The Red Tree by Shaun Tan

Depression can be difficult to explain to children in a way that they can understand. Tan's picture book portrays feelings of sadness, loneliness, and enduring hopefulness with pictures that say more than words ever could. A child can interpret the pictures in any way...

Check out A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban. While the book is recommended for readers ages 8 to 12, I think it would be enjoyable to families to read or listen to together. Zoe tells her story in a quirky honest voice that will appeal to kids and adults alike!

Zoe Elias is an almost-eleven-year-old girl who wants nothing more in life than to be a child prodigy on the grand piano. When her dad goes out to buy her a piano, he comes home with an organ instead and soon Zoe is taking lessons to play hit songs of the 1970's!

I haven't worked in the Youth Services department for over 7 years but I still have to stop by and pick up a picture book or two so often. Picture books are my favorite. They are not just for toddlers they are for all ages. Every time I walk through that section I find a treasure, a story that...

        The books in our paperback collection are often overlooked, but you might find just what you are looking for in this area. Following is a guide to the genres of paperback series.

GENRES (may not be complete; some series may be in more than one genre)  ...

The New York Times has published a list of great illustrated children’s books from 2008.

Have you read any of these yet with your children? (or on your own!)

Check out these titles from our library, or add a comment to contribute your own “best” book recommendations to the list.