Over the many years of teaching and raising kids I have come across hundreds of picture books for young children. Some are fads of the day while others last for years and can be enjoyed over and over again.  This list of books are from my own collection of favourites. These books can be adapted  for classroom use with units galore and have a magnetic appeal to young children and adults alike. Some of the books I can even remember reading as a child myself! I’m sure you will have your own favourites but these by far have proven time and time again to be some of the best picture books for engaging young children.  Here they are in no particular order.

1. Brown Bear Brown Bear by Bill Martin Jr.
2. Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin
3. The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
4. Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
5. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
6. Go Away Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley
7. Cordurory by Don Freeman
8. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
9. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
10. Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel
11. Owl at Home by Arnold Lobel
12. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
13. Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
14. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
15. Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
16. The Mitten by Jan Brett
17. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
18. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
19. One Fish Two Fish by Dr. Suess
20. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess