Hello, 2023! While we’re really excited about the kidlit world and all that’s about to happen this year, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on some truly terrific picture books from the past twelve months.
This is a subjective list, so if we missed a great picture book, our apologies. Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments. We’ll try to include those in future lists, if we can.
One last thing–since we’re running this in our regular Picture Book Review slot of the month, we’ll include our own 5‑word reviews along with a link to the Goodreads reviews. Creating these haiku-like mini-reviews is as challenging as it is fun. Try it yourself sometime!
All Star: How Larry Doby Smashed the Color Barrier in Baseball by Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Cannaday Chapman (4 January 2022)
The Blanket Where Violet Sits by Allan Wolf, illustrated by Lauren Tobia (30 August 2022)
The Depth of the Lake and the Height of the Sky by Kim Jihyun (19 April 2022)
OPB Five-Word Review: Evocative wordless storytelling. Enchanting debut.
Goodreads Reviews
Dodos Are Not Extinct by Paddy Donnelly (8 February 2022)
OPB Five-Word Review: Extinct animals aplenty. Storytime silliness.
Goodreads Reviews
Good Night Little Bookstore by Amy Cherrix, illustrated by E.B. Goodale (29 August 2022)
I Am Mozart, Too: The Lost Genius of Maria Anna Mozart by Audrey Ades, illustrated by Adelina Lirius (22 February 2022)
John’s Turn by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Kate Berube (24 February 2022)
Knight Owl by Christopher Denise (15 March 2022)
The Legend of Gravity: A Tall Basketball Tale by Charly Palmer (4 January 2022)
OPB Five-Word Review: Splendrous colors. Fanciful facts. Teamwork!
Goodreads Reviews
Lizzy and the Cloud by The Fan Brothers (3 May 2022)
Love in the Library by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, illustrated by Yas Imamura (8 February 2022)
OPB Five-Word Review: Detainment camp. History. Heartbreak. Books!
Goodreads Reviews
Monsters in the Fog by Ali Bahrampour, illustrated by Cannaday Chapman (14 June 2022)
OPB Five-Word Review: Humorous mountain journey. Beware “monsters”!
Goodreads Reviews
Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady, illustrated by Gracey Zhang (19 July 2022)
The Rise (and Falls) of Jackie Chan by Kristen Mai Giang, illustrated by Alina Chau (29 March 2022)
Standing in the Need of Prayer: A Modern Retelling of the Classic Spiritual by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison (20 September 2022)
OPB Five-Word Review: Glorious tribute. Discussion-starting. Ear-pleasing. Timely.
Goodreads Reviews
Uncle John’s City Garden by Bernette Ford, illustrated by Frank Morrison (3 May 2022)
I got so excited going through my shelf of 2022 picture books for this end-of-year list that I completely forgot to go back through the books we reviewed here at OPB (which I keep on a different shelf in a different room). I’m not bumping any of the 22 above books because they all belong here, but so do the following three titles.
I supposed that makes this post more accurately “Only Picture Books’ 22 25 Favorites of 2022.”
Mommy’s Hometown by Hope Lim, illustrated by Jaime Kim (12 April 2022)
OPB Five-Word Review: Hits me just right. Sensitive.
See the original OPB review here.
Wally, the World’s Greatest Piano-Playing Wombat by Ratha Tep, illustrated by Camilla Pintonato (18 October 2022)
Wombat Said Come In by Carmen Agra Deedy, illustrated by Brian Lies (6 October 2022)
OPB Five-Word Review: Friendship. Empathy. Safe and secure.
See the original full OPB review here.
Because of Dads
Even Steven: A Book About Sharing
Neil, the Amazing Sea Cucumber
Robin and the Stick
The Whale’s Tale and the Otter’s Side of the Story
Strong