I’m
a children’s book author and illustrator and I have a special fondness for
picture books. They’re often a child’s first experience of reading — or being
read to, and that’s such a magical time! I still remember my favourite picture
books as a child. I’m also a crazy cat person and I love all cats, big and
small. My first picture book, Tiger in a Tutu, is about a tiger who lives in
Paris Zoo but wants to be a ballet dancer. I
made a small list of my favourite tiger picture books for you. I hope you enjoy
it.
Little
Tigers tells the story of a mom tiger and her cubs searching for a new safe
place to live. It’s a simple story about animals and survival, but it serves as
a metaphor for humans too; when the place where we live isn’t safe anymore,
don’t we seek refuge in a new home too? This book is perfect in every way, and
Jo’s charcoal illustrations are just magical.
Told through the eyes of a tiger and her two cubs, this beautiful book is a celebration of the love between parent and child, and the wonders of the natural world.
There are humans in the jungle... So Mother Tiger and her cubs need to leave their den. Follow them on their journey through the deepest parts of the jungle, exploring its secret places, in search of somewhere warm and dry to lay their heads. A safe place. A new home.
With evocative charcoal drawings and gentle, lyrical storytelling, Little Tigers has the feel of an instant classic. Perfect for…
As the white parent of both a white child and a child of color, the discrepancies of representation and inclusivity in children’s literature is an important conversation in our home. Seeing themselves in books allows all children to dream big, feel seen, and know there is a place in this world for them. I hope both of my books, All Bears Need Love and Little Taco Truck do exactly that. I know the list of brilliant books I’ve suggested here are wonderful examples of inclusivity and diversity that young readers need.
All Are Welcome Here follows school children throughout their day to reveal and celebrate many cultures, backgrounds, nationalities, races, body types, clothes, food, etc. Everyone is represented in this beautiful book, allowing children to find themselves and their families among the pages. The repetition of “All are welcome here” throughout the story reinforces the simple and important Celebration of diversity and inclusivity.
A bright and uplifting celebration of cultural diversity and belonging, where all children are welcome in the classroom
'If your little one is a little nervous about fitting in and whether they'll belong at school, pick up All Are Welcome' Barnes & Noble
No matter how you start your day,
What you wear when you play,
Or if you come from far away,
All are welcome here.
Follow a group of children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcome. A school where children in patkas, hijabs, baseball caps and yarmulkes play side by side. A school where…
Music has always been a thread that’s connected me to people and events my whole life. It’s a universal language and one that can bring you closer to people. Playing, singing, or listening to music can transport you, keep you in the moment, or change your mood. It’s a love I’ve had all my life, and it helped me meet my husband! I was lucky enough to join his band on tour in our younger days, and many of those experiences have shaped the picture books I’ve made.
I adore this whole series by Marion Billet. It was hard to pick just one as the classical music, the four seasons, music from around the world, and nutcracker (to name some of the more music-based ones!) are just fantastic. They make babies, toddlers and even older readers react physically to the sound of the music they’re hearing and delight in the bright bold illustrations. They’re a great way to introduce different types of music or instruments.
The rock and roll cats in this book are a particular favorite of mine, as I used to jive regularly in London until our teacher moved away to Nashville! I gifted this book to my two-year-old niece, and even her older sisters would all join in trying out different dance moves to the music. Great fun.
An internationally bestselling series of board books with amazing real-life sounds!
This brand new edition includes replaceable AAA batteries and an exciting 'Look and Find' game on the final page. Press the button, recognise the sounds, then point at the right picture!
What do the tango, Charleston, salsa, rock 'n' roll and hip-hop sound like? Push the buttons to find out!
Aimed at babies and toddlers, this ground-breaking series of interactive board books has a button on every spread, which plays one of five different exceptional quality sound effects. Children of every age will be captivated as they bring the…
I never knew Turkeys had so much personality—that is until I lived with a family high in the Andes Mountains of Peru, and met their turkey Pavito. When they scraped leftovers into a trough for their dogs, Pavito would come running too (certain that he was just “one of the dogs”). He would chase me around the courtyard or sit nearby making strange gurgling noises. He became the star character in my books. As a teacher and mother of 5, I have seen which picture books young readers respond to best—those they connect to, laugh at, remember, and which hold their attention.
