New & Noteworthy: Picture Books We Love

By Lynn Ann Lobash, Associate Director, Readers Services and Engagement
August 15, 2018

Picture books are most often aimed at small children, but adults love them too. The combination of visual and verbal narrative is magic and they convey tone so marvelously with the simplest of stories and illustrations. Here are a few new ones we recommend to readers of all ages.

All the Animals Where I Live

All the Animals Where I Live by Philip Stead

A quiet read in which the author takes us on a tour of his home in the country pointing out all the animals that share the space.

Alma and How She Got Her Name

Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal

Alma Sofia Esperanza Josâe Pura Candela asks her father why she has so many names.

Aquarium

Aquarium by Cynthia Alonso

A beautiful, impressionistic wordless picture book about a girl who learns about being a friend from a fish that leaps into her life.

Be Kind

Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller; art by Jen Hill

A feel good book about emotions and feelings and all the ways there are to be kind.

Bus! Stop!

Bus! Stop! by James Yang

An offbeat, whimsical book about a boy who misses a bus and while he waits for the next, he watches a parade of silly vehicles and passengers pass by.

A Busy Creature's Day Eating!

A Busy Creature's Day Eating!by Mo Willems

A funny, busy creature eats his way through the alphabet.

Captain Starfish

Captain Starfishby Davina Bell; art by Allison Colpoys

A shy boy learns to a be bold enough on a trip to the aquarium.

Doll-E 1.0

Doll-E 1.0 by Shanda McCloskey

Charlotte has a knack for anything technological. When she receives a doll, she doesn’t quite know what to do… until she discovers the battery pack.

Drawn Together

Drawn Togetherby Minh Le; art by Dan Santat

Art, storytelling and fantasy bridge a cultural and language gap between a boy and his grandfather.

 

El Chupacabras

El Chupacabras by Adam Rubin; art by Crash McCreery

Clara and her father seek the help of the chupacabra when the goats on their farm become giants and threaten the town.

The Funeral

The Funeral by Matt James

A whimsical picture book to introduce the theme of coping with death.

Grandma's Purse

Grandma's Purseby Vanessa Brantley-Newton

A sweet picture book about the treasures hidden in a grandmother’s purse.

Harriet Gets Carried Away

Harriet Gets Carried Away by Jessie Sima

While shopping for party supplies in her penguin costume and meets a group of real pengiuns.

Hello, Door

Hello, Door by Alastair Heim; art by Alisa Coburn

A rhyming story about a fox walking through a townhouse greeting the objects in his path.

 

Hello Lighthouse

Hello Lighthouseby Sophie Blackall

Explores the life of one lighthouse through changing seasons, weather, and keepers.

I Walk WIth Vanessa

I Walk With Vanessa by Kerascoet

A wordless picture book about dealing with bullies.

 

Jerome By Heart

Jerome by Heart by Thomas Scotto; art by Olivier Tallec

A story about two sweet, sensitive boys and their friendship.

Julian Is a Mermaid

Julián is a Mermaidby Jessica Love

Julián is enchanted by a  group of stylish women in mermaid  costumes on their way to a parade.

 

Let the Children March

Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson; art by Frank Morrison

Children march against segregation in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963.

 

My Pillow Keeps Moving

My Pillow Keeps Movingby Laura Gehl; art by Christopher Weyant

A puppy ends up in a cozy new home and will do anything to stay there.

 

The Rabbit Listened

The Rabbit Listenedby Cori Doerrfeld

When Taylor’s block castle is destroyed all the animals think they know what to do, but only the rabbit quietly listens to Taylor’s feelings.

The Rough Patch

The Rough Patch by Brian Lies

Farmer Evan’s dog dies and he lets his garden fill with weeds until a pumpkin vine brings new hope.

 

Wallpaper

Wallpaperby Thao Lam

A wordless picture book about being new to the neighborhood and overcoming fear.

Have trouble reading standard print? Many of these titles are available in formats for patrons with print disabilities.

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!