Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Best Picture Books for Storytelling


As this blog is all about books I felt I must mention some of our favorites books about books (or stories).   The wonder of storytelling and the art of books - that is what draws me to childrens' picture books.  They seem to weave these two so artfully.

My husband and I both have theatre backgrounds so the theatrical comes a little easier during our storytimes, but I still enjoyed Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud To Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever by Mem Fox.  It is so true that time reading with our children helps to shape their future. 

I also learn a lot from many of these picture books.  There are great lessons, even for parents.  A Few Blocks has such a lesson.


First, I must mention the absolutely amazing story about books - The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce.  It is available in book, short Oscar-nominated film or app format.  See more information about it at Best Books & Learning App's.






No Bears by Megan McKinlay,  illustrated by Leila Rudge.  A fairytale without bears.  The storyteller is determined, but is it possible to have a fairytale without them?

Wild About Books by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Marc Brown
The animals are each introduced to the perfect books and their vocabulary explodes.  A lovely nod to loving literature.

Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates.  Dog love books so he decides to start his own bookstore.  He knows just what to recommend.




The Little White Owl by Tracey Corderoy, illustrated by Jane Chapman.  Stories help bring people (and owls in this story) together.   

Our favorite series, Elephant and Piggie Books, offers up We Are In a Book! by Mo Willems.  Great fun!


Read It, Don't Eat It! by  Ian  Schoenherr
Rhyming advice on how to take care of a library book.




Limelight Larry by Leigh Hodgkinson  
This is a wonderfully hilarious story all about Limelight Larry - or at least he would like it to be.

Wolves by Emily Gravett
Rabbit borrows a book about wolves.  This story is written in such a way that it is very informative and yet so engaging and entertaining.

Calvin Can't Fly: The Story of a Bookworm Birdie by Jennifer Berne, illustrated by Keith Bendis


Find the Magic by Lee Cohen, illustrated 
by Julia Harnett Harvey. Euripides, the frog, takes his friends on an adventure in which they find magic in the pages of books. From a series of books by Susan Yost-Filgate and  Leonard Filgate - now with a new author/illustrator team, but just as good.

A Few Blocks by Cybele Young. This is storytelling at it's best. I try to use this method to distract uncooperative children.  Viola uses imaginative storytelling to distract her brother so that he will go to school. The 3-D paper sculptures used to create this story are fabulous!


Chalk by Bill Thompson
A wonderfully creative book with no words.  Magical chalk  helps the childrens' drawings come to life.  So much fun to play with chalk and explore magical worlds after enjoying this story!

We love new books at our house - if you love any literature on this topic that didn't make my list, please do share!