Our Top Favourite Children’s Picture Books 30/40

There is something about the September morning air that brings on a feeling of new, a refresh, a beginning. (Please someone tell me the equivalent of this to petrichor if you find it!) But when I see all the photos of kids with larger than life backpacks, a fun new outfit, and an anxious yet excited smile, I feel that moment of missing out. That we’re not on the waves of the seasons changing. This is not only for myself, but for my son. That he won’t necessarily get those first day of school jitters, the eager curiosity, the experiences of letting him go out on his own. It’s been a first day of school experience of its own, of letting go in a different way.

When we decided to homeschool, even before he was born, I never would have anticipated how my woundedness of ‘not belonging’ would come out. And as Arlo has come to that age, the statement arose amongst friends and family at the end of the summer. “He must be getting ready for school soon!”, to which we were met with mostly a resounding, “Oh…”. Of course, while we’ve had some pushback and confusion from others, we have also been greeted with encouragement and some, “Good for you, for taking that on”.

And so, with the first passing day of Autumn, I felt a tug of disappointment and the gray monotony of another ordinary day. No first day of school fall sweaters, and not reaching a goal of finding 40 books before the end of the summer. Just a mix of mottled days. With homeschool starting and the final edits on my book coming along, it’s been a new rhythm journey of time management. But here is where I am learning to let go. To let go of opinions, of feeling different and out of place, of my plans and posts being perfectly curated. Here is where I’m practicing more grace. Grace in parenting, grace in choosing homeschooling, grace in marriage, and grace for myself. So what if the seasons changed? We will always be reading, at home. Just this time, it will be a touch cozier.

You Belong Here

M.H. Clark/Isabelle Arsenault

21/40

Every now and then, I come across a book I want to buy for myself, and this is one of them. The soft water colour, the cursive font, the sweet, gentle rhymes, and the message of belonging. While the author references different creatures and where they belong in the world, she repeats how a loved one belongs with her. I love to read this through the lense of a child, a spouse, and to belonging to the Lord.

The crickets belong in the old stone wall and the bees belong in the clover, just as winter belongs in its place after fall, before the new year starts over.

Big Boys Cry

Jonty Howley

22/40

Being married to a man who is a leader in men’s ministry, this was a family favourite. It is not only a story of overcoming fear on the first day of school for a son, but also the overcoming for a father stuck in incorrect masculinity. This story was deep, and humorous, with very few words. That in itself is an art! This is a great book for dads to read to their boys, especially with school starting. I’m pretty sure Colt even cried.

He saw proud men, army men, young men, old men, biker men, brainy men, and even baker men crying!

The Boy in the Orange Cape

Adam Ciccio/Emmanuel Volant

23/40

This was a very uniquely illustrated storybook. I especially like stories where animals are extremely personified. Although my son is fairly literal and said “no…it’s a bunny in an orange cape”, it was still a great book! Another book about going to school, this time working through the courage of facing a bully, uniting together, and ultimately ending in forgiveness and understanding.

The other kids noticed the bullying, but no one was brave enough to confront Billy, and no one would dare be seen with Corey. Until one boy got curious.

ROAR-chestra: A Wild Story of Musical Words

Robert Heidbreder/Dusan Petricic

24/40

As we start to find ways to introduce more formal music, this fun, short book helps kids learn different musical terms. The best part about this book is to copy the conductor and move your hands together in motion as you read! Arlo is also getting to learn some Italian words from reading this book and experiencing the movements. Now when he wants me to tickle him really fast, he’ll say, “Allegro, mama! Allegro!”.

STACCATO. Popping, hopping, bouncing, bounding.

This Magical, Musical Night

Rhonda Gowler Greene/James Rey Sanchez

25/40

Another great book to introduce musical terms! This book has more words than the previous one, so you get a bit more in depth understanding of music. And written in a cascading, movement of rhythmic prose, it adds to the flow of reading about music. The author also breaks up each instrument group by page spread which was a great addition to learning about music.

Ah, piano’s blissful skills. ‘Cross ivory, arpeggio spills. Hear those thrilling frills of trills? Whooosh! Glissando gives us chills!

The Struggle Bus

Julie Koon

26/40

This was a Colt and Arlo pick. All about perseverance and doing the hard thing, but with cars and buses. A great addition to this book is at the back where the author asks questions about practicing hard things, and what to do when we feel overwhelmed. When either myself or Arlo start complaining about something, the new thing of the house is for Colt to exclaim, “Grumble, rumble, bump and groove, the struggle bus is on the move.” I sometimes roll my eyes…

It may feel like it’s just you, but all of us have been there too.

Nothing Ever Happens on a Gray Day

Grant Snider

27/40

I think one of the best parts about this book is the author’s bio on the flap that reads, “…orthodontist by day, finding hidden hours to write, draw, and create cartoons and picture books…”. This is a great little book about boredom on a cloudy day. He uses words like rickety and lonely to describe the quiet scenery around. Sure enough, the character discovers wonder and adventure where she had never seen before. The illustrations also spark new found curiosity in the simple details, using only cyan, magenta and yellow, amongst the gray.

Low clouds scrape the treetops. Small drops speckle the sidewalk. But even the rain is too bored to fall.

Green on Green

Dianne White/Felicita Sala

28/40

It’s always great to introduce poetry to young ones, to learn rhythm and beat, as well as phonics. I absolutely loved this poem the more I read it to Arlo. The author’s use of colour words, smells and textures bring the seasons to life. The illustrator also added the storyline of a little boy waiting for a sibling to arrive as the seasons changed. What a great book to discover how everything changes. Yet, one thing remains. In this case, it’s the colour green throughout the book, but I interpretted this as love, evergreen.

Cinnamon spice. Almond between. Cinnamon, almond, and brown on green.

I Love You All Year Round

Sam McBratney/Anita Jeram

29/40

As the leaves are slowly changing, we are learning about them everyday in homeschool, and this was another great book to bring the seasons to life. This Guess How Much I Love You series is so simply sweet. What makes this wonderful for learning the seasons, is that each one is broken down into a completely different storyline. Teaching concepts about each season as the Nutbrowns explore around them. And of course, I love a good hare book.

Does nothing stay the same? thought Little Nutbrown Hare. Does everything change?

Henny

Elizabeth Rose Stanton

30/40

This book was hilarious, in a deep way. The illustrations really got to me during a bedtime reading and I just couldn’t stop laughing. Little Henny was a chicken born with arms. She loved being unique, but she also struggled when she felt like she didn’t fit in. This was a book that brought a little bit of fun into accepting all that you are created to be, living fully in your purpose, even if you don’t feel like you belong.

She liked being different. She didn’t like being different.

As I compile these picture books, I’m finding joy in discovering new illustrative styles, imaginative stories and little gems, hidden on the short wooden shelves, tall enough for little hands to reach. That’s why, I’m going to continue the search, possibly once a month. In hopes that one day, my words would inspire, and be found as a little gem amongst the book spines, for some little reaching hands.