Once a week, I find myself standing in front of many large open bins sifting through the alphabetized picture books at my local library. While the choices seem endless, many of the books crammed between the dusty shelves are not worth my time. As I have mentioned before, NOT ALL BOOKS ARE CREATED EQUAL! (This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for full details.) When selecting chapter books to read aloud, I always scrutinize the CONTENT and the LITERARY MERIT. Why should it be any different with picture books? In fact, as these simple stories are the first introduction my children ever have to the loveliness of the written word, I am MORE critical of what I bring home to share with them. I want them to be captivated by books. Only a well-written story with beautiful illustrations and thoroughly-developed characters will do. After several years teaching preschool and kindergarten and many more years snuggling in a rocking chair with my own little ones, I have compiled a list of my personal favorites. A collection of wonderful classics and new treasures. Many are award-winners, but some are just undiscovered titles hidden among the masses. This is by no means an exhaustive list, just my most-loved choices. I continue to add to it each year as I come across new gems. A Treasury of Curious George by H.A. Rey Anatole by Eve Titus Ask Mr. Bear by Marjorie Flack Baby Farm Animals by Garth Williams Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Eric Carle (series) Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina Charlie Needs a Cloak by Tomie dePaola Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin (series) Corduroy by Don Freeman Danny and the Dinosaur by Sid Hoff Duck in the Truck by Jez Alborough Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney Harold and the Purple Crayon by Ruth Krauss Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion Henry and Mudge: The First Book by Cynthia Rylant (series) If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff (series) Imogene's Antlers by David Small Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? by Nancy White Carlstrom Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton Little Bear by Else H. Minarik (series) Little Toot by Hardie Gramatky Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag Moose Tracks! by Karma Wilson One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss Owl Moon by Jane Yolen Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall Peter's Chair by Ezra Jack Keats Quick As a Cricket by Audrey Wood Sammy the Seal by Syd Hoff Sheep in a Jeep by Jez Alborugh Smudge by Clare Turlay Newberry Summertime in the Big Woods by Garth Williams (series) Swimmy by Leo Lionni The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton The Mitten by Jan Brett The Napping House by Audrey Wood The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak Whistle For Willie by Ezra Jack Keats White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt Most of these authors have written MANY other well-worth-reading books. As is the case with most chapter books, when you find a picture book that you really enjoy, check out the other books in the series or by the same writer. For more thoughts on books for kids: Great Read Alouds for Lower to Mid Elementary 13 Books to Read Aloud in 2013 Summer Read Aloud Goals Top 10 American History Read Alouds (with a bonus list of 10 Historical Readers) Why I Choose a Living Literature Approach to Learning Hidden Benefits of Reading Aloud to Your Kids For more great book suggestions, be sure to head to iHomeschool Network and check out the Massive Guide to Homeschool Reading Lists!