Picture Books to Share This Holiday Season

Snowmen at Night, by Caralyn Buehner
Now only $7.99 with purchase of another kid’s book, this timeless tale explores the nighttime world of snowmen. Wondering why perfectly-formed snowmen turn into a mess overnight, with carrots askew and top hats all topsy-turvy in the morning, one boy decides to find out what the snowmen do all night. Do they stay up drinking hot chocolate, then run around playing a game of baseball in the midnight flurries? Snowmen at Night is wonderfully imaginative, and the charming oil-and-acrylic illustrations contain hidden pictures that reward devoted readers.

The Book with No Pictures, by B.J. Novak
While you might think a book with this title doesn’t belong on this list, you’d be surprised at the wonderfully irreverent images your mind can conjure up during a rip-roaring reading of this hilarious tale. Novak has fun with the adult reader’s tacit promise to read every single word—however silly—that’s printed on the page. When you read aloud the words on these 48 pages, expect your child to giggle uncontrollably—and to request this book again and again.

The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalt
Duncan’s crayons are fed up. They’re overworked, underappreciated, and just plain exhausted—and in a series of letters, they tell Duncan exactly what’s bothering them. Both reader and listener will wait with delicious anticipation to see how Duncan will respond to these colorful requests.

Peanut Butter and Cupcake, by Terry Border
Border, the brilliant mind behind the Bent Objects book and blog, has crafted a hilarious story about a piece of bread slathered with peanut butter who’s new to the neighborhood and looking for a friend (he’s lonely—after all, there’s a reason bread travels in loaves!). Suspense builds as he searches high and low for a pal, but after finding several mismatches with hamburger, cupcake, egg, and others, bread is afraid he might be destined to wander alone. With rhyming text and wonderfully zany illustrations that highlight an otherworldly slice of bread with wire hands and feet and fascinatingly human gestures, Peanut Butter and Cupcake is a laugh-aloud story.

Dinosaurs Love Underpants, by Claire Freedman
Scientists have a multitude of theories regarding dinosaur extinction, but none so fantastically zany as Freedman’s: underpants are to blame! In the tongue-and-cheek tradition of Pirates Love Underpants and Aliens Love Underpants, Dinosaurs Love Underpants posits an almost credible hypothesis, while remaining a delight for eyes and ears. The simple rhyming text tells of raucous dinosaurs and their quirky undies—and cavemen who don’t have any undergarments at all. The jokes may be prehistoric, but they’re perfect for all ages.

How to Babysit a Grandpa, by Jean Reagan
In this heartwarming how-to guide for grandchildren, we learn what it takes to be an effective Grandpa-sitter. There are, of course, many choices when it comes to snacks (e.g. does Grandpa want cookies topped with ice cream? Or ice cream topped with cookies?) and outings (e.g. find lizards? Or disturb placid puddles?). The charming role-reversal will make children—and grandparents—see themselves in a new light.

How to Babysit a Grandma, by Jean Reagan
The follow-up to How to Babysit a Grandpa, this manual for Grandma-sitters is filled with no-fail tips on how to keep Grandma occupied when you’re at a sleepover at her house. Some of the activities (dress-up, snack time, playing at the park) will keep Grandma busy, while others (waiting for the first star to appear, collaboratively creating shadow puppets on the wall) will help her enjoy quiet time. Sweet illustrations and a spunky narrative culminate in an unforgettable sleepover and an extremely special bond between Grandma and her granddaughter.

The Pigeon Needs a Bath, by Mo Willems
If there’s a Pigeon fan in your midst or on your list this year, the latest installment in Willem’s wildly successful franchise is a can’t-miss. In The Pigeon Needs a Bath, Willem’s cleverly incorrigible Pigeon is at it again, this time explaining why he most certainly does not need a bath. After mentioning every possible issue with the water temperature and the tub itself, and even venturing to ask the requestor when he/she last had a bath, Pigeon runs out of excuses, and into a problem: he now notices his stench! After landing in the bath, Pigeon might even have a bit of fun—and you will, too!

Press Here, by Hervé Tullet
Innovative and exciting, Press Here is a feast for creative minds young and old. Translated from Tullet’s native French, it’s filled with simple directives and interactive illustrations that deconstruct complicated artistic language, and invite tiny hands to bring big, bold colors to life. On each extraordinary page, dots of color are pressed, rubbed, tapped, shaken, or blown on, resulting in a rainbow of outcomes. Now with a color-mixing companion, Mix It Up, Press Here is a sheer delight, and a finger-painting activity that requires no cleanup!

The Secret Life of Squirrels, by Nancy Rose
After earning an impressive following on Flickr, Rose has crafted a sweet narrative around her quirky images featuring Mr. Peanuts the squirrel posed in a variety of handcrafted sets. Mr. Peanuts is no ordinary acorn-burying squirrel: he has many hobbies to fill his time, including playing Beethoven’s Sonuttas on the piano and reading classics like A Tail of Two Cities. Despite all his activities, Mr. Peanuts is a little lonely. So he writes a letter to Cousin Squirrel, inquiring about a visit. Highlighted by candid photographs and ingenious, handcrafted props, The Secret Life of Squirrels brings Mr. Peanuts’ secret pastimes to vivid life in a tale full of whimsy and warmth.

How to Train a Train, by Jason Carter Eaton
From the celebrated author of The Day My Runny Nose Ran Away, here’s a book filled with energetic illustrations, frank advice, train name recommendations, and a lovable narrator. With perfect pacing and a straight face, Eaton tells readers how to acquire, cultivate, and entertain a pet train. Included are firsthand accounts from current pet train owners, and tried-and-true methods for stalking and catching elusive locomotives.

If You Give a Dog a Donut, by Laura Numeroff
The latest installment in the beloved If You Give… series will be an instant favorite for all the preschoolers on your list. When Dog makes an ostensibly simple breakfast pastry request, his boy owner happily complies. But once the pup has his donut, he starts inquiring about sprinkles, and on down the line there might be a baseball game, a happy dance, pretend pirates, a treasure hunt, and kite-flying. Once the kite gets stuck in an apple tree, the pup’s thoughts travel to apple juice, and a donut that might go well with it. Preschoolers and parents alike will delight in this circular tale of treats, make-believe, and time together with those we love most.

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, by James Dean and Eric Litwin
Our favorite cool blue cat is back in I Love My White Shoes. Every child enjoys the thrill of wearing new shoes out of the store, and we join Pete as he embarks on a walk doing just that. But things get hairy when he steps into not only strawberries and blueberries, but also a mud puddle. Pete’s four shoes are anything but white now! But does Pete cry? Goodness, no! Lope along with him as he sings his way through this story and into our hearts. Preschoolers will also love the CD included!

Marcel the Shell: The Most Surprised I’ve Ever Been, by Jenny Slate
A sequel to Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, inspired by the YouTube video that now has over 23 million views, Marcel the Shell: The Most Surprised I’ve Ever Been is an enchanting story for all ages. Marcel is resting on a blanket, thinking about cake, when suddenly the blanket is lifted and shaken and our tiny friend is launched into the air. Momentarily suspended in space, he’s given a rare glimpse of the world below, which includes his grandmother, a giant baby, and stinky running shoes. Marcel’s thoughts tumble out in garrulous first-person as he continues his arc, observing the beauty of the world around him and the day ahead of him before he fortuitously alights on a multi-tiered cake. In this charming, warm tale, and in his singular voice, Marcel reminds us that surprises are always right around the corner, and if we embrace them, we’ll always land with our sneakers planted firmly on something sweet.
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