Today’s post is fitting because without any planning of my own I’m also guest posting over at the Nerdy Book Club again today on the topic of “Why Do You Believe In Picture Books?” Perfect right? I say perfect because today also coincides with an event I’ve wanted to participate in since I became aware of it last year, the Picture Book 10 for 10 event.

About the Picture Book 10 for 10 event:

Gotta have picture books? Do you find you can’t resist the picture book section of your local bookstore? Do children at the library stare at you in shock and disbelief as you check out a stack of picture books as long as as one of their arms? Are your shelves full of a variety of titles? Did your spouse or friends remove the Amazon wish button on your computer? If so, you may have a picture book addiction. There might be a twelve step program for helping with your issues, but that wouldn’t be fun. Instead, embrace it and, join us for our Third Annual Picture Book 10 for 10 event (#pb10for10) on Friday, August 10th.

Hilarious. It really is a form of an addiction in our home. Even my kiddos have caught the picture book fever and I couldn’t be happier about it! Despite our overflowing bookshelves I still find myself seeking out more and more picture books. Why? Simply put, I love them. Everything about them. From the illustrations to the stories. They are so much more than a short thirty to forty page collection of pictures with words. There is a power within the pages that opens a young reader’s mind to a whole new world and takes an older reader down memory lane. They teach us, inspire us, empower us, empathize with us and create with us. There is so much more that I could say, but just know that my love for the picture book is something much greater than words can express. Having said that, can you imagine just how hard picking my Top Ten must-haves would be? This is painful at it’s very worst, but grand at it’s very best. So, without further hesitation on my part…

My Top Ten Must-Have Picture Books

1. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams and Illustrated by William Nicholson – This was one of the first books I was ever read as a child. I love everything about it. It was hard to choose between it and Peter Rabbit by Beatrice Potter and if the list was longer than ten I’d add it too.

2. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak – Not only was this a favorite of mine, but when I asked my husband what book he would put on this list this was the first book that he said would make it without a doubt. How could you not want this if it came down to only choosing ten?

3. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss – Who didn’t love this book as a child? It is the quintessential Seuss book if ever there was one. If I could choose one more Seuss book it would be Hop on Pop, my kiddos loved it and I cannot remember how many times I’ve read it.

4. Trucks, Trucks, Trucks by Peter Sís – I’ve spoken about this book when I originally guest posted at the Nerdy Book Club. This book means more than I can ever tell anyone about.

5. Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems – By far my kiddos favorite book over the last year and that’s without mentioning that it’s authored by Mo Willems. Everything Mo Willems writes is phenomenal.

6. Scaredy Squirrel by Mélanie Watt – There is no way our library would be complete without Scaredy Squirrel. It’s another one that is read and reread night after night after night.

7. Doodle Bites: A Tilly and Friends Book by Polly Dunbar – This entire series is gorgeous. The illustrations, the story and everything it teaches kiddos. My kiddos read every book in this series over and over and over again.

8. I’m Here by Peter H. Reynolds – I’ve written about the beauty of this story in the past. There are so many books by Peter Reynolds that I could choose including Dot, but this would be my choice. It’s message and the beauty of everything it brings with it. I love this story so very much.

9. I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen – How could I not include this book and author/illustrator on my list? Jon Klassen is an innovator in his field and he’s only just beginning. I’m excited to see where he goes from this point forward.

10. Not a Box by Antoinette Portis – Pages of creativity within a few pages. I’ll never forget the weeks spend reading this every day. I love it.

It’s hard to stop there, but there’s always next year! What about you? Why do you love picture books and which would make your top ten list?