Favorite picture books

Ducklings, ideas, gardeners & Gaston 

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I'm a sucker for illustrations. I shared some of my favorite children's picture books on the blog not too long ago, and today I've got four more that I'm currently loving. 

Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio & illustrator Christian Robinson
This darling book keeps popping up — on boutique store shelves, on blogs I read. The illustrations are so darn cute, and the story is just as adorable. It's about Gaston, a bulldog puppy in a family of poodles. Of course, in the end, everyone learns that being part of a family is about love, not looks. 

Love Is by Diane Adams & illustrator Claire Keane
This one I stumbled upon at a local card shop and quickly read from cover to cover. The drawings remind me of a Disney animator's sketches, full of joyful energy and movement. It's the story of a little girl raising a duckling, who eventually leaves the nest. It's a lesson in the good and gritty parts of care-giving — from sleeping snugly to messy bath times — as well as the act of letting go.

What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada & illustrator Mae Besom
Like Oh! The Places You'll Go — but different in tone — What Do You Do With an Idea? is a book to encourage folks young and old to go for it. Have an idea? Nurture it! The moral of this story is that any one of us can have an idea that will change the world. 

The Night Gardener by Terry Fan & illustrator Eric Fan
When I saw this book perched on a Barnes & Noble shelf, I couldn't pass up the illustrations. The story and pictures combined remind me a bit of a Chris Van Allsburg work: gorgeous full-page drawings in an often-monotone color palette paired with a dreamlike story. In The Night Gardener, a boy awakens to find the tree outside his bedroom window has been sculpted overnight into a wise old owl. With each new morning, a new topiary appears in town, bringing color and life to an otherwise dull place. 

There will always, always be more picture books worth sharing. I've already started a list for my third installment of favorites, so get excited! In the mean time, feel free to share your favorite picture books in the comments.