I read piles of picture books all year and I do feel there is a place for all of them on someone’s bookshelf, but certain books stand out as special. Without further ado, here are 29 outstanding picture books from 2019.
29 Favorite New Picture Books of 2019
16 Words: William Carlos Williams & “The Red Wheelbarrow” by Lisa Rogers, illustrated by Chuck Groenick
This is my favorite picture book of 2019, and it’s a true story of poet William Carlos Williams who worked full-time as the local doctor. In composing his famous poem, The Red Wheelbarrow, Lisa Rogers tracks back to the type of compassionate man William Carlos Williams was. He was someone who looked after his neighbors both as a doctor and as a friend, and he noticed the little things like the importance of a red wheelbarrow. Lisa Rogers is Williams Carlos Williams equal in observing, with deep compassion, how the small things matter, and how kindness never goes unnoticed. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
The Moose of Ewenki by Gerelchimeg Blackcrane, illustrated by Jiu Er
Based on the true events of the Indigenous Ewenki peoples in Inner Mongolia, this gorgeously illustrated book tells the story of a moose calf who is cared for by the hunter Gree Shek, who mistakenly kills its mother. The hunter raises the moose calf who grows into a strong adult male. Life is dangerous for a moose who never wants to leave Gree Shek’s side, he takes him somewhere safe and makes him leave him. When Gree Shek dies of old age a short time later, the moose is loyally by his side. [picture book, ages 5 and up]
Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Daniel Minter
There aren’t enough books with diversity that simply celebrate everyday life, exposing both cultural differences, but more importantly, sameness. For this family reunion, Kelly Starling Lyons shares the road trip down to the grandparents in the south. The importance of family is a theme that everyone can relate to, but so too is the celebration of their family history as people stolen from Africa who fought Jim Crow oppression, and made their dreams a reality. It’s this farm that grows cotton that has gone full circle from enslavement to entrepreneurship. It’s this family that has not just survived but thrived. It is a reminder of the bonds of family and the strength that it gives. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Layla’s Happiness by Maria Hadessa Ekere Tallie, illustrated by Ashleigh Corrin
There aren’t enough picture books depicting children of color who do ordinary things, like white characters. This picture book celebrates happiness through the eyes of a seven-year-old girl, Layla. Her joy is reflected in the hand-lettered font and the charming illustrations. This is a diversity book that isn’t about race or social justice issues and that’s the beauty of it. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Birdsong by Julie Flett
There is so much beauty in the picture book, from the illustrations to the tender story of a girl who has moved to a new location and is coming into her own with her drawing talent. Her new neighbor is a wonderful older friend who encourages her and she, in turn, uses her gift as an artist to brighten her room as she moves toward the end of her life. Flett sprinkles in Cree words which are like a gift to the reader, sharing her culture as the rhythms of the seasons and of life move forward. For those of us who have faced a loved one in his or her final days, this is a story of comfort with a reminder of the simple things that we can do for those we love. [picture book, ages 3 and up]
Nian, The Chinese New Year Dragon by Virginia Loh-Hagan, illustrated by Timothy Banks
The Chinese New Year traditions come from the folk stories of the Nian monster who wakes at Lunar New Year and attacks villages. In this version, Virginia Loh-Hagan chose to make the Nian monster and evil dragon (though Chinese dragons, unlike Western ones, are auspicious). Mei, a young girl, born in the year of the Golden Dragon, is chosen to defeat the Nian monster. With the help of a magical warrior, she uses her wits to keep her village safe from the Nian monster. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Freedom Soup by Tami Charles, illustrated by Jacqueline Alacantara
Freedom soup is a Haitian tradition to celebrate both a new year and the end of slavery. It’s a soup that the enslaved Taino and Africans were never allowed to eat though they cooked it for those who oppressed them. Made with pumpkin and garlic, herbs, and meat, it’s a delicious way to celebrate and remember. Tami Charles shares her family’s recipe as well. [picture book, ages 5 and up]
How To Code a Rollercoaster by Josh Funk, illustrated by Sara Palacios
In this sequel to How to Code a Sandcastle, software engineer and children’s book author Josh Funk takes the reader through more basic concepts of coding by using a trip to an amusement park to demonstrate. Code, variable, loop, and more are all explained but Josh Funk also builds in a fun story with a dramatic ending. This series is the perfect way to get kids excited about coding! [picture book, ages 4 and up]
