Get some summer reading in with this countdown of 30 days of classic must-read picture books! They are great for read alouds, story time, or family time!
30 Days of Must-Read Picture Books
1. For the Love of Music by Elizabeth Rusch
Many know of Mozart’s amazing musical feats, but few know of his equally talented sister, Maria Anna Mozart. Here is her amazing story!
2. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
Chester Raccoon doesn’t want to go to school! To comfort his fears, Mrs. Raccoon shares the secret of the kissing hand in this classic book.
3. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
“There once was a tree…and she loved a little boy.” In this heartbreaking story, this is a story of giving and taking.
4. The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Written to make reading more fun, The Cat in the Hat is a fun storybook about two siblings, Dick and Sally, who go on a crazy adventure on one ‘boring’ rainy day!
5. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
With more than 12 million copies sold, The Very Hungry Caterpillar tells the story of a caterpillar who just can’t get full! The hungry caterpillar just eats and eats, until…
6. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
Written over 60 years ago, Harold uses his imagination and a purple crayon to go on an adventure.
7. Winnie: The True Story That Inspired Winnie the Pooh by Sally M. Walker
When Harry sees a bear in a train station, he knew he wanted to adopt it. But, Harry was a soldier training in WWI. Here is the story of how Winnie-The-Pooh came about.
Curious George is a lovable monkey. Here are his adventures with the Man in the Yellow Hat!
9. Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
These silly book is easy to read, and is great for making reading fun! Amelia Bedelia is a maid, but can sometimes take things a bit too literally!
Corduroy is a small bear waiting on a department store for a child to adopt him. What will happen?
11. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Max, sent to his bedroom without dinner, encounters a wild forest in his bedroom!
12. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff
If you give a mouse a cookie, he’s going to ask for a glass of milk! And then…use this classic book to keep kids guessing in this engaging story.
Eloise is a precocious young girl who lives in the Plaza Hotel! Here is her fun story.
14. Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
With foil stamping, this sparkly book is memorable and hands-on.
15. Stone Soup by Marcia Brown
In this Caldecott Honor book, a village pulls together to create stone soup.
Set in China, the Emperor is searching for a successor. In this thought provoking story, a young boy named Ping learns a very valuable lesson on honesty!
17. Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
This is a tale of a peddler, some monkeys, and some serious monkey business. This is one of the top classic picture books that has stood the test of time.
18. Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell
Clifford is a lovable big red dog, who knows a bit about friendship! Here is his sweet story with his friend, Emily Elizabeth.
19. It Could Always Be Worse by Margot Zemach
Have kids who complain? This Yiddish folk tale is a comical reminder that things could always be worse, a lesson on gratitude for both kids and adults!
20. The Day The Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
Young Duncan wants to color, but when he opens his crayon box, he finds a note saying that the crayons have quit! What will happen?
21. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
A bus driver takes a break from his job, and is replaced by…a pigeon!
22. The Book With No Pictures by B. J. Novak
The book with no pictures…what?! This New York Times Bestseller is a super fun book, despite having no pictures!
When a young girl drops her mitten, a group of animals explore what it is!
24. Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
Harry, a white dog with black spots, hates baths! During bath time, he runs away. When he comes back black with white spots, his family no longer recognizes him!
25. The Puppy Who Wanted A Boy by Jane Thayer
Petey the puppy has just one wish for Christmas – finding a boy!
26. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
Farmer Brown has a serious problems – his cows love to type! Soon, they begin leaving him notes demanding certain things in this silly story!
27. Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London
It’s finally winter, and Froggy wants to get outside and play! But, his mother makes sure he has the right gear on!
28. The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Martin
In this New York Times bestseller, this inspirational story is a great reminder of what kids can achieve.
29. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
Great for fathers, Little Nutbrown Hare shows his Daddy how much he loves him. This is a great story reminding families of endless love.
30. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Goodnight moon! This simple, repetitive story is great for beginning readers and can grow a lifelong love of learning. It is one of the most famous picture books out there!
Lots of great reads on this list – thanks!
Hey, great share with a picture demonstration. I am an avid reader and I just love reading different sorts of books. These books sound amazing. Thanks for sharing this post.
Keep sharing more…Cheers!!