and tells the bird to live in his beard. Each day a new animal shows up and eventually the lumberjack is not able to sleep, exercise or eat due to the animals. He has had enough and knows what he needs to do to solve all of their problems. I love that this story shows the lumberjack taking care of the other animals and the Earth. It is recommended for ages 5 to 8.

Our next book is Earn It! by Cinders McLeod. In this fun book Bun wants to be rich and famous. However she is only earning a few carrots a week. (Carrots are money in Bunnyland.) Bun's Mom explains that if she works hard and practices her singing she will be able to become a great singer. And of course with hard work she will know she earned her success and that is such a wonderful feeling. This is a cute book that teaches young kids to respect money and hard work. It is recommended for ages 3 to 5. 

Our next book is a non-fiction book. It is Where Did My Clothes Come From? by Chris Butterworth and illustrated by Lucia Gaggiotti. This book is packed full of information. It goes into jeans, sweaters (wool), party dresses (silk), soccer uniform, fleece jacket, and rain boots. I love how this book explains various types of fibers and how they get turned into our clothes. It takes the reader around the world to get the various fibers. It is recommended for ages 5 to 8.

Friendship and Community

Our next book takes us to South West Nigeria. The book is Baby Goes to Market by Atinuke and illustrated by Angela Brooksbank. In this book baby goes to market with his mama. While his mama shops he gets all sorts of treats from the vendors. Mama is surprised to see all the things in her basket but the vendors tell her that they gave them to baby. It gives a quick view at the Nigerian culture in a fun way. 

The illustrations are colorful and full of the culture. The book is recommended for ages 3 to 7. 

The next book is Dogosaurus Rex by Anna Staniszewski and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes.  Ben and his mother are at the animal shelter. Ben is trying to find the right dog. He passes over all of them until he sees a large one that roars instead of barking.

The neighborhood kids make fun of Ben's large "dog". He walks him with a hose as a leash and has a few issues come up with his new pet. How can he be sure to get to keep the pet? This book is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Snappsy the Alligator is back. This book is Snappsy the Alligator and His Best Friend Forever! Probably by Julie Falatko and illustrated by Tim Miller. One of Snappsy's party guest has decided that she is Snappsy's BFF. However Snappsy doesn't want a BFF or to do all the things that the friend wants to do. He finally gets her to leave him alone and the peace and quiet is not quite what he expected. He ends up missing his friend. This is a cute and humorous book about friendship. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Our next book takes us on a neighborhood stroll as the darkness is setting in at night. The book is Windows by Julia Denos and illustrated by E. B. Goodale. As the lights come on in the houses there are different things to be seen through the windows. Some will have curtains drawn while others may have a television. Have you ever gone for a walk or drive during the night and checked out what you could see in the windows?

What is going on in the different houses? It is always interesting to get a glimpse at someone else's life. The illustrations in this book are colorful and beautiful It is recommended for ages 3 to 7.

Fun and Humorous Books

This book is probably the most humorous book I have read in a very long time. It is I'm Afraid Your Teddy Is in Trouble Today by Jancee Dunn and illustrated by Scott Nash. A police officer is the narrator in this story. Your teddy bear has had a wild party after inviting all of your friends' stuffed animals and they have done quite a bit of damage to your house as well as having the police called about the noise. You will not believe the trouble these stuffed animals get into. This book will have you laughing out loud. 

As you can see the pictures are colorful and fun. This book is so imaginative and fun. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7. 

This is another entertaining and imaginative book. It is The Wolf The Duck and the Mouse by Mac Bennett and illustrated by Jon Klassen. Why does the wolf howl at the moon? This book gives a very creative reason for it. In it a mouse gets swallowed by the wolf and meets an interesting friend while in there. The adventure of the three animals is quite entertaining. 

The mouse and the duck decide to protect their home when a hunter is trying to shoot at the wolf. I found it entertaining and fun. The creativity in it is wonderful. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8. 

Our next book is Wee Sister Strange by Holly Grant and K.G. Campbell. This book describes a young girl who lives alone in the woods. She goes on an adventure each evening. She has a magical adventure with the moon and the animals. Her favorite part is hearing a bedtime story outside your window and it is there she falls asleep. This is a story of adventure and magic. The illustrations are beautiful. The story is told in rhyme. It is a bit of a strange story to go with its title. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

The next book involves monsters and trucks. It is Truckeroo School by David Kirk. In Truckeroo everyone drives trucks including children. The trucks match the driver's personality. When the kids go to school so do the trucks. They are in classes together as well as recess. 

This book is written in rhyme. It is a fun back to school book or introduction to school. It is also fun with the crazy friendly monsters and trucks. It is recommended for ages 3 to 6.

We know the monsters come out this time of year. After all it is October and Halloween is fast approaching. However what do the monsters do the rest of the year? Well according to Monster Trucks by Joy Keller and illustrated by Misa Saburi, they drive monster trucks.  The various jobs correspond to the monsters' likes. For example the witch drives the street sweeper. The book is in rhyme. 

There is quite a bit of creativity in this book. It is perfect for Halloween as well as for truck loving kids. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

So which book(s) will your child love? I hope you will check them all out!! For some other picture book reviews check out: Picture Books that Make You Feel Good, cultures around the world, electricity and technology, picture books about night and sleep, books that teach, fun picture books, father books, silly and feel good books for young, learning about women in history, and picture books with lessons and fun.