When you look through lists of classic picture books online, you often find books from the previous century, especially books that the Big Five publishers have promoted. But in fact, any book can be a classic.
Since every book is new through a child’s eyes, it ultimately doesn’t matter how famous the book is on a large scale. The only thing that matters is how much the child loves the book. Whatever books they love will become classics to them, regardless of what the rest of the world thinks.
For this reason, the search for “classic books” can be pointless, if those books fail to catch a kid’s interest. That can easily happen if the language is outdated, or if the child isn’t drawn to the book’s illustrations.
In other words, if your child doesn’t like so-called “classic” books, it’s no big deal. Classic books are necessarily better than other books. They’re just more famous, which is sometimes due to big business and marketing rather than inherent quality.
In fact, many picture books from small publishers and self-published authors are wonderful enough to become classics. Even if they’re not world-renowned, they can become famous within a single family when a child asks to read it every night.
If any book can become a classic to a child, why not fill your library with diverse books that support local authors and independent publishers? Big corporations shouldn’t dictate everything you buy and put on your shelf. You can decide for yourself what a “classic picture book” means for your family, regardless of that book’s fame.
Classic Picture Books
Below are a few examples of picture books that are traditionally regarded as classics, alongside similar kid-approved books (marked with a star) from independent publishers and authors.
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Published in 1947, Goodnight Moon originally sold very poorly yet is now regarded as a top picture book for kids. The story revolves around saying goodnight to various objects in the room, a repetitive ritual for lulling kids to sleep. However, the rhymes and illustrations are not to everyone’s taste.
The following two books, published more recently, offer a different take on the same concept.
* Goodnight Unicorn by Karla Oceanak, illustrated by Kendra Spanjer, published by Bailiwick Press
As night falls in the enchanted forest, the unicorns and their friends gather to get ready for bed. Say goodnight to all the types of unicorns—the pearly-whites, the foals, the oldens, the fluffies, the jet-blacks, the cuties, and more—as well as the wonderful beings who attend them, from rainbows and fairies to baby dragons and, of course, the full moon.
Readers who’ve always wondered about unicorn habits, what a group of unicorns is called, and other mysteries will also be captivated by the fun unicorn facts that follow the story. It’s a magical, fantasy bedtime story for unicorn lovers young and young-at-heart!
* Goodnight Loon by Abe Sauer, illustrated by Nathaniel Davauer, published by University of Minnesota Press
A charming retelling of a children’s classic in a distinctly Northwoods voice. Written and illustrated by two fathers who value good rhymes and the power of simple, evocative illustrations, Goodnight Loon moves the story that so many parents know by heart into Northwoods territory.
The words rhyme, rock, and soothe with the same cadence as the original. Yellow canoes, snowshoes, and a hungry raccoon all make appearances in the room inhabited by a beaver in a sleeping bag and his voyageur companion. And where else will you find walleye eating rhubarb pie?
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Published in 1969, The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a popular counting book about a caterpillar who eats a LOT to become a beautiful butterfly. The book begins with fruit until the caterpillar binges on junk food, gets sick, and tries to balance the cake and ice cream with a leaf.
If you’re looking for a counting book with a similar idea but a different approach, the following two books are great alternatives.
* My Very Hungry Happy Tummy by Samantha Armstrong, illustrated by Abigail Tan
My Very Hungry Happy Tummy is a colorful, easy-to-read children’s book about eating healthy and the benefits of different fruits and vegetables. Your children will learn how whole foods help to grow happy, healthy bodies. They’ll read about the vitamins and minerals different foods contain as well as some fun facts about the fruits and vegetables featured in this book.
* Caterpillar Shoes by Angela Muse, illustrated by Ewa Podles
Patches is an energetic, fun-loving caterpillar who likes shoes (and needs a lot of them)! She is trying to decide what activities to do and has to wear different shoes for different activities. In the end, she doesn’t put any limits on herself and lives her life to the fullest.
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
Published in 1939, Madeline takes place in Paris and follows the story of a brave girl at a posh boarding school who has an emergency surgery to remove her appendix. The other girls visit her afterward and are jealous of her scar and all the gifts she has received.
Though the book’s emotional arc still rings true today, the language and illustrations are outdated and possibly difficult for modern kids to understand. The following two books take place in the same location, Paris, but are more relevant to today’s world.
