Picture Book List: 15 Terrific Books About Teachers

It’s back-​to-​school time, so what better way to celebrate the awesome teachers in our lives than to put together a list of fun picture books about teachers, schools, and students?

If I missed any of your favorites, drop a note in the comments. Enjoy!


A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon (March 1998)

From Goodreads: “‘What we have here is a bad case of stripes. One of the worst I’ve ever seen!’ Camilla Cream loves lima beans, but she never eats them. Why? Because the other kids in her school don’t like them. And Camilla Cream is very, very worried about what other people think of her. In fact, she’s so worried that she’s about to break out in…a bad case of stripes!”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 3–7


Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes (September 1991)

From Goodreads: “Chrysanthemum thinks her name is absolutely perfect—until her first day of school. “You’re named after a flower!” teases Victoria.
“Let’s smell her,” says Jo.

Chrysanthemum wilts. What will it take to make her blossom again?”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 2–6


Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis ? (October 2012)

From Goodreads: “Chloe doesn’t really know why she turns away from the new girl, Maya, when Maya tries to befriend her. And every time Maya asks if she can play with Chloe and the other girls, the answer is always no. So Maya ends up playing alone. And then one day she’s gone.

When Chloe’s teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the opportunity that’s been lost. How much better could it have been if she’d just shown Maya a little kindness and opened her heart to friendship?”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 6–10


Here Comes Teacher Cat by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Claudia Rueda (August 2017)

From Goodreads: “It’s back to school for the New York Times bestselling Cat when he steps in as a substitute teacher.

Cat is not pleased to be tapped as substitute teacher. Not only is it cutting into his naptime, but a roomful of kittens is a little … much. At school, Cat follows the lesson plan of music, building, and painting–only in gradually more mischief-​making Cat style. By the end, Cat has learned a thing or two about inspiring others by being himself. But even more heart-​melting and humorous is what these adorable kittens have learned from Cat.”

Pages: 88
Reading Age: 3–5


Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes (May 1996)

From Goodreads: “Hooray For Lilly!

Lilly loves everything about school, especially her teacher, Mr. Slinger. But when Lilly brings her new favorite things

movie star sunglasses (complete with diamonds)
three quarters (shiny ones)
a purple plastic purse (it plays lively music when opened)

to school, and insists on showing them to everyone even though it is not Sharing Time, Mr. Slinger is not amused. In fact, Mr. Slinger confiscates her prized possessions. Lilly’s fury leads to revenge and then to remorse as she sets out to make amends, in this modern classic by the beloved Kevin Henkes.”

Pages: 40
Reading Age: 3–6


My Teacher Is a Monster by Peter Brown (July 2014)

From Goodreads: “Bobby has a problem. You see, his teacher is a monster. But when Bobby runs into his teacher outside of school, he learns there is more to her than meets the eye.”

Pages: 40
Reading Age: 3–9


The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds (September 2003)

From Goodreads: “With a simple, witty story and free-​spirited illustrations, Peter H. Reynolds entices even the stubbornly uncreative among us to make a mark — and follow where it takes us.

Her teacher smiled. “Just make a mark and see where it takes you.”

Art class is over, but Vashti is sitting glued to her chair in front of a blank piece of paper. The words of her teacher are a gentle invitation to express herself. But Vashti can’t draw — she’s no artist. To prove her point, Vashti jabs at a blank sheet of paper to make an unremarkable and angry mark. “There!” she says.

That one little dot marks the beginning of Vashti’s journey of surprise and self-​discovery. That special moment is the core of Peter H. Reynolds’s delicate fable about the creative spirit in all of us.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 4–7


Enemy Pie by Derek Munson, illustrated by Tara Calahan King (September 2000)

From Goodreads: “It was the perfect summer. That is, until Jeremy Ross moved into the house down the street and became neighborhood enemy number one. Luckily Dad had a surefire way to get rid of enemies: Enemy Pie. But part of the secret recipe is spending an entire day playing with the enemy! In this funny yet endearing story, one little boy learns an effective recipes for turning your best enemy into your best friend. Accompanied by charming illustrations, Enemy Pie serves up a sweet lesson in the difficulties and ultimate rewards of making new friends.”

