Only Picture Books’ 25 Favorite Picture Books of 2025

On December 29, 2025December 29, 2025 By Only Picture BooksIn Bonus Goodies1 Comment

Well, 2025 has come and gone! That means I’ve spent the past twelve months knee-deep in picture books, and I’m excited to share the ones that stood out.

For newcomers to OPB, I choose books based on these core principles:

Books that have heart.
Books that resonate.
Books that are skillfully done.
Books that matter.

But to earn a coveted spot on the “Best of 2025” list, a book needs to do more than check those boxes. This year, I found myself especially drawn to books with:

Originality in Execution: Books that take familiar subjects and make them feel brand new through innovative structure, unexpected humor, or a fresh approach.
Emotional Truth: Stories that capture authentic moments—the messy, complicated, beautiful reality of being human—in ways that feel both specific and universal.
Visual Storytelling: Illustrations that don’t just support the main text but expand it, adding layers of meaning and inviting every reader to linger on each page.
Playful Language: Text that delights in the sounds and rhythms of words, whether that’s through musicality, wit, or inventive wordplay.
Sticking Power: Books that refuse to leave you alone, prompting conversations, rereads, and new discoveries each time you circle back to them.

In no particular order (except alphabetical, for easy navigation), here are OPB’s standout picture books of 2025. As always, I’m including my signature 5‑word reviews for each title, along with a link to the book’s Goodreads page.

Of course, this list represents just a fraction of the wonderful picture books published this year. If your favorite didn’t make the cut, I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Now, let’s dive in!

The Baby Who Stayed Awake Forever
Author: Sandra Salsbury
Illustrator: Sandra Salsbury
Doubleday Books for Young Readers
11 March 2025
40 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Sleep-deprived chaos rings delightfully true.

Goodreads Reviews

Big Enough
Author: Regina Linke
Illustrator: Regina Linke
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
1 April 2025
40 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Courage outgrows fear and doubt.

Goodreads Reviews

Blue
Author: Suzanne Kaufman
Illustrator: Suzanne Kaufman
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
3 June 2025
48 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Boy and heron soar skyward.

Goodreads Reviews

Broken
Author: X. Fang
Illustrator: X. Fang
Tundra Books
14 October 2025
48 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Guilt transforms into forgiving grace.

Goodreads Reviews

Cranky, Crabby Crow (Saves the World)
Author: Corey R. Tabor
Illustrator: Corey R. Tabor
Greenwillow Books
6 May 2025
40 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Cranky exterior hides world-saving mission.

Goodreads Reviews

Don’t Trust Fish
Author: Neil Sharpson
Illustrator: Dan Santat
Dial Books for Young Readers
8 April 2025
40 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Fishy suspicions create comedic brilliance.

Goodreads Reviews

The Escape Artist: A True Story of Octopus Adventure
Author: Thor Hanson
Illustrator: Galia Bernstein
Greenwillow Books
22 July 2025
32 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Boredom triggers tentacled breakout. Legendary.

Goodreads Reviews

Every Monday Mabel
Author: Jashar Awan
Illustrator: Jashar Awan
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
25 February 2025
48 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Garbage truck love finds kindred spirits.

Goodreads Review

Fireworks
Author: Matthew Burgess
Illustrator: Cátia Chien
Clarion Books
13 May 2025
44 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Sensory city summer bursts. Spectacular.

Goodreads Reviews

The Grumpy Ghost Upstairs
Author: Mamiko Shiotani
Illustrator: Mamiko Shiotani
Translator: Polly Lawson
Floris Books
5 August 2025
36 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Solitary ghost discovers friendship’s charm.

Goodreads Reviews

Home
Author: Matt de la Peña
Illustrator: Loren Long
G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
11 March 2025
48 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Hearts, not houses, hold us.

Goodreads Review

How Sweet the Sound
Author: Kwame Alexander
Illustrator: Charly Palmer
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
14 January 2025
48 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Black music’s triumphant journey. Revolutionary.

Goodreads Reviews

Hurricane
Author: Jason Chin
Illustrator: Jason Chin
Neal Porter Books
6 May 2025
48 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Science and neighbors weather storms.