* Claris: The Chicest Mouse in Paris by Megan Hess, published by Hardie Grant
This is the tale of an adorable mouse who dreams of moving to Paris to follow her fashion dreams. One day, she bravely takes the leap – only to find a mean little girl with a horrible-looking cat standing in the way of her perfect Parisian apartment!
Can Claris use all her wit, warmth, and of course style to make her dreams come true?
* Paris (My Globetrotter Book) by Marisha Wojciechowska, illustrated by Angel Gyaurov
Packed with activities that challenge the mind and offer a unique way to explore the City of Lights. Twenty-eight pages of games, educational puzzles and fun, for children 6 to 12 years. Brightly-illustrated pages brimming with activities to explore culture and customs, some history, sites of interest, food, language, and much more. As a bonus, crack a secret code to print the seal and stick it on to your very own Globetrotter Certificate!
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams Bianco
Published in 1922, over a century ago, The Velveteen Rabbit is a poignant story about a toy rabbit that has to be burned along with everything else that belonged to a boy recovering from scarlet fever. Thanks to the magic of being loved, the toy rabbit becomes a real rabbit, thereby escaping the flames.
The following two books contain similar elements – one is about grief and love, while the other is about transformation – only with modern language and illustrations that are better suited for the 21st century.
* Coffee, Rabbit, Snowdrop, Lost by Betina Birkjær, illustrated by Anna Margrethe Kjærgaard, translated by Sinéad Quirke Køngerskov, published by Enchanted Lion Books
Stump loves being with his grandparents. His days with them are filled with flowers, jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, and so much love! But one day, Stump’s grandfather starts to be forgetful, losing his words, which the illustrations show as falling away from him.
Stump tries his best to keep his grandfather’s lost words safe by collecting them in a special box. But Grandpa seems to forget more and more every day, and before long, Stump and Grandma realize that they must find new ways to connect with Grandpa, to maintain their bond of love and show him that he’s not alone.
This poignant, tender picture book depicts the warmth of the relationship between grandchild and grandparents, as well as the struggle of coping with a loved one’s dementia with honesty and sensitivity.
* Sato the Rabbit by Yuki Ainoya, illustrated by Michael Blaskowsky, published by Enchanted Lion Books
Do you ever wonder what wonderful things might be hiding in the world that we can’t immediately see? What stories your breakfast would tell you if it could talk, or where your pet would take you in its dreams?
Haneru Sato thinks such things, so one day, he decides to find out how the world will change if he changes a little, too. He becomes a rabbit and discovers a world where every corner is a door to somewhere new and the simplest actions lead in unexpected directions. Coming from Japan, this whimsical book is the first in a trilogy.
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Published in 1964, The Giving Tree is about a tree who gives everything of itself to a little boy, who wants more and more as he grows. The book inspires mixed feelings in readers, with some people seeing unhealthy codependency where others see selfless love.
For a less controversial depiction of deep love, take a look at the following three books, which celebrate the incredible love of parents for their children.
* Mama Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joosse, illustrated by Barbara Lavallee, published by Chronicle Books
In this universal story, a child tests the limits of independence and comfortingly learns that a parent’s love is unconditional and everlasting. The story is made all the more captivating by its unusual Arctic setting. The lyrical text introduces young readers to a distinctively different culture, while at the same time showing that the special love that exists between parent and child transcends all boundaries of time and place.
The story is beautifully complemented by graphically stunning illustrations that are filled with such exciting animals as whales, wolves, puffins, and sled dogs, and a carefully researched glossary provides additional information on Arctic life.
* Papa, Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joosse, illustrated by Barbara Lavallee, published by Chronicle Books
This follow-up to the best-selling Mama, Do You Love Me? captures the universal love between a father and child. Set in Africa and featuring the Maasai culture, the beautiful watercolor illustrations, lyrical text, and enduring message are sure to make this another instant classic.
* Your Mama Loves You by Kealy Connor Lonning, illustrated by Lora Look
This is a heartfelt picture book that celebrates the power of mothers’ love for their babies. That love is fierce, boundless, and enduring. It’s filled with joyful, engaging rhymes, marvelous illustrations of mama and baby animals, and stunning scenery.