Pages: 40
Reading Age: 3–6


How Full Is Your Bucket? (for kids) by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer, illustrated by Maurie J. Manning (April 2009)

From Goodreads: “Through the story of a little boy named Felix, this charming book explains to children how being kind not only helps others, it helps them, too. As he goes about his day, Felix interacts with different people — his sister Anna, his grandfather, other family and friends. Some people are happy, but others are grumpy or sad. Using the metaphor of a bucket and dipper, Felix’ grandfather explains why the happy people make Felix feel good, while the others leave him feeling bad — and how Felix himself is affecting others, whether he means to or not. This beautifully illustrated adaptation takes the original book’s powerful message — that the way we relate to others has a profound effect on every aspect of our lives — and tailors it to a child’s unique needs and level of understanding.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 3–7


The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Leonard Weisgard (May 1999)

From Goodreads: “Goodnight Moon creator Margaret Wise Brown’s The Important Book is a deceptively simple exercise–taking familiar things like an apple, spoon, or shoe, and finding the most basic association with those things. The most important thing about an apple? It is round. A spoon? You eat with it. A shoe? You put your foot in it. But why, according to Brown, is the most important thing about grass “that it is green,” while the most important thing about an apple is “that it is round”? Why is “that it is white” the most important thing about snow and a daisy? Whether or not you’d distill these things in the same way that the author does, Brown makes us think about the essence of everyday entities in new ways. The illustrations, by Caldecott Medal winner Leonard Weisgard (The Little Island), perform the same function–capturing the spoonness of spoons, the roundness of an apple, the motion of wind.”

Pages: 24
Reading Age: 4–9


The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig, illustrated by Patrice Barton (October 2013)

From Goodreads: “Meet Brian, the invisible boy. Nobody ever seems to notice him or think to include him in their group, game, or birthday party… until, that is, a new kid comes to class.

When Justin, the new boy, arrives, Brian is the first to make him feel welcome. And when Brian and Justin team up to work on a class project together, Brian finds a way to shine.

From esteemed author and speaker Trudy Ludwig and acclaimed illustrator Patrice Barton, this gentle story shows how small acts of kindness can help children feel included and allow them to flourish. Any parent, teacher, or counselor looking for material that sensitively addresses the needs of quieter children will find The Invisible Boy a valuable and important resource.”

Pages: 40
Reading Age: 5–8


The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn, illustrated by Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak (January 2003)

From Goodreads: “Chester Raccoon is very scared and nervous about his first day of school. His mom helps to solve his anxiety in a very special way that involves the kissing hand.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 2–6


The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi (October 2003)

From Goodreads: “The new kid in school needs a new name! Or does she?

Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells the class that she will choose a name by the following week.

Her new classmates are fascinated by this no-​name girl and decide to help out by filling a glass jar with names for her to pick from. But while Unhei practices being a Suzy, Laura, or Amanda, one of her classmates comes to her neighborhood and discovers her real name and its special meaning.

On the day of her name choosing, the name jar has mysteriously disappeared. Encouraged by her new friends, Unhei chooses her own Korean name and helps everyone pronounce it—Yoon-​Hey.”

Pages: 40
Reading Age: 3–6


The Recess Queen by Alexis O’Neill, illustrated by Laura Huliska-​Beith (February 2002)

From Goodreads: “A fresh & original twist on the common issue of bullying. Kids will relate, & parents & teachers will appreciate the story’s deft handling of conflict resolution (which happens w/​o adult intervention) Mean Jean was Recess Queen and nobody said any different. Nobody swung until Mean Jean swung. Nobody kicked until Mean Jean kicked. Nobody bounced until Mean Jean bounced. If kids ever crossed her, she’d push ’em and smoosh ’em lollapaloosh ’em, hammer ’em, slammer ’em kitz and kajammer ’em. Until a new kid came to school! With her irrepressible spirit, the new girl dethrones the reigning recess bully by becoming her friend in this infectious playground romp.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 5–7


School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex, illustrated by Christian Robinson (June 2016)

From Goodreads: “It’s the first day of school at Frederick Douglass Elementary and everyone’s just a little bit nervous, especially the school itself. What will the children do once they come? Will they like the school? Will they be nice to him?

