Beautiful Picture Books
When it comes to picture books, the illustrations can absolutely make or break the experience. While there are lots of talented artists out there creating beautiful books, here are a few we think are absolute standouts. Check out these beautiful books!
An antiquarian bookseller examines some of the most beautiful classic children's books, including cover art and interior illustrations.
It's so amazing what can be done with no words at all. A group of animals visits a carnival after all the humans have left for the night. They ride rides and play games until morning, then leave without any trace they were ever there. While this doesn't have a narrative in the way other storybooks do, there is more than enough going on in every single one of the gorgeous illustrations that you could make up hundreds of stories from just one page.
Inspired by the author's own family history
16 facinating folklore tales with gorgeous illustrations sprinkled throughout. Perfect cozy winter read.
Follow along as each woodland creature says goodnight. New favorite bedtime read!
The newest from The Fan Brothers who always deliver beautiful illustrations with captivating stories. They're a store favorite!
This wordless picture book is such a fun adventure. A young girl explores what's behind the windows in a neighborhood, with fantastic scenes to discover behind two window flaps that you lift. beautifully illustrated with black and white pen drawings, I love the detail and imaginative scenes. -- Rachel
This book is one of those picture books that's really for the grown ups. Told from the perspective of an introverted child's inner monologue, David Quimet navigates the intense imaginings of anxiety. I really identified with the main characters wild imagination and the darkness that comes with that. The illustrations are haunting and eerie, but absolutely gorgeous. —Rachel
I always love Rachel Ignotofsky's work, like Women in Art and The Wondrous Workings of Planet Earth. This one is all about flowers! Colorful and full of lots of information for your science loving kids. —Rachel
The rainy season has come to An, a young Vietnamese boy's home on the Mekong River and he sets off on a dreamy watery adventure. With pythons and crocodiles and mangrove forests to pass through, we learn that this is An's journey to his first day of school. The illustrations are layered and fantastical, full of lovely creatures and dynamic landscapes. Just beautiful! --Rachel
When a dog appears who begins eating everything in sight, all the animals of the forest band together to try to stop him before he destroys everyone and everything they love. The details in this one are what make it truly stunning, and I especially love the page where all the animals form one giant animal to fight the dog on his own level. —Anthony
A girl's curiosity, imagination, and grief are the focus of this charming and very touching picture book. After suffering the loss of a loved one, a girl decides to protect her heart from further pain by putting it in a glass bottle around her neck. But protecting herself comes at an unexpected price, especially once she is ready to start feeling again. --Anthony
For the first time The Red Tree, The Lost Thing, and the John Marsden classic The Rabbit are presented in their entirety with additional new artwork and an Author's Note.
The short film of Lost & Found won an Oscar for best animated short.