October’s Top Picks in Picture Books

Over the River and Through the Wood: A Holiday Adventure, by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Kim Smith
With turkeys and stuffed, thankful hours quickly approaching, it’s not too early to start envisioning your own holiday journey. In this contemporary, up-tempo take on the classic song, Grandma’s invitation is drawing family members from all over the globe, and they’re boarding trains, planes, busses—even hot air balloons!—to arrive on time, with pies in hand. Linda Ashman’s charming book is Barnes & Noble’s October Picture Book of the Month.

I Really Like Slop (an Elephant and Piggie book), by Mo Willems
Elephant and Piggie are best pals, so drama is inevitable. Piggie longs for Elephant to try his favorite food, but Elephant’s refusal is as evident from his expression as it is from his refrain. Piggie is unrelenting, however, and his effusions are authentic and heartfelt. Will Elephant budge? Your early reader will adore this warm tale that celebrates friendship and cooperative solutions.

Pete the Cat and the Bedtime Blues, by James Dean and Kimberly Dean
Pete and his friends have spent a fantastic day in the sun, sand, and surf, and they aren’t ready for the fun to end. So toad, alligator, and Gus all pile into Pete’s bed for a sleepover. Groovy late-night antics abound until Pete’s eyelids are drooping and he’s finally ready to fall asleep. Will his friends ever be able to calm down? Share this bedtime treat with your Pete the Cat fan tonight!

Happy!, by Pharrell Williams
Just as the title suggests, this picture book—like the song of the same name—evokes a very distinctive feeling of pleasure for readers young and old. Brimming with photographs of joyful, exuberant children, Happy! creates powerful emotions indeed, and you’ll love sharing it with your young reader whenever you require a dose of toe-tapping story time.

Imaginary Fred, by Eoin Colfer, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
Fred’s an ideal companion. He comes when summoned, possesses a delightful disposition, and offers all the comfort and support of a best friend. He stays as long as he’s needed, and then he fades away. Fred’s an imaginary friend, and when a lonely boy named Sam wishes him into reality, Fred materializes out of thin air. Is he magical? And even if Sam makes a real friend, can Fred stay? Warm and quirky, Imaginary Fred is a sound antidote to recess anxiety, and an unforgettable tribute to friendship.

The Curvy Tree, by Chris Colfer, illustrated by Brandon Dorman
The newest addition to the Land of Stories series is an encouraging, thoughtful look at what it means to not fit in. When a lonely little girl runs away, she quickly finds herself deep in the woods, and darkness and towering trees are looming. A kindly curvy tree takes pity on her, and helps her understand how her difference can be her greatest strength—as well as a bottomless source of confidence.

We’re in the Wrong Book!, by Richard Byrne
Bella and Ben are partners in a potato sack race, but in their clumsy trek to the finish line, they are bumped out of their familiar page, and plopped directly INTO THE WRONG BOOK! You and your little reader will anxiously accompany these two brave adventurers as they work through sphinxes and lollipops to get back to comfortable territory, and finish their race and story.

The Nonsense Show, by Eric Carle
“Welcome friends! Don’t be slow. Step right up to The Nonsense Show!” It’s impossible to resist the spell of Carle’s witty masterpiece, which is a tribute to surrealist art, rhyme, and, of course, nonsense—a perennial favorite among playful children everywhere. With every breath and blink, you’ll find yourself saying—or beholding—something ridiculous, like a mouse catching a cat, or a duck popping out of a banana. But Carle’s beloved collages are no mistake; indeed, he means every page of this nonsensical romp, and your little listeners will hang on every word.

Cloud Country, by Bonnie Becker, illustrated by Noah Klocek
Rendered in breathtaking hues of lavender, gold, and white, Cloud Country hovers above the earth and hums with the constant production of clouds. Cloudlets grow up there, under the watchful eyes of Guardians, and receive special training in cloud creation. Gale is a lackluster student, and even though graduation day is approaching, she spends more time gazing at earth—and creating whimsical cloud shapes—than generating picture-perfect stratus and cumulus. While Gale’s future appears stormy at first, her outside-the-cloud thinking could be just the thing the Guardians are looking for.

Robo-Sauce, by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
What if a magical elixir that could turn squishy humans into all-powerful robots actually existed? Would you try it? Would you read about the robocalypse that resulted from its ingestion? You would, if the story came from the hilarious duo that brought us Dragons Love Tacos and Secret Pizza Party. Prepare yourself for an evening of robo-grabbing and robo-stomping with the world’s most robo-crazy kid—and join in the fun by turning your hardback into your very own robo-book!
What books are you digging into with your little ones this season?