The school has a rough start, but as the day goes on, he soon recovers when he sees that he’s not the only one going through first-​day jitters.”

Pages: 40
Reading Age: 5–6

Only Picture Books’ 22 Favorites of 2022

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!


Berry Song by Michaela Goade (19 July 2022)

OPB Five-​Word Review: Luminous, dreamy, pro-​earth joy. Berrytastic.

Goodreads Reviews


Chester van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme by Avery Monsen, illustrated by Abby Hanlon (15 March 2022)

OPB Five-​Word Review: Rhyming read-​a-​loud hilarity. Interactive fun.

Goodreads Reviews


A Gift for Nana by Lane Smith (10 May 2022)

OPB Five-​Word Review: Quirky. Cute. Maybe for adults?

Goodreads Reviews


All Star: How Larry Doby Smashed the Color Barrier in Baseball by Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Cannaday Chapman (4 January 2022)

OPB Five-​Word Review: Unsung hero. Door-​opener. Fascinating. Timely.

Goodreads Reviews


Bedtime for Bo by Kjersti Annesdatter Skomsvold and Mari Kanstad Johnsen, translated by Kari Dickson (9 August 2022)

OPB Five-​Word Review: Joyous, snuggly bedtime love. Imaginative.

Goodreads Reviews


The Blanket Where Violet Sits by Allan Wolf, illustrated by Lauren Tobia (30 August 2022)

OPB Five-​Word Review: Lyrical cumulative rhymes. Picnicky fun.

Goodreads Reviews


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)

OPB Five-​Word Review: Cozy, charming Goodnight Moon pastiche.

Goodreads Reviews


I Am Mozart, Too: The Lost Genius of Maria Anna Mozart by Audrey Ades, illustrated by Adelina Lirius (22 February 2022)

OPB Five-​Word Review: Gender injustice–Mozart’s prodigy sister.

Goodreads Reviews


John’s Turn by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Kate Berube (24 February 2022)

OPB Five-​Word Review: Embrace your talent. Gloriously so.

Goodreads Reviews


Knight Owl by Christopher Denise (15 March 2022)

OPB Five-​Word Review: Owlish wordplay. Bravery. Radiant art.

Goodreads Reviews


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)

OPB Five-​Word Review: Pet clouds are awesome. Beautiful.

Goodreads Reviews


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)

OPB Five-​Word Review: Childhood dreams. Heart-​melting ending.

Goodreads Reviews


The Rise (and Falls) of Jackie Chan by Kristen Mai Giang, illustrated by Alina Chau (29 March 2022)

OPB Five-​Word Review: Goofball acrobatics. Vibrant art. POW!

Goodreads Reviews


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


Strong by Rob Kearney and Eric Rosswood, illustrated by Nidhi Chanani (10 May 2022)

OPB Five-​Word Review: Becoming an LGBTQ+ strongman. Empowering.

Goodreads Reviews


Uncle John’s City Garden by Bernette Ford, illustrated by Frank Morrison (3 May 2022)

OPB Five-​Word Review: City gardens. Family. Recipes. Delicious.

Goodreads Reviews


The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López (4 January 2022)

OPB Five-​Word Review: Lyrical history lifts up readers.

Goodreads Reviews


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)

OPB Five-​Word Review: Passion. Pride. Participation. Pianos. Potent!

See the original full OPB review here.

 

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.

Educational Activities: The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson

The Year We Learned to Fly
Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrator: Rafael López
4 January 2022
Nancy Paulsen Books
32 pages

Book description from Goodreads: “On a dreary, stuck-​inside kind of day, a brother and sister heed their grandmother’s advice: ‘Use those beautiful and brilliant minds of yours. Lift your arms, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and believe in a thing. Somebody somewhere at some point was just as bored you are now.’ And before they know it, their imaginations lift them up and out of their boredom. Then, on a day full of quarrels, it’s time for a trip outside their minds again, and they are able to leave their anger behind. This precious skill, their grandmother tells them, hearkens back to the days long before they were born, when their ancestors showed the world the strength and resilience of their beautiful and brilliant minds. Jacqueline Woodson’s lyrical text and Rafael López’s dazzling art celebrate the extraordinary ability to lift ourselves up and imagine a better world.”


