Barnes & Noble Booksellers Pick 2018’s Best Picture Books

Princesses Save the World, by Savannah Guthrie and Allison Oppenheim and illustrated by Eva Byrne
Princess Penelope Pineapple—aka Penny—knows the importance of bees. So when the Strawberry Kingdom’s bees disappear, Penny knows she has to help. The sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller Princesses Wear Pants buzzes onto the scene with a colorfully illustrated story about girls using creativity and friendship to save the day—and some bees.

Elbow Grease, by John Cena and illustrated by Howard McWilliam
Who’s that? Why, it’s John Cena! You might know John Cena from the big screen or the squared circle, but the actor-slash-professional-wrestler added “author” to his list of careers this year with the help of illustrator Howard McWilliam. Their picture book about believing in yourself—through the tale of a tiny truck named Elbow Grease, determined to win a demolition derby—will find a happy home on the shelf of all little ones obsessed with cars.

Grumpy Monkey, by Suzanne Lang and illustrated by Max Lang
Nobody loves a grumpy monkey, but everybody loves Grumpy Monkey. Jim the chimpanzee is in a bad mood despite the beautiful day. When his friends try to help him, by telling him to do all the things that make him happy, Jim has a bit of a meltdown. This picture book will send kids into a gigglefit even as it teaches them an important lesson about suppressing emotions.

Dear Girl, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Paris Rosenthal and illustrated by Holly Hatam
Sometimes, you just need a love letter. Every girl needs a reminder that she is brave, and beautiful, and can do anything she sets her mind to—even when she feels like she can’t. A collaboration between the late Amy Krouse Rosenthal and her daughter Paris, Dear Girl encourages the best from the girls reading it with charming illustrations from Holly Hatam.

I Lost My Tooth!, by Mo Willems
It’s hard to compare any modern writer to Mo Willems. His unprecedented level of success continues with I Lost My Tooth!, the first in a new series following the Unlimited Squirrels. Each book follows a different squirrel on a different (and factually interesting) adventure. This one follows Zoom Squirrel, who loses a tooth—a baby tooth!

Be Kind, by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Jen Hill
There’s no better story than one that teaches its readers to be kinder. Gorgeously illustrated, Pat Zietlow Miller and Zen Hill’s latest title discusses what it means to be kind. A group of students tries to make their classmate Tanisha feel better after she spills grape juice on her dress. Gentle and sweet, it’s a thoughtful read that works great both in classrooms and at bedtimes.

She’s Got This, by Laurie Hernandez and illustrated by Nina Mata
What’s not to love about a story inspired by a real Olympic gymnast? Gold medalist gymnast Laurie Hernandez created a story about a little girl named Zoe, who dreams of becoming a gymnast—but when she falls off the balance beam, she realizes following your dreams might be harder than you thought. Nina Mata’s vibrant art brings the story to life, encouraging kids to leap back up and keep trying.

Builder Brothers: Big Plans, by Jonathan Scott and Drew Scott and illustrated by Kim Smith
There’s something fun about watching a house get flipped—the act of something literally falling apart turned into something beautiful. It’s fun to watch for kids and adults, so its no surprise that the brothers behind HGTV’s Property Brothers took the idea over to the picture book realm. With the help of illustrator Kim Smith, Jonathan and Drew imagine themselves as children, thinking up the biggest of plans. Little kids can do big things, after all—even if nobody else thinks they can. What makes this book particularly special is the do-it-yourself project for parents and kids that you can find in the back!

The Day You Begin, by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Rafael Lopez
Jacqueline Woodson’s lyrical writing and Rafel Lopez’s colorful illustrations make The Day You Begin one of the brightest picture books this year. The story—about a classroom of kids realizing what makes them different, and why that makes them special—is one that kids who feel like outsiders will resonate with and hold near and dear to their own heart.

What Do You Do with a Chance?, by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Mae Besom
First, they asked: What Do You Do With an Idea? Then they asked: What Do You Do With a Problem? Now the New York Times bestselling team returns with What Do You Do With A Chance?, a brightly illustrated tale about being brave enough to take the opportunities given to you. The watercolor illustrations make Yamada and Besom’s latest collaboration stand out from the pack, and Besom’s writing is perfect for read-alouds.

I’ve Loved You Since Forever, by Hoda Kotb and illustrated by Suzie Mason
There’s a reason that everybody scrambled for Today Show co-anchor Hoda Kotb’s picture book when she debuted it in March. It’s the absolute sweetest. This poetic tale about the love between parent and child is perfect to read with babies and toddlers alike. Suzie Mason’s gorgeous illustrations are ones you’ll want to frame on your wall. Looking for a big-hearted bedtime story? This is it.

We Don’t Eat Our Classmates, by Ryan T. Higgins
When Penelope Rex heads off for her first day at a new school, she’s told one thing: don’t eat your classmates. But humans are so tasty, and Penelope can’t help herself. After the teacher catches her and forces her to spit out her classmates, they don’t trust her—and it makes school much harder than she expected. There’s nobody funnier in kids books right now than Ryan T. Higgins. Though his Mother Bruce series is beloved, We Don’t Eat Our Classmates is arguably funnier, sure to leave kids doubled-over in laughter.

Mary Poppins, by P. L. Travers, illustrated by Genevieve Godbout, and adapted by Amy Novesky
We’ve got the original chapter books. We’ve got two incredible movies. We’ve got a stage musical. And now Mary Poppins joins us in picture book format. Amy Novesky’s adaptation of P.L. Travers’s classic Mary Poppins tells the story of the magical nanny entering the lives of the Banks children. What makes this adaptation stand out is Genevieve Godbout’s gorgeous and expressive illustration style, which is sure to capture the hearts of both young children and older Poppins fans.

Fiona the Hippo, illustrated by Richard Cowdrey
We love a gorgeous nonfiction picture book, and Richard Crowdrey’s take on famous Fiona is a stunner. You know Fiona, right? The famous hippo at the Cincinnati Zoo? Born prematurely, Fiona was not expected to live—and instead she thrived and captured the heart of the world. Though not the only picture book about Fiona to come out this year, Crowdrey’s beautiful illustrations make it stand out as something that animal-loving kids will happily devour for years to come.

She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History, by Chelsea Clinton and illustrated by Alexandra Boiger
The past few years have included many must-read anthologies of rad women throughout history, and the newest picture book from Chelsea Clinton is no exception. Alexandra Boiger’s charming illustrations bring to life 13 women throughout history who young readers might not know about, including Viola Desmond, Sissi Lima do Amor, and Leymah Gbowe. This is great for the shelves of any young reader who loves history or needs a little bit of inspiration to follow their own dreams.

Little Blue Truck’s Springtime, by Alice Schertle and illustrated by Jill McElmurry
Who doesn’t love Little Blue Truck? Our favorite car returned with Little Blue Truck’s Springtime, a delightful lift-the-flap tale that took the cerulean vehicle through all the baby animals that spring brings. Aimed at older picture book readers—and little ones whose hands you can keep from ripping off the tabs—it’s a great choice for any child who loves cars. So, you know, every child.