2025 Round Up: Favourite Picture Books

Snuggle up and read! Here are our top picks from 2025 for reading aloud.

Updated January 9, 2026
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
All around a year
Ruiz Johnson, Mariana
Paper Book
"Nuanced and touching."--Kirkus Reviews, STARRED For kids ages 4-8 comes a charming picture book that chronicles the many wonderful--and not-so-wonderful--things that happen throughout the year as the seasons change. When this story ends, it...
Bear
Shaloshvili, Natalia
Paper Book
A story about sharing and how important it is to say what you mean.Bear is all set for a perfect day. The sky is blue, there's not a cloud in the sky, and he has all of his most favourite things in the world by his side--a cookie to nibble on, a book to get lost in, a bright balloon to...
A book of maps for you
Heuer, Lourdes
Paper Book
What if you moved into a new house and found a secret guidebook? Look inside buildings and search for surprises in this enthralling, interactive book of maps. In A Book of Maps for You, a young cartographer leaves a one-of-a-kind gift behind for the kid moving into his old...
Bright lights and summer nights
Grant, Shauntay
Paper Book
THREE STARRED REVIEWS! . Take a luminous bedtime journey through the summery dreamworld of a restless baby in this enchanting picture book lullaby. In the tradition of bedtime classics like Goodnight Moon, this gorgeous book with a cloth-like spine is the perfect gift for new parents....
Bunny made tea
Baehr Fuller, Amanda
Paper Book
A cozy story about sharing, showing gratitude, and a fondness for tea One soggy spring morning, Bunny decides to make a cup of tea. Before they can take a sip, Opossum arrives for an impromptu visit. Like a good host, Bunny kindly offers the unexpected guest their tea and gathers...
Cantaloupe and HoneyDo bake a cake
Boldt, Mike
Paper Book
The picture book series about two hilarious melons trying new things, from the bestselling illustrator of I Don't Want to be a Frog. Pull on your apron as they learn how to bake a cake! Cantaloupe wants some cake. HoneyDo does too-they just need to bake it! But they can...
Charley Mouse Cleans House
Gorelik, Katerina
Paper Book
Join Charley Mouse during her busy week as she visits some familiar fairytale characters whose houses are in need of her talents in this beautifully illustrated picture book packed with tiny details cleverly hidden in the art Charley Mouse loves cleanliness and order. Her bed...
Don't trust fish
Sharpson, Neil
Paper Book
NATIONAL BESTSELLER - An absurdly laugh-out-loud funny picture book about the villainy of fish, illustrated by National Book Award-winning creator Dan Santat"A ribald and uproarious warning to those unschooled in fishy goings-on." --Kirkus, starred reviewONE OF SLATE'S 25...
Everybelly
Lam, Thao
Paper Book
Winner of the 2025 Kirkus Prize! A joyful celebration of an oft-maligned body part -- the belly! Maddie and her mom spend a sunny day at the local public pool where she meets and greets friends and neighbors. Maddie is waist-high on most of them, and she knows there's an interesting person...
A fall day for Bear
Becker, Bonny
Paper Book
Can gruff and grumpy Bear cheer up his usually upbeat friend Mouse? With signature with and whimsy, this delightfully mismatched duo is back in a much-anticipated seventh story! One fall day Bear is getting ready to have a picnic with Mouse. But when it's time to leave together,...
Frank's red hat
Avery, Sean E.
Paper Book
Frank is a penguin with ideas. Mostly terrible ones. That's why his fellow penguins are nervous when he shows them his strange new creation. It was something they'd never seen or expected to see in their cold and colorless Antarctic world--a red hat.
How to be brave like a snail
Hrab, Naseem
Paper Book
Snail and Stump return in this sweetly humorous story about finding the courage to share your feelings Snail's not afraid of (certain) loud noises, exploring the glade, or lullaby karaoke. But he is afraid of asking for help, making mistakes, and believing in himself. And so, it's only...
A hug on the wind
Stevenson, Robin
Paper Book
When Sam's grandmother tells him she's going away for the winter, Sam is worried. What about all the time they usually spend together baking, drinking hot chocolate and building snow forts? Grandma assures him she'll send postcards, but postcards aren't the same as hugs! Grandma knows the...
I am connected
Kung Jaadee
Paper Book
We are all connected. Whether it is with your family, the mossy earth beneath your feet, the warm guidance of your ancestors, you belong in connection with all around you. Along the backdrop of Haida Gwaii's breathtaking landscapes, Indigenous storyteller, Ḵung Jaadee, invites you to...
My friend May
Flett, Julie
Paper Book
From the winner of the New York Times Best Illustrated Book Prize and the American Indian Youth Literature Award I'd like to tell you a rather true story about a big black cat who started out gray. Her name was May. Margaux and her cat May...
My path
Curll, Jana
Paper Book
A joyful, empowering celebration of finding your path with an adorable snail protagonist-- follow the snail's sparkly silver trail on every page! In this charmingly illustrated picture book,a little snail sets off to find its path. There are mountains to climb,rushing rivers...
No huddles for Heloise
Kerbel, Deborah
Paper Book
Heloise likes a lot of things: sledding, giving rocks to her friends, and eating fish popsicles. She does NOT like certain things, like crowds, close-talkers and huddles. The problem is, huddles are a big part of being a penguin. Everyone gathers together to keep warm and stay safe from...
Our pebbles
Jarvis
In a tenderly told story, the creator of Thank You and The Boy with Flowers in His Hair explores small moments that were once shared by a child and grandad on a pebble beach. Grandad always knows the best way to go to Pebble Beach. As they climb the dunes, he and...
Scarecited on the first day of school
Agostini, Alliah L.
For fans of School's First Day of School, this is a picture book about a young girl who is feeling mixed emotions about her first day of school. Some feelings are so big, one word just doesn't cut it.     It's the first day of...
A snow day for Amos McGee
Stead, Philip Christian
A perfect holiday gift! A cozy tale of winter hope and joy, from award-winning and New York Times-bestselling duo Philip and Erin Stead, perfect for fans of The Snowy Nap and The Mitten. Amos McGee, the friendly zookeeper, loves...
Stalactite & Stalagmite : a big tale from a little cave
Beckmeyer, Drew
Paper Book
Four starred reviews! "Both gloriously expansive and goofy--in short, everything young readers could ask for." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) A hilarious and thought-provoking picture book about two little cave rock formations who witness the entire...
This plant is NOT boring
Hoy-Kenny, Marie
Paper Book
Mia wants a dog, but her mom wants her to start with something easier: a plant. Mia thinks her new plant is beyond boring, since it doesn't do anything fun, like shake a paw. But when she turns her back on it for just a moment, it eats her sandwich. Then her stuffed lion. Mia tries...
Vampire jam sandwich
Lyall, Casey
Paper Book
Once upon a time a vampire took a bite of a jam sandwich . . . and a legend was born. Now the vampire jam sandwich roams the streets, looking for MORE JAM. Will yours be next? A hilarious spooky picture book featuring a sneaky vampire, for fans of Creepy Carrots and How to...
The witch's table
Beatty, Melinda
Paper Book
When a young witch inherits a rather cantankerous family heirloom; she has to figure out how to outwit her cursed companion. The Table had been in the Witch's family for a very long time. No one remembered who had cursed it to stay with them forever, but none of...

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.