Thankful, is a beautiful list of simple, everyday things that people are thankful for, from a poet being thankful for words that rhyme to children being thankful for morning storytime. It is a great reminder that we can be thankful for the simple things in life (things that we might not usually think of when asked to name something we are grateful for). It has engaging, rhyming text that is meant to be read aloud, while young readers delight in the details of the charming illustrations.
Celebrate everyday blessings, practice thankfulness, and observe the wonderful acts of service that keep us going each and every day. Eileen Spinelli, bestselling and award-winning children's author, charms with rhymes and whimsy in Thankful, perfect for any young reader and their family.
Thankful is a heartwarming board book that teaches children ages 0-4 to:
Focus on the blessings that we often take for granted
Appreciate essential workers and what people in our everyday lives provide: "Like the gardener thankful for every green sprout, and the fireman, for putting the fire out."
I am a novelist and journalist who has been writing about war and refugees for nearly two decades. In 2018, I went to the Greek island of Samos, which held one of the most inhumane refugee camps in Europe, to talk to people there about their lives and hopes. Out of this, I wrote several articles and later two books, including The Good Deed. My hope is to counteract the demonization of refugees, so rife in the world today, by bringing out all that we humans have in common, such as our need for shelter, food, family, safety, and love.
I read this book a few years ago and have never forgotten it, it affected me so profoundly.
It tells the story of two Kurdish brothers in a mountain village in Iran who are forced to flee persecution and slaughter, one of whom ends up in California. Khadivi, Iranian herself, tells this with such haunting beauty and honesty that it still gives me chills to remember it.
It's part of a trilogy, and I've read all three, but this is my favorite volume.
Two brothers from a small Iranian mountain village-Saladin, who has always dreamed of leaving, and Ali, who has never given it a thought-are forced to flee for their lives in the aftermath of a political killing. The journey is beset by trouble from the start, but over the treacherous mountains they go, on foot to Istanbul and onward by freighter to the Azores.There, after a painful parting, Saladin alone continues on the final leg, on a cargo plane all the way to Los Angeles. He will have a new life in California, but will never be whole again without his…
I have published over 50 books, including award-winning and bestselling titles. I am also a publishing executive and editor with 20+ years of professional experience. My latest The Twins of Auschwitz: The Inspiring True Story of Young Girl Surviving Mengele’s Hell, with Eva Kor, got a stellar review by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and is an international bestseller. As well as spearheading four publishing startups, I have run my own business, Editorial Services of L.A. I was Editorial/Publishing Director for Golden Books, Price Stern Sloan, Intervisual Books, Hooked on Phonics, and more. I am also the Publisher & Editor in Chief of NY Journal Of Books, the premier online-only book review site.
This old standby is one of the most memorable picture board books; I still recall reading it when I was four. Illustrating babies in all spaces and of all colors, Fujikawa makes the reader yearn to play with them. Fujikawa (1908–1998), designed many books for the Walt Disney Company, including promotional work on the movie Fantasia. But her work in Babies is not so cartoony as much as illustrated pen and ink. A keeper.
I’m the author of funny-bone tickling and heartwarming picture books, Halloween Hustle and Prince and Pirate. My newest book, Dream Submarine, is a lyrical bedtime story that blends fiction and nonfiction and invites young readers on a journey through the world's oceans (Candlewick, 2024). Language Arts teacher turned writer, I'm passionate about literacy and love visiting schools and libraries to connect with my favorite people—kids! My books and all the perfectly piratey tales on this list are best when read aloud!
A hearty and slightly hapless pirate named Jack makes getting dressed an adventure! I believe the best picture books engage young readers, and I love the way Jack invites kids into the story, encouraging them to identify colors from gray long johns and pink socks to gold earrings and—surprise!—a green parrot. Written in rhyme with the perfect amount of piratey lingo, this book is best when read aloud. Illustrations provide a treasure trove of funny details for kids to discover.