Goodreads Reviews

The Interpreter
Author: Olivia Abtahi
Illustrator: Monica Arnaldo
Kokila
21 January 2025
40 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Exhausted interpreter finally gets help.

Goodreads Reviews

It Started with a P
Author: Brittany Pomales
Illustrator: Andrew Joyner
Flamingo Books
8 April 2025
32 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Alliterative absurdity sparks delightful pandemonium.

Goodreads Reviews

Just Shine!: How to Be a Better You
Author: Sonia Sotomayor
Illustrator: Jacqueline Alcántara
Philomel Books
9 September 2025
40 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Mother’s kindness illuminates generational brilliance.

Goodreads Reviews

Moon Song
Author: Michaela Goade
Illustrator: Michaela Goade
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
7 October 2025
40 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Moonlight guides through winter’s darkness.

Goodreads Reviews

The Moving Book
Author: Lisa Brown
Illustrator: Lisa Brown
Neal Porter Books
22 July 2025
40 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Homes change. Memories anchor us.

Goodreads Reviews

Smash, Crash, Topple, Roll!: The Inventive Rube Goldberg―A Life in Comics, Contraptions, and Six Simple Machines
Author: Catherine Thimmesh
Illustrator: Shanda McCloskey
Chronicle Books
6 May 2025
60 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Simple machines, complex whimsical fun.

Goodreads Reviews

Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale from a Little Cave
Author: Drew Beckmeyer
Illustrator: Drew Beckmeyer
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
18 March 2025
40 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Eons of friendship, eternally touching.

Goodreads Reviews

This Is Orange: A Field Trip Through Color
Author: Rachel Poliquin
Illustrator: Julie Morstad
Candlewick
21 October 2025
48 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Color theory meets cultural celebration.

Goodreads Reviews

The Trouble with Giraffes
Author: Lisa Mantchev
Illustrator: Taeeun Yoo
Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
16 September 2025
32 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Accessibility transforms welcome into belonging.

Goodreads Reviews

The True and Lucky Life of a Turtle
Author: Sy Montgomery
Illustrator: Matt Patterson
Clarion Books
9 September 2025
40 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Fire Chief’s lucky, resilient journey.

Goodreads Reviews

Tuck Me In!: A Science Bedtime Story
Author: Nathan W Pyle
Illustrator: Nathan W Pyle
Random House Books for Young Readers
2 September 2025
40 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Bedtime physics explained through bickering.

Goodreads Reviews

Who Ate Steve?
Author: Susannah Lloyd
Illustrator: Kate Hindley
Nosy Crow
11 March 2025
32 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Educational plan goes hilariously awry.

Goodreads Reviews

Only Picture Books’ “24 Favorite Picture Books of 2024”

On December 30, 2024July 13, 2025 By Only Picture BooksIn Bonus Goodies2 Comments

Well, 2024 is officially in the rearview mirror! That means I’ve had a whole year to delve into the delightful stacks of picture books published this past year, and I’m thrilled to share my favorites with you.

For those unfamiliar with OPB, I select books based on the following:

Books that have heart.
Books that resonate.
Books that are skillfully done.
Books that matter.

But to earn a spot on the “Best of 2024” list, a book needs to go above and beyond. This year, I was particularly drawn to books with these qualities:

A Unique Perspective: Books that offer a fresh way of seeing the world, whether it’s through an unusual narrative voice, an unexpected theme, or a groundbreaking artistic style.
Emotional Resonance: Stories that tap into the depths of human emotion, sparking empathy, understanding, and connection in readers of all ages.
Lyrical Language: Books with a musicality to their words, where the rhythm and flow of the language enhance the story’s impact.
Artistic Brilliance: Illustrations that not only complement the text but also tell their own story, captivating the eye and enriching the reading experience.
Lasting Impact: Books that stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page, prompting reflection, conversation, and a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

In no particular order (except alphabetical, for the sake of organization), here are OPB’s standout picture books of 2024. As always, I’m including my signature 5‑word reviews for each title, along with a link to the book’s Goodreads page.

Of course, this list is just a snapshot of the many wonderful picture books published in 2024. If I missed your favorite, please share it in the comments.

Now, let’s dive into the books!