My Footprints by Bao Phi, illustrated by Basia Tran
Thuy’s footprints mimic animals as she walks home. She has not had a good day a school due to bullies who tease her about her two moms. But when she gets home, both moms are there and she continues her game of made-up creature footprints. Together, they create the footprints of a phoenix and a Sarabbha, reminding Thuy that she is stronger together. [picture book, ages 6 and up]
Stormy: a story about finding a forever home by Guojing
A puppy is on its own when a kind woman finds it in a park and befriends it, patiently coming back day after day to throw it a ball. When a big storm comes, the puppy and woman manage to find each other. It’s a forever kind of love. This wordless picture book will touch the hearts of readers, especially young readers who want a dog for a pet. Guojing’s illustrations convey emotion, making this an easy story to glean from the pictures. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Sam! by Dani Gabriel, illustrated by Robert Liu-Trujillo
This is a gentle story to understand, from a child’s perspective, what it feels like to be transgender, particularly to communicate it for the first time. Author Dani Gabriel, a queer and gender-fluid poet, shares the story of her son Samson. Robert Liu-Trujillo’s illustrations evoke a sensitive and empathetic response to the story. This book models how parents and children can support gender-fluid and transgender peers. [picture book, ages 8 and up]
Caspian Finds a Friend by Jaqueline Veissid, illustrated by Merrilees Brown
There is something magical about this book from the illustrations to how Caspian’s wish for a friend gets fulfilled. A boy living in a lighthouse wishes for a friend and sends a message out via bottle at sea. It’s answered in a spectacular way. [picture book, ages 5 and up]
Did you see the real message in the bottle from a boy in Rockport, MA that was received 9 years later in France? It wasn’t by a polar bear though…
A Green Place To Be: The Creation of Central Park by Ashley Benham Yazdani
Anyone who has enjoyed the sprawling green space masterpiece of Central Park in New York City will appreciate this picture book that tells of how it came to be. Ashley Benham Yazdani does a really great job showing the complexity of this massive undertaking in a way that is both visually interesting and a story that is easy to follow. Her charming illustrations bring this time period to life. [picture book, ages 7 and up]
A Boy Like You by Frank Murphy, illustrated by Kayla Harren
This is an anthem that might feel tailored for black boys, but it’s for any boy. It’s an affirmation about being a good person and finding your own way in this world. It’s also a message to fight toxic masculinity. I love this joyful book that comes from a place of optimism, hope, and kindness. Pair this with Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Boy. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Boy by Tony Medina & 13 Artists
Thirteen African American artists pen a message to black boys with poetry and art. Collectively, it’s wisdom from one generation passed down to the next. Each message lifts up and shelters black boys with encouragement and love to go out into the world and be anything you want to be because #BlackLivesMatter. [poetry picture book, ages 6 and up]
The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper, illustrated by Carson Ellis
Personally, I dread the shorter winter days here in the Northeast when it gets dark around 4:oo pm! But Susan Cooper brings a new perspective on this winter solstice. She wrote a poem to celebrate it, bringing us back to our early history as Neolithic people whose traditions viewed light as a part of the life cycle. Her endnote draws in the celebrations of light from around the world including Diwali, Chanukah, and the Yule. This is a lovely way to celebrate the shortest day of the year with a multicultural and inclusive perspective. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Looking for Yesterday by Alison Jay
A look backward considers the time-space continuum in an effort to savor precious time spent with his grandfather. Alison Jay’s ode to her father reflects on memories and living in the moment. This is the perfect picture book for grandparents to gift to their grandchildren. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
The Rhythm of the Rain by Grahame Baker-Smith
The cover somehow manages to convey the sparkle of rain without the use of metallic ink. And that’s just the start of the magic. The illustrations make good use of light and shadow to convey scenes that feel too beautiful to be real. But, in fact, Isaac is embarking on an adventure at the side of a mountain. It’s the story of the water cycle as a fantastic journey that could be fantasy except that it is real. This is the most dramatic story of the water cycle and water supply that I’ve read so far! [picture book, ages 4 and up]
I have other book lists on water scarcity and water supply.