Need some reviews of The Year We Learned to Fly?


Educational Activities inspired by Jacqueline Woodson’s The Year We Learned to Fly:

  • Before Reading–From looking at the front and back cover: 
    • Where and when do you think this story takes place?
    • What do you think this story will be about?
    • What emotion is the child on the cover feeling?
    • Why do you think there are butterflies on the back cover?
  • After Reading–Now that you’ve read the story: 
    • Have you ever been as bored as the kids were at the start of the story? 
      • How did it feel?
      • What did YOU do about it?
    • Why weren’t the kids stuck in the apartment anymore once they closed their eyes?
    • How did you react to the kids fighting, frowning, and promising never to speak to each other again?
    • What is grandmother talking about when she says “cuffed in iron”?
    • Why does learning to fly come to mean here?
    • How did these two teach other kids to fly?
  • History–Grandmother mentions the perseverance of “the people who came before,” meaning Africans who were enslaved and brought to America. Here’s a short classroom-​friendly video to provide some context.
  • Imagining–Since the kids in this book learned to use their imagination, use YOUR imagination to fill in the blanks here:
    • A question I’d like to ask the illustrator is________________.
    • If I were a character in this book, I’d be_________________.
    • If this book had a sequel, I’d expect to see ________________.
  • Crafting–Since The Year We Learned to Fly is about kids who overcome boredom with creativity and imagination, let’s try some fun creative crafts to engage your creativity and imagination! Get an adult to help, just to be on the safe side: 
  • Further Reading–Enjoy more picture books about the power of the imagination. Which of these have you already read? Which do you want to read first? (Click on any book cover for more information on these titles!)

Only Picture Books’ 18 Favorites of 2018

What better way to close out 2018 than with a list of OPB’s 18 favorites from this past year?

Some of these titles appeared in the (digital) pages of OPB.

Some didn’t. (Alas, this isn’t a comprehensive PB review site like PW, Kirkus, or others.)

But make no mistake–I’m a fan of these 18 titles. I’ll even offer up a sentence or three for each to give a sense about why I liked them.

 

Note #1: Every book listed below is a total winner via my super-​subjective estimation. By that, I mean:

  • I own a copy. (Yep. Not just the freebie ARCs/​galleys here!)
  • I’d be happy to read any of these with a child.
  • I’d be happy to re-​read any of these, even without a child handy.
  • I’d be happy to have written, illustrated, and/​or edited ANY of these.
  • I’d be pleased as Hawaiian punch for any of the involved authors, illustrators, and editors to hit up OPB for an interview. HINT HINT HINT!

Note #2: They aren’t ranked in any particular way, save alphabetically by title. Want to know the #1 picture book of 2018? Read them yourself and make your own choice. Post your choice as a comment here. Or offer it up on your social media. Or add your glowing recommendation on an Amazon or Goodreads page.

Note #3: I like notes.

Note #4: There should be more picture books about sloths. (Please refer to question #1 of the Speed Round of editor Kait Feldmann’s OPB interview for proof of this profound sloth lack!)

Note #5: Refer to notes 1–4, as needed.


Are You Scared, Darth Vader? by Adam Rex (3 July 2018)

I often bring a picture book to share at my SCBWI PALs meetings, and this one brought the house down. It’s loads of fun, but it’s far more than just a Star Wars nostalgia riff. Well done, Mr. Rex!

 

Carmela Full of Wishes by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson (9 October 2018)

If you liked Last Stop on Market Street, you’ll love de la Peña’s new book that powerfully spotlights children who are worthy of our attention. Plus Robinson’s acrylic paintings are rich and captivating. Simply terrific.

Enjoy an Oct 2018 interview about Carmela Full of Wishes with Matt and Christian at PW.

 

A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Marlon Bundo and Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller

To everyone’s surprise, political satire and picture books can go together like chocolate and peanut butter. Plus Jim Parsons really rocks it on the audio version.

 

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López (28 August 2018)

It’s a memorable, inclusive story with lyrical writing and dreamy art. This is a book for every child who feels alone (which is to say “everybody” at one time or another).

Here’s The New York Times article on two of Woodson’s books (including this one).