Ahoy!
Author: Sophie Blackall
Illustrator: Sophie Blackall
Anne Schwartz Books
2 April 2024
48 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Parent-child hijinks spark comedic magic.

Goodreads Reviews

All That Grows
Author: Jack Wong
Illustrator: Jack Wong
Groundwood Books
5 March 2024
32 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Gentle exploration roots lifelong curiosity.

Goodreads Reviews

All the Books
Author: Hayley Rocco
Illustrator: John Rocco
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
1 October 2024
48 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Warm ode to libraries’ wonders.

Goodreads Reviews

Built to Last
Author: Minh Lê
Illustrator: Dan Santat
Knopf Books for Young Readers
30 April 2024
40 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Creative chaos builds unbreakable friendship.

Goodreads Reviews

Clever Crow
Author: Chris Butterworth
Illustrator: Olivia Lomenech Gill
Candlewick
9 July 2024
32 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Witty crow world wonders–lovely.

Goodreads Reviews

Comet Chaser: The True Cinderella Story of Caroline Herschel, the First Professional Woman Astronomer
Author: Pamela S. Turner
Illustrator: Vivien Mildenberger
Chronicle Books
5 March 2024
60 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Persistence crafts a stellar legacy.

Goodreads Reviews

Crowning Glory: A Celebration of Black Hair
Author: Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrator: Ekua Holmes
Candlewick
3 September 2024
32 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Vibrant collages uplift every curl.

Goodreads Reviews

The Dictionary Story
Author: Oliver Jeffers
Illustrator: Sam Winston
Candlewick
27 March 2024
56 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Hilarious hijinks in alphabetic pandemonium.

Goodreads Reviews

Finding Things
Author: Kevin Henkes
Illustrator: Laura Dronzek
Greenwillow Books
14 May 2024
32 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Serendipity sparks joy, connection, contentment.”

Goodreads Reviews

Good Night Thoughts
Author: Max Greenfield
Illustrator: James Serafino
G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
3 September 2024
32 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Greenfield soothes sleepless little minds.

Goodreads Reviews

Hanukkah Pajamakkahs
Author: Dara Henry
Illustrator: Olga & Aleksey Ivanov
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
3 September 2024
40 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Ruthie’s resilience makes Hanukkah shine.

Goodreads Reviews

Home in a Lunchbox
Author: Cherry Mo
Illustrator: Cherry Mo
Penguin Workshop
11 June 2024
40 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Vibrant bites bridge shy beginnings.

Goodreads Reviews

I Am Gravity
Author: Henry Herz
Illustrator: Mercè López
Tilbury House Publishers
16 April 2024
32 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Herz balances science with elegance.

Goodreads Reviews

Just Like Millie
Author: Lauren Castillo
Illustrator: Lauren Castillo
Candlewick
27 March 2024
40 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Subtle sweetness transforms anxious beginnings.

Goodreads Reviews

The Last Stand
Author: Antwan Eady
Illustrator: Jarret and Jerome Pumphrey
Knopf Books for Young Readers
30 January 2024
40 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Generations harvest love and hope.

Goodreads Reviews

The Last Zookeeper
Author: Aaron Becker
Illustrator: Aaron Becker
Candlewick
26 March 2024
40 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Luminescent artwork animates quiet heroism.

Goodreads Reviews

Nothing: John Cage and 4′33″
Author: Nicholas Day
Illustrator: Chris Raschka
Neal Porter Books
2 April 2024
40 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Silence resonates, music redefined brilliantly.

Goodreads Reviews

Ode to Grapefruit: How James Earl Jones Found His Voice
Author: Kari Lavelle
Illustrator: Bryan Collier
Knopf Books for Young Readers
30 July 2024
48 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Words transform struggle into strength.

Goodreads Reviews

Piper Chen Sings
Author: Phillipa Soo and Maris Pasquale Doran
Illustrator: Qin Leng
Random House Studio
2 April 2024
40 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Harmony blooms amidst heartfelt jitters.

Goodreads Reviews

Small Things Mended
Author: Casey W. Robinson
Illustrator: Nancy Whitesides
Rocky Pond Books
19 March 2024
40 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Broken things inspire gentle healing.

