With little fanfare, here are my favorite picture book titles from the last year.
I'm not usually a fan of "weird" books (see last year's Du Is Tak for the type of quirky books that aren't my speed), but this one is just great fun.
The Antlered Ship
This next title is my number one pick for 2017. I'm going to be shocked if it doesn't win something when the youth literature awards are given. The illustrations are magic, and the story is just right for preschoolers.
The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse
Laundry Day has just the right mix of a playful spin on familiar household activities and animal antics to please the preschool set.
I haven't seen this one on many "best of" lists, but it's a solid picture book biography with lots of history and some delightful illustrations.
Balderdash!
If you're on the hunt for some science based nonfiction picture books Kate Messner is always a good bet.
Over and Under the Pond
I'm as surprised as you are that I'm recommending a James Patterson title,let alone one with the word genius in the title, but if you know a little one fascinated by great big words then you need this one in your life.
Big Words for Little Geniuses
Honorable mention to They All Saw a Cat, which I hadn't yet read at this point in 2016. Its Caldecott Honor was well deserved.
Other great picks from this year include:
When's My Birthday?
Round
I suspect this one also has Caldecott potential, particularly given the current situation with elephants:
How to be an Elephant
Big Cat, Little Cat