 

Drawn Together by Minh Lê, illustrated by Dan Santat (5 June 2018)

This gorgeous book shows the power of art–and the creative process–in action. It’s a visual WOW.

Here’s a June 2018 NPR interview with Minh Lê about Drawn Together.

 

Giraffe Problems by Jory John, illustrated by Lane Smith (25 September 2018)

About twice a month, I go to my local library and grab two huge bags of whatever picture books catch my eye. Then I read them all at home. That’s the story of how I got introduced to this book, and it was the star of the whole batch by far. Clever. And full of positive messages too.

Here’s a Dec 2018 “speed interview” with Jory John on this cool book.

 

Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang, illustrated by Max Lang (15 May 2018)

The simplistic yet powerfully expressive illustrations are first-​rate. Plus there’s something wonderful about a grumpy monkey screaming “I’m not grumpy!” This is great for a kindergarten reading session. They’ll all make the faces along with the characters for sure.

 

How to Code a Sandcastle by Josh Funk, illustrated by Sara Palacios (15 Mary 2018)

No rhymes or delicious puns here, but instead you have a kid-​friendly book that shows how to break down a seemingly big problem into small, manageable steps. It’s smart, useful, and just silly enough to keep all the learning fun.

Here’s a “Simply 7” interview (by Jena Benton) with the always-​interesting Josh Funk.

 

I Am Human: A Book of Empathy by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds (2 October 2018)

I’ve been paying attention to this picture book team since I Am Yoga and they continue to deliver. This book is a fine celebration of the beautiful imperfectness of humanity. It’s a book that says it’s okay to make mistakes, and that’s a fine lesson for young readers that counteracts the over-​tested, over-​scheduled, must-have-GPAs-higher-than‑4.0 world in which we live.

 

I Walk with Vanessa by Kerascoët (24 April 2018)

I’ve been a fan of this husband-​wife team since their graphic novel Beautiful Darkness. This picture book shows just how magical a wordless story can be.

Here’s a fine review of I Walk with Vanessa at Unleashing Readers.

 

Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (23 April 2018)

This is a book that could’ve gone wrong in a host of ways … but doesn’t. It’s beautiful and empowering without being preachy.

Here’s a May 2018 interview with Jessica about this book at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

 

Mixed: A Colorful Story by Arree Chung (3 July 2018)

This celebratory book feels more relevant by the day. I’m also a fan of the graphic, eye-​catching style.

Read the full review of Mixed at OPB!

 

Night Job by Karen Hesse, illustrated by G. Brian Karas (11 September 2018)

This gentle story has a great big heart and Karas’ mixed media illustrations are spot-​on in every way.

Here’s the starred review of Night Job at Kirkus.

 

Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders, illustrated by Steven Salerno (10 April 2018)

I know Rob pretty well and despite that (just kidding, Rob!), I think this book is tremendously good and tremendously important. When Rob visited my Writing Picture Books class at Ringling College in spring 2018, he shared this book with them–it became the #1 most talked-​about book of the entire semester for the students, and for that reason alone, it’s got to be on this list. I also really dig the back matter timelines.

 

The Boo-​Boos that Changed the World: A True Story About an Accidental Invention (Really!) by Barry Wittenstein, illustrated by Chris Hsu (13 February 2018)

The retro look draws me in as much as the well-​told story about a now-​omnipresent first aid item.

Here’s a March 2018 speed interview with Barry at The Children’s Book Review.

 

The Eye that Never Sleeps: How Detective Pinkerton Saved President Lincoln by Marissa Moss, illustrated by Jeremy Holmes (6 November 2018)

The hip cartoony style works well with the text to present a memorable read about one of America’s greatest detectives.

 

The Wall in the Middle of the Book by Jon Agee (2 October 2018)

This book proves to be quite the discussion starter on the concepts of perspective and assumptions.

Here’s an October 2018 Q&A with Jon at PW.

Here’s an October 2018 interview with Jon at Let’s Talk Picture Books.

 

We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins (19 June 2018)

The character? Hilarious. The ending? Delightful. It’s the type of back-​to-​school book I wish I had when my kids were little.

Here’s a Q&A with Ryan at PW.