Ahoy, matey! Join jaunty pirate Captain Jack as he uses every color of the rainbow to pick out his outfit in this bright and bold read-aloud.
It’s the crack o’ dawn, and dapper Pirate Jack is ready t’ get dressed for a day out on the high seas with his motley crew. He’ll need every color of the rainbow to make his outfit complete—from his itchy gray long johns and his toasty pink socks to his bright red sash and his cozy purple coat. And he won’t be forgettin’ his black eye patch and trusty brown peg leg, either!
I continue to find hope as a constant theme in my talks and my various media appearances. Hope is so integral to being able to fight for another day. When we can plant the seed of hope and perseverance in kids from a young age, by giving the gift of books that show them the true meaning of hope and aspirations, we give them a gift that carries them well through life.
This book was originally published in 1930 and also goes back a long way in my own life as well. I have fond memories of my father reading this story to me when I was young, acting out all the parts of the story, using different voices, and more. Despite being little and unassuming, the Little Blue Engine uses hope and belief to get over the mountain. Without belief in ourselves we often can’t even begin to try, but the Little Blue Engine chose to trust in himself and it paid off - big time. We can all use a little more belief in our own abilities to create massive change in our lives.
One of the true classics in children's books is now available in a sturdy board book edition perfect for little hands! The story has been slightly abridged and features the famous illustrations from the original Hauman edition. Now toddlers can cheer on the little blue engine and that "can-do" attitude that keeps her chugging along!
When I started writing children’s stories in 2018, I never would've guessed that my first book would be about rainbow babies. I hadn’t even heard of the term until I miscarried the following year. As I grieved the baby we would never hold, I used writing to work through the mess of emotions I felt: pain, disappointment, sorrow… until the words “Dear Rainbow Baby” appeared. My husband and I didn’t know if we could or would have a rainbow baby, yet, writing a letter filled me with hope that one day she would come. We recently celebrated our daughter’s second birthday, and the publication of my first picture book Dear Rainbow Baby.
This book hardly needs an introduction! It has sold over a million copies worldwide, and for good reason. The most recently released version with art by Eve Tharlet is absolutely lovely. Rich with beautiful imagery and touching text, this book brings a religious element to having a baby. What I love most about this book is that the story can be read to a child of any age, from baby to toddler to kid because its message resonates with every age group.
This book assures children of God's love through all their experiences--including during hard times such as being afraid of the dark or being bullied--and gives assurance that their parent was there when they were first born and will be with them in heaven.
From New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado comes Just in Case You Ever Wonder, the classic children's book that has made its way into hearts and story times around the world. This award-winning book about the love between a parent and child
has sold 1.7 million copies, touching lives for more than 25 years;
reminds children…
I’ve been passionate about teaching kindness and good manners since becoming a parent. Raising three energetic kids has shown me firsthand how small lessons in empathy and respect can shape their world. At first, I created fun stories to help my children understand the power of simple words like "please" and "thank you." Now, as a children’s book author, I bring those lessons to life through storytelling, making manners and values fun and memorable. The books on this list have inspired me in my journey, and I hope they bring the same joy and guidance to you and your little ones!
I love this story because it beautifully captures the deep, unconditional love between a parent and child. Every page feels like a heartfelt embrace, reminding me of the quiet, powerful moments of love and protection we offer to little ones. It’s a book that fills my heart every time I read it.
What makes this book so special to me is how it weaves faith, love, and gratitude into such a simple yet touching story. The gentle words and warm illustrations create a sense of comfort, making it a perfect bedtime read. I’ve found myself reflecting on my own prayers and hopes for the children in my life, making this book not just a story but a deeply personal experience.
One of the best children's books about love and family, I Prayed for You by Jean Fischer reveals how deep a mother's love for her child can go. This board book is great for little ones and has sold more than 300,000 copies!
The heartwarming story follows a mother bear who prayed for her child's arrival, then cherished and prayed for each of her baby's firsts--from first step to first boo-boo to first day of school.
I Prayed for You is just as meaningful to parents as to children. Inside you'll find