My Grandma and Me by Mina Havaherbin, illustrated by Lindsey Yankey
This gentle story of Mina and her grandmother takes the reader through their celebration of Ramadan at a mosque in Iran. It’s a celebration of an intergenerational family and their loving bonds told in a very personal way, like a gift from Mina Havaberbin to us, the reader. Beautiful illustrations by Lindsey Yankey convey Mina’s imagination as well as the beauty of Islamic art motifs. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Carter Reads the Newspaper by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Don Tate
It’s easy to celebrate Black History Month as a regular institution of the celebration of black culture and luminaries, but there is a forgotten backstory about how it came to be. Dr. Carter Woodson, the son of enslaved parents, had role models who taught him that he was anyone’s equal. He worked to earn money to educate himself, earning a Ph.D. in history from Harvard University. It was from this experience that he was inspired to create a holiday to show that Black people have history, culture, and people to celebrate. Read this book during Black History Month or any time of the year to learn about more hidden figures of history! [picture book, ages 6 and up]
The Escape of Robert Smalls: A Daring Voyage Out of Slavery by Jehan Jones-Radgowski, illustrated by Poppy King
A lazy Confederate captain left his ship to visit his family. He could be court-martialed for this desertion. Robert Smalls was enslaved and he knew how to captain a ship. On May 12, 1862, Smalls executed a well-planned escape for freedom by posing as the captain of the ship. It was a dangerous journey; if caught by the Confederates, they would be killed. If the Union soldiers viewed them as the enemy they could be attacked. With sixteen runaway slaves, would they prevail? This is an exciting true story of Robert Smalls’ daring escape. The endnotes tell more about Robert Smalls’ life. He became a politician and served in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was a remarkable man and I’m glad this book brings another hidden figure into the light. [picture book, ages 8 and up]
Patience, Miyuki by Roxane Marie Galliez, illustrated by Seng Soun Ratanavanh
I was drawn to the Japanese aesthetic of the wonderful illustrations by Seng Soun Ratanavanh. It reminded me of my own childhood, but I also felt like this was a dreamy version of Alice in Wonderland meets Japanese grandfather and granddaughter but without the crazy Queen of Hearts. I enjoyed this fantasy quasi-folktale for its beauty and gentle lesson on patience. [picture book, ages 5 and up]
Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o, illustrated by Vashti Harrison
I have a unit on skin color and this book fits nicely into that lesson plan. My blog post is on skin colorism vis a vis Asians and the politics are a little different than for African Americans. And Lupita Nyong’o is the perfect person to talk about beauty and skin tone. Sulwe, which means star, gets a visit from an actual star and then this story turns into a kind of modern folktale. It’s a reminder to recognize the inner beauty of girls from a role model who generously shares this story of her own youth to help others find their way. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Riding a Donkey Backwards: Wise and Foolish Tales of Mulla Nasruddin retold by Sean Taylor & the Khayaal Theatre, illustrated by Shirin Adl
Muslims all over the world know and love the trickster Mulla Nasruddin. In this book, twenty-one hilarious tales are retold of the wisest fool of all. These feel like fables meant to amuse and sometimes to teach as well. I can see how these would be favorite bedtime stories for children! I especially like the whimsical collage art that matches the playfulness of the stories. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
The Pear Tree: a folktale retold by Luli Gray, illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight
In a retold Spanish folktale, Tia Esperanza tricks Death with her magic pear tree. This is a different version from the trope of the wicked old woman, Tia Miseria. Without Death, the order of the world shifts, and nothing can die. Tia Esperanza, who wants to prolong her life by trapping Death in her tree, realizes that Death can also bring peace. She lets him go and in return, she is granted her own timeline for death. Use this folktale to compare other mythologies around the world and their portrayal of death and the change of seasons. The illustrations match the story making this feel like an instant classic. [picture book, ages 8 and up]
With a little help from my friends by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, illustrated by Henry Cole
It’s nearly impossible to read this book without hearing the Beatles song in your head! Henry Cole does a brilliant job of taking the lyrics of this famous song and turning it into a story of a friendship between two girls. Their friendship is are able to surmount the difficulty of distance when one of them moves away. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
My First Book of New York by Ingela P. Arrhenius
I really like this series for armchair travel or to get kids excited about an upcoming trip. Because the book is oversized, the places to visit at each location have enough real estate on the page to show details making it easier to spot once there. The pages are visually well designed, with enough color to look exciting but not too busy as to make it overwhelming. This is a difficult balance to hit! I also like the mix of food, architecture, museums, and people-watching to spot when in NYC. [picture book, ages 3 and up]
Earthwaves by Michael Smith, illustrated by Gayle Garner Roski
There aren’t enough books about Pacific Islander seafarers who, thousands of years ago, charted the Pacific Ocean with superior navigation skills that relied on observation of the nuances of the natural world. Akela and his grandfather set off on a long journey across the sea to trade with friendly islanders. It’s a dangerous journey where Akela can learn navigation from his Grandfather and also about the larger world around them including other explorers that come with bad intentions. [advanced picture book, ages 8 and up]
p.s. I also loved this Search and Find board book:
Paper Peek Colors by Chihiro Takeuchi
The die-cut identifies something simple like a green leaf or a red apple, but behind that page is a wealth of things to search for. The search and find pages look like beautiful wallpaper but also hide other objects to count that fit into the same color as the die-cut object. This will keep kids entertained for multiple readings! [board book, ages 2 and up]
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Predicting the Caldecott & Newbery Book Lists
Our 2017 Caldecott Predictions
Predicting the 2016 Caldecott and Newbery
Predicting the 2015 Caldecott and Newbery
Predicting the 2014 Caldecott and Newbery
Predicting 2013 Caldecott and Newbery
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My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award longlist
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
I Loved 16 Words too, Mia and Birdsong as well.
Happy Holidays!
Just received a copy of Freedom Soup in the mail today from Candlewick. Love it. and am writing my review tomorrow. Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Boy is a favorite of mine. And, I really look forward to reading A Boy Like You! You’ve listed so many excellent books. The Shortest Day was outstanding too! I jotted down a few you’ve mentioned I didn’t know about.
A terrific list! I’ve read several of these, but look forward to finding more of them. Happy New Year!