I have a lot of picture books on my shelf–possibly too many! They’re all great, and they all bring something to the table for my learning & craft. And, obviously, every picture book is a read-aloud.
But there are some books that just sing to me as a reader–I can hear the rhythm or voice in my head, and I can see myself reading it happily and easily to a crowd of children (well, maybe a small group!).
Federico and the Wolf – Written by Rebecca J. Gomez, Illustrated by Elisa Chavarri (2020).
I’ve never been a huge fan of the original Red Riding Hood story, but this is one of the most delightful fairy-tale retellings I’ve seen. The rhyming and rhythm work so well together, and the prose and dialogue has an energy that transfers itself into the reading. And on top of that, it’s funny! This is a must-have to share with kids.
Nobody Hugs a Cactus – Written & Illustrated by Carter Goodrich (2019)
I laughed out loud in the bookstore when I opened this one. The text is spare and tight, with a lot of dialogue. And that dialogue is absolutely filled with attitude, especially Frank’s. It is SO much fun to read a rude character. And the art! On every page, after I read the text to the kids, I’d be pointing to Frank and saying, “Look at his face!” Pretty soon, they’d probably be saying it before me.
Kadooboo! A Silly South Indian Folktale – Written by Shruthi Rao, Illustrated by Darshika Varma (2024).
Full transparency: I know Shruthi, but that doesn’t change how I feel about this book. It’s a lovely, simple story. Kabir has to get the kadooboo home to his Amma before it rains. But the harder challenge is telling everyone what he’s carrying…and remembering how to say the word. The mistake words are fun & funny, and the artist has brought them out of the main text in a large, bold font that would make it easy for a child to find. And the gaps in Kabir’s teeth–such a small thing, but it adds so much to the illustrations. I love the idea of reading this to a classroom of kids who have all been losing their baby teeth.
Don’t Hug Doug (He Doesn’t Like It) – Written by Carrie Finison, Drawings by Daniel Wiseman (2021)
The confidence and energy this book exudes is amazing. The rhyming is great, and the word choices will make you laugh. And at the end of each scene comes a matter-of-fact reminder not to hug Doug, plus a chance for Doug to reiterate, offer alternatives, and move the story forward in a new way. The illustration of Doug with the megaphone, shouting, “Who here likes hugs?” and giving everyone on the next page (and listening to the story) a chance to answer is a powerful, joyous moment of self-positivity.
Becky Levine 