Goodreads Reviews

The Table
Author: Winsome Bingham and Wiley Blevins
Illustrator: Jason Griffin
Neal Porter Books
17 September 2024
56 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Furniture holds history, fosters empathy.

Goodreads Reviews

Thank You
Author: Jarvis
Illustrator: Jarvis
Candlewick
6 August 2024
32 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Whimsy meets heartfelt thankfulness beautifully.

Goodreads Reviews

World More Beautiful: The Life and Art of Barbara Cooney
Author: Angela Burke Kunkel
Illustrator: Becca Statlander
Random House Studio
6 August 2024
40 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Visionary illustrator leaves lasting legacy.

Goodreads Reviews

The Yellow Bus
Author: Loren Long
Illustrator: Loren Long
Roaring Brook Press
25 June 2024
48 pages

OPB’s five-word review: Timeless story, ultimate second chances.

Goodreads Reviews

2024 ALA (San Diego) Conference Report

On July 22, 2024July 13, 2025 By Only Picture BooksIn Event Coverage6 Comments

It’s been some time since I’ve been to an ALA conference (Orlando, I think and maybe Chicago before that). But in my new role as Editorial Director of Bushel & Peck Books, I was happy to cross the entire country and spend a week in San Diego. Here’s some of what I saw and did. Enjoy!

**This is not a chronological accounting but rather organized by how/when I found the photos I wanted to share.**

Wizards of the Coast had some GREAT swag. I even scored a physical copy of Monster Manual on the final day!

Here’s the Bushel & Peck Books booth, with the bus that drew crowds nonstop. Yes, we bought a bus from the city of Fresno and remade it into a bookmobile. We had a constant flow of people popping in to see what it looked like inside.

Rebecca Walker was signing Time for Us, a picture book about children’s caregivers.

Of course, Dan Santat was there doing a ton of signings. We chatted a bit about him doing an OPB interview at some point. Fingers crossed that his schedule permits that! (Sidekicks is a fun, fun book.)

Yep, there were robot things buzzing around.

Here’s Vicki Johnson, the author of Molly’s Tuxedo.

Here’s author/illustrator Steve Breen signing copies of Sky & Ty.

Kate Messner signed copies of The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class: Emma McKenna, Full Out.

Sophie Blackall signed copies of her picture book Farmhouse.

Blink-182 was playing a show one of the conference nights, and Petco Park was right by my hotel, so I sat outside and heard a couple of songs while watching the evening go by.

Bushel & Peck had a Pop Top Stage event with a lot of their authors. This is David & Stephanie Miles–the owners–introducing the event.

The author of the Stormbringer series (G.R. Boden) did a signing.

UNLV professor and literary rock star Jarret Keene signed copies of Decide & Survive: The Attack on Pearl Harbor and Heroes of World War II: 25 True Stories of Unsung Heroes Who Fought for Freedom while charming the crowd.

Carole Boston Weatherford was there, too, signing Bros and other books.

It was hard to miss the promo for Sherri’s cool-looking new picture book.

I got to see parts of some of the Chapter One Stage events as I hustled from meeting to meeting. Wish I could’ve stayed longer at this one!

Have you read The Maid and the Crocodile? Jordan Ifueko was signing copies at ALA.

Ngozi Ukazu was signing as well. Barda is terrific!

Lee Wind was signing copies of The Gender Binary Is a Big Lie: Infinite Identities around the World.

Kwame Alexander stopped by the Bushel & Peck Books booth and chatted for a while. He’s a hoot!

Lesa Cline-Ransome mugs for the camera with a fan whose copy of One Big Open Sky just got signed.

This was one of the coolest booths going–Fred Koehler’s Ready Chapter One is worth checking out if you don’t already know about it.

Here’s Joyce Uglow (in the dino mask/hat), a new Bushel & Peck Books author doing a signing with the ARCs of the picture book STUCK!, which is about the La Brea Tar Pits. I was working on the final edits for this right up until I got on the plane to head to CA.

Kemper Donovan signed copies of Loose Lips.

Kate DePalma signed copies of Let’s Celebrate! Special Days Around the World. Like a pro, she blew the ink dry before handing over a signed book to a fan.

