Classic Picture Books

Picture books are a form of stories that I feel are neglected too often. After all, these are some of the first books that we are exposed to as children. They shape our ideas of stories, rather good or bad, and form our concept of a good praiseworthy book. A picture book can capture anything from the smallest moment to the biggest idea (and the best ones capture both), and a quality picture book is very valuable and significant in a child’s life.

The last time I did a post about picture books I focused on five of my favorite picture books as a child (5 Picture Books From My Childhood), but today I’m taking a different approach. This post is going to be about the classic picture books that you’ve no doubt heard of and probably read. There are hundreds and hundreds of picture books you could choose to read, but these are the ones that have been favorites for years, and with good reason. They are simply the best.

To prepare for this post I read back through a lot of the classic picture books I used to read as a child, which was pleasantly refreshing for me, but also surprisingly more effecting than I would have imagined. When I set out to plan this post I envisioned discussing the importance of good picture books in children’s lives, but as I read back through books like the ones below, I realized that they are also important to read when we are grown.

These picture books are full of value and deeper significance than I ever saw in them as a child. I was amazed by how impactful they were to me now, at seventeen years old. Getting to see them in new light was wonderful, and the books below were especially thought provoking to me.

Here are a few of my favorite classic picture books and my thoughts on them. 🙂

The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein

The Giving Tree is a book about a tree and a boy. The tree’s greatest desire, what makes her happy, is to bring the boy happiness and satisfaction. In the beginning she gives her apples for eating, and her branches for swinging, and her trunk for climbing, and her shade for resting, but then the boy begins to grow up, and those things aren’t enough for him any more. The tree continues to give all she has for the boy until she has nothing left to offer.

As a child, I missed out on the thoughtful, melancholy tone to the story I see in it now. Now, it’s a story of growing up, new seasons in life, and the ever beautiful way the tree gives herself to the boy. It was definitely a bittersweet read for me, but one well worth it. I love this book in a million new ways now and can’t wait to read it again in the future!

Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak

Where the Wild Things Are is a story that follows a boy named Max. He is sent to his room without dinner, but his room grows into a forest and soon Max is the king of all the wild things he finds there. But after much fun and romping Max becomes lonely and realizes that it is time to leave the land of the wild things. He journeys all the way back to his own little room, and finds his own dinner waiting there for him after all, still warm.

It’s rather interesting to think about how I used to be scared of this book as a child. But the wild things that used to frighten me when I was little now fascinate me. Last week I read this book for the first time in a very long time and enjoyed it much more than I ever thought I would. It’s the sort of book that feels like it could reveal something new to me with each reread, and there are so many smaller details I never noticed before but am able to appreciate now.

Corduroy, by Don Freeman

Corduroy is just a little bear, waiting for his turn to be picked up and chosen to be taken home with some boy or girl. But when it comes to his realization that he is missing a button, he goes on an adventure to find one. This is a very low stakes story, but somehow when Corduroy finds his home at last in the arms of a little girl named Lisa at the end of the book it doesn’t feel small at all. It feels very, very big, and very certain.

The cozy illustrations and sweet story in Corduroy are something I remember fondly, as I’m sure many people do. I love the way it takes the smallest little things and highlights them to help us see them as important. It makes for a lovely children’s book because that is something children are so good at doing in the first place, and seems even more significant when you read the book at an older age.

Final Thoughts

These are only a few of the many picture book classics out there. Some others include Raggedy Ann, Make Way for Ducklings, and The Velveteen Rabbit. I hope that if nothing else, this post has inspired you to pick up whatever classic picture book has a special place in your heart and give it a reread. I think you’ll be surprised by what you find in it.

What comes to mind when I say ‘classic picture book’? Do you have any favorites that I didn’t mention in this post? I’d love to hear from you!