We’ve been reading a lot of Picture Books and gifting a lot too! We’ve round up some of our favorite Picture Books and there are Picture Book Gift Ideas for all the book lovers on your gift list here.
As a serious book lover, my favorite thing to give as gifts are books. Picture books make especially lovely gifts for both kids and grown ups.
I have compiled here a list of our favorite Picture Book Gift ideas and they are some of the Best Picture Books to Give as Gifts. My kids and I have read every book on this list, in fact we own almost every book on this list and we’ve read them over and over and over. They have beautiful pictures, tell thoughtful stories, and might even get you to laugh out loud. With this list, you’ll surely be able to find the perfect picture book for all the readers on your gift list!
Wordless Picture Books
Books that tell their story through pictures are a unique reading experience for readers of all ages. These wordless picture books inspire imaginative storytelling and are incredibly engaging. They make wonderful gifts for kids regardless of their reading level.
These are some of our favorites, with beautiful pictures and clever stories:
The Yellow Balloon by Charlotte Dematons
Follow the journey of a yellow balloon all around the globe. The watercolor pictures are incredible and so detailed. There are stories within stories in this picture book.
Journey by Aaron Becker
This book follows the concept in Harold and The Purple Crayon and takes it to amazing new levels. There’s a girl, a red crayon, and a beautiful magical adventure.
Flotsam by David Wiesner
This has been one of our favorite family reads for years now. A boy finds a camera washed up on a beach, but what happens when he develops the film inside is the best story ever.
Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle
This book is sweet and simple and the characters, Flora and the flamingo, are so charming. Perfect for any ballerina loving little girls on your gift list.
The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
After our favorite librarian sent this book home with us a few years ago, I knew it had to become part of our permanent collection. A perfect pictorial retelling of the famous Aesop Fable.
Interactive Picture Books
I know kids these days have tablets and smart phones and video games, but there’s always room for a book that invites good reader involvement. These 5 interactive picture books will delight readers of all ages as they press imaginary buttons, exasperate monsters, and spy on Gerald and Piggie.
These books have my four kids five star approval!
Press Here by Herve Tullet
This is a book that has you pressing buttons and shaking it up and turning it upside down and every single page is so fun.
The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak
Turns out a picture book without any pictures can be just as entertaining to kids and grown up readers too. My 9 year old is particularly enamored with this funny book.
The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone
I’ve had this book around since my own childhood and it’s never lost its magic. Grover doesn’t want you to turn the pages, but your kids will love defying him all the way to the end of the book.
We Are in a Book by Mo Willems
This book makes me giggle every time. We love Gerald and Piggie, but this is the funny duo at the very top of their game. A good gift because it’s guaranteed to make the recipient laugh – I promise.
Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett
We received this book as a gift last year and it’s been read countless times since then. Mac Barnett is a genius. “Hey kids! Time to count the monkeys!” But, you’ll have to find them first.
Books that Tell a Great Story
Picture books may depend a lot on the illustrations, but a really good story makes the best book of all.
These 6 picture books tell magical stories and they’ll be read again and again and again.
The Rain Babies by Laura Krauss Melmed
This is one of my all time favorite picture books and I love to gift it to people. The story is so unique – a childless couple find a dozen tiny babies after a midnight shower and the adventure begins. A perfect story book with beautiful pictures to match.
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
You can’t go wrong with a William Steig book, really. This book is strange but compelling, humorous but touching. Sylvester, a donkey, finds a magic pebble and accidentally turns himself into a rock. It’s a tricky situation and one readers will love to watch unfold.
Strega Nona by Tomi dePaola
This reads like a perfect Italian folk tale should. My favorite part is that it often inspires anyone reading aloud to attempt an Italian accent. This is a broadly appealing story.
Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett
A simple, sweet story matched with perfect Jon Klassen illustrations. It makes an absolutely gorgeous gift and a heartwarming read.
Fanny’s Dream by Carolyn Buehner
Everyone knows the fairy tales, but this is a unique twist on the well known fairy godmother story line. When Fanny’s fairy godmother doesn’t show up in time, she has to make her own happily ever after out of a simple, ordinary life. It makes a good gift because adults will enjoy the story just as much as the kids.
The Quilt Maker’s Gift by Jeff Brumbeau
This colorful, detailed book makes a lovely gift precisely because it is all about the gift of giving and the joy that comes from living a life of service. It’s another favorite at our house.