Jenni L. Wash was signing copies of Ace, Marvel, Spy: A Novel of Alice Marble.

Ellen had another good book to launch. Her fans were everywhere!

Yep, San Diego is a sports city. Confirmed!

And I thought gas was expensive in Florida.…

I made it fairly far from the conference center in my quest to find great local food. There were tons of fantastic options here.

I made it to Balboa Park and visited a lot of the museums (after the conference). Here’s the Old Globe Theater, which wasn’t running anything the week I was there. 🙁

The Gaslamp District was right next to the conference center, so I visited this area many, many times for food, meetings, and just ambiance.

Here’s a cool LEGO sculpture at one of the Balboa park museums. I think this was at the Fleet Science Center.

Loved seeing this promo for Loren Long’s The Yellow Bus. (OPB created some activities to pair with it–check those out right here.)

And here’s the Bushel & Peck Books bookmobile, driving away from the convention center and heading back home to Fresno.

And that’s pretty much it, folks. Maybe next time I’ll get away from my press’ booth a bit more to get a wider range of photos. We’ll see!

Educational Activities: The Yellow Bus by Loren Long

On June 17, 2024July 13, 2025 By Only Picture BooksIn Reading Activities

The Yellow Bus
Author: Loren Long
Illustrator: Loren Long
25 June 2024
Roaring Brook Press
48 pages

Book description from Goodreads: “Perfect for fans of Love and Hello, Lighthouse, The Yellow Bus from #1 New York Times bestselling Loren Long is a tender and soulful story about a forgotten school bus that finds happiness and purpose in the most unexpected places–and in the journey along the way.

There is a bright yellow bus who spends her days driving. She loves carrying children from one important place to another. Every morning they climb in… Pitter-patter, pitter-patter, giggle, giggle-patter. And they fill her with joy.

As time passes, things change. The Yellow Bus gets a new driver, a new route, and new passengers, young and old. Until one day the driving stops for good, and the Yellow Bus is left on her own. And yet, no matter where she is, the Yellow Bus still finds joy and discovery in the world around her.

With stirring black-and-white artwork and powerful pops of color, The Yellow Bus is a poignant reflection on the many new beginnings life has to offer.”

Need some reviews for The Yellow Bus?

As a bonus, here’s a School Library Journal interview with Loren Long on this book.

As a another bonus, here’s a short Q&A with Loren Long at The Horn Book.

Educational Activities inspired by The Yellow Bus:

Before Reading–From looking at the front cover:
- Look at the front cover. What do you think The Yellow Bus might be about?
- What do you know about school buses and what they do?
- Who do you think might have ridden on the bus over the years?
- How do you think the bus will change as time goes by in the story?
- Can you think of other stories where objects like toys or cars can talk or have feelings? How did you feel about those stories?
- What questions would you like to ask the author–or the illustrator (who is the same person in this case)–before reading the book?
After Reading–Now that you’ve read the story:
- What was your favorite part of The Yellow Bus and why?
- How did the bus’s job change throughout the story?
- What made the bus happy in each part of her life?
- How did the pictures help tell the story?
- How did you feel while reading about the bus’s journey?
- How was the bus still useful even when she wasn’t taking kids to school anymore?
- What do you think the author wanted to tell us about using things in new ways?
- Would you tell your friends to read this book? Why or why not?
The Bus’s Adventure Map: On a big piece of paper, draw a long road for the bus. Add pictures of all the different places the bus went, like the school, the library, the city, and the farm. Color the bus bright yellow and the background in black and white, just like in the book.
Bus Sounds Fun: Think about all the sounds the bus heard, like kids laughing, goats bleating, and fish swimming. Use your voice, instruments, or things from around the house to make those sounds. Record them and play them back while reading the story.
My Object’s Story: Pick an everyday object, like a toy or a chair, and write a short story from its point of view. Imagine what happens to it over time and how it might find new ways to be helpful or bring joy.
Time Traveling Treasure: Create a time capsule with drawings, letters, and small objects that show your life now. Consider how things will change over time and how someone in the future might feel when they open it, just like the bus’s story.
Further Reading: Here are five other books that are also about busses. Which of these have you read before? Which of those new ones would you want to read first?