Finding Winnie by Lindsay Mattick
This is the true story of the real live bear that inspired the Winnie the Pooh stories. It charmed me on the very first page!
Laugh Out Loud Funny Books
There’s hardly a better gift than that of a good, genuine laugh. These picture books were made for just that, a good laugh, some funny giggles, and a really delightful reading experience. In my opinion, the hallmark of a really great picture book is that it is just as fun for the grown-ups to read as it is for the kids.
These laugh out loud funny picture books can deliver.
Mustache by Mac Barnett
There’s a king with an ego, some very unhappy villagers, and a lot of painted mustaches. It’s fun!
Peanut Butter and Cupcake by Terry Border
The photographs in this book are as funny as the story. Peanut Butter is having a difficult time finding a friend – hamburger is busy walking his hot dog, egg is cracking up, etc. Spoiler: It has a happy ending.
The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt
I like the first crayon book, but this one is even better – mostly because Pea Green crayon changes his name to Esteban the Magnificent. This, paired with a new box of crayons, makes an excellent funny gift!
Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
This is a really fun read aloud book. Papa chicken is trying to read a bed time story and the little chicken can’t help but interrupt. Guaranteed giggles every time – especially if you can do a deadpan Papa chicken voice.
This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
This might very well be one of my favorite picture books of all time, which is why I think it makes a great gift. It’s dark, dry humor with wickedly funny illustrations.
Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing by Judi Barrett
My parents gifted this book to my kids a few years ago and it took several readings before they could make it to the end of the book because they would always laugh so hard they cried. Enough said.
Board Books for Little Readers
Even the littlest ones enjoy good books for gifts. I still remember all the first board books I received when I had my first baby and exactly who gave them to me. The time spent reading with my babies will always be some of my most favorite memories.
These books have perfect pictures and short, lyrical stories that even the youngest kids will love – destined to become family classics.
Chicky Chicky Chook Chook by Cathy MacLennan
This one reads like a rhythmic piece of music and is so fun to read aloud. It’s even more fun when the littlest babies start repeating “chicky chicky chook chook, chick chick chick.”
Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack by Lynley Dodd
Hairy is the most darling dog so it’s no wonder Zachary Quack wants to be his friend. If only Hairy would stop running away. This was gifted to us last year and became a fast favorite.
Hush Little Baby by Marla Frazee
This is the classic nursery rhyme but with the absolute best illustrations. Kids will love poring over the pictures and all the details in the images.
I Took the Moon For a Walk by Carolyn Curtis
This is a beautiful book, poetic and dreamy with perfect illustrations. It makes the best bed time story/
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Helen Oxenbury
Another fun, well known poem in story book form. Always a little kid favorite.
Books with Beautiful Pictures
All the books on this gift list have good illustrations (with one exception of course), these books really stand out with fantastic pictures. These are the books that you read through the first time for the story and then start right over for round two to take in all the beautiful art work.
With a variety of artistic styles and mediums, these picture books really are worth a thousand words.
Animalia by Graeme Base
This is an incredible alphabet book of illustrations that you can quite literally spend hours staring at. Kids will love finding all the hidden pictures on each page. Bonus – if you’re a Dr. Who fan, you’ll find some fun tributes hidden within.
Sleep Like a Tiger by Mary Logue
A beautiful, magical bed time story for those kids that always claim they just aren’t tired. It’s a Caldecott Honor book and it’s easy to see why.
Black Dog by Levi Pinfold
This is a good story about overcoming the fear of a frightening dog, but the illustrations tell the story just as well as the written word.
Virginia Wolf by Kyo Maclear
This picture book was inspired by Virginia Woolf and her relationship with her artistic sister, Vanessa Bell. As Vanessa attempts to cheer Virginia up from her wolfish mood with some magical painting, the reader too can’t help but be carried away by the happy, colorful illustrations. This book is a true work of art.
The Cat at Night by Dalov Ipcar
The pictures in this book compare what a cat sees at night with what a human would see. Genius little book!
The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen
This bright colorful book is so much fun! The animals accidentally escape from their terrible circus master and you’ll have a lot of fun finding them as they hide in a perfectly illustrated coastal village.
Home by Carson Ellis
There are all different kinds of homes in the world and Carson Ellis has illustrated them so beautifully!
What are your favorite Picture Book gift ideas?
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