Can you recommend some beautifully illustrated children's books?

[taraalissa]

Doing some book shopping and would like some recommendations for books with really nice illustrations.

TIA

[kellij]

http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/fd5320/index.cfm?pkey=xsrd0m1|12|||1|||||||my%20own%20nam e%20book&cm_src=SCH

These are really neat and have pretty pictures.

[ewan's mama]

Have you seen the Brava, Strega Nona! book? It's an amazing pop-up book. I saw it in one of the parenting magazines, and then saw it at Borders. It's beautiful. This is not your typical pop-up. I opened the book, and the pop-up leaped out of the page. You have to go see for yourself at one of the bookstores.

http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=0399244530

[neeleymartin]

look for books with the caldecott seal. or you can look at past winners and honorable mentions here:

winners:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecottwinners/caldecottmedal.cfm

honors:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecotthonors/caldecottmedal.cfm


books are picked each year for their illustrations. one of my favorites is "the hello goodbye window".

it's hard to know what you mean by good illustrations. it's all a matter of opinion i guess.

one that my son loves that i bet will win soon is "chicky, chicky, chook, chook" he is 17 months old and BEGS for this book. the illustrations are very unique. check out both.

another great "A Child's Calendar"

another great resource is your children's librarian.

good luck.

[cbscherer]

The illustrations are gorgeous.

Little lamb to the rescue is the one I can remember right off.

[blisstwins]

I think Elsa Beskow books are beyond beautiful:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=elsa+beskow+peter

There are many buy her on amazon.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51RXPAWK1HL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

[Carrots]

I love Thomas Locker's books.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Thomas+locker

Also, if the child is younger (1-3'ish) this book is beautiful! It is about a favorite blanky. http://www.amazon.com/Hooray-Harry-Kim-Lewis/dp/1406303771/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227031693&sr=8-1

[alien_host]

I really like the illustrations in Barefoot Books. My friend is a consultant and I've bought a ton of books and they are all beautiful.

http://www.barefoot-books.com/site/pages/choice.php

[ljackson]

I love the illustrations in Jane Hissey's Old Bear series:

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=jane+hissey&tag=googhydr-20&index=stripbooks&hvadid=1150279181&ref=pd_sl_6xxriw89b7_b

I think that the books are suitable from about 2 years old if you are prepared to abbreviate the words a little - they are a bit long-winded in places.

[Leeannpk]

I second Elsa Beskow. My children love her books. And Jan Brett's books are GORGEOUS!

Leeann

[fivi2]

I love Jan Brett also!

Last year I ordered this version of the Snow Queen - gorgeous! Illus Valdyslav Yerko
http://www.amazon.com/Snow-Queen-Hans-Christian-Andersen/dp/966704758X

There are Amazon lists with suggestions for pretty books - for example:
http://www.amazon.com/Most-Beautifully-Illustrated-Childrens-Books/lm/1NGILSET89VQA/ref=cm_lmt_dtpa_f_2_rdssss0?pf_rd_p=253462201&pf_rd_s=listmania-center&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=966704758X&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0CA3RHA5T36NG42SQ98T

if you follow the links you can usually find more! I have several on my wishlist!

[jjordan]

We recently got "Hotel Deep" by Kurt Cyrus from the library and it is beautiful. The author has another about gardens that we haven't seen but I bet it's gorgeous.

http://www.amazon.com/Hotel-Deep-Light-Verse-Water/dp/0152167714
http://tinyurl.com/6onhpc

[robinsmommy]

I would recommend asking a kid's librarian for recommendations. You could probably even call and get info by phone - there are also good reference books about kids books, broken down by ages.

I would really recommend picking books based on the age of your child - same thing as toys - they are no fun if they're too "old" for your little one.

Also, find an illustrator that you like and find other books they've done.

I also like to get collection books - for toddlers, we have "Stories and Fun for the Very Young" by Candlewick Press. Lots of abbreivated stories, helps you find things you like, and doesn't take up a ton of space on the shelf We have two 3'x3' shelves stuffed with kid books! ;)

And, while it is nice to enjoy the books you read together, as with anything else, what you love isn't always what your child will - hence the suggestion for a collection book.

[skygoddess]

Definitely anything by Jan Brett!

[brittone2]

Another fan of Elsa Beskow and Jan Brett.

I don't think I saw this listed, but Gerda Muller's books are stunning. No words, just pics (very Waldorf) but the illustrations are positively gorgeous and very different from many other beautifully illustrated books IMO.

Tasha Tudor
Beatrix Potter

We have DH's childhood copy of A Child's Garden of Verses (Stevenson) and the illustrations are beautiful. Not sure if the more updated versions are as pretty, but our vintage copy is gorgeous. It is a nice classic.
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/A-Childs-Garden-of-Verses/Robert-Louis-Stevenson/e/9781402750625

Barefoot Books and Chinaberry both have interesting books that might catch your attention.

[rwagdivh]

I love her books, she takes songs/poems (Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star; How much is that Doggie in the Window?) and adds her own touch and beautiful pictures. Both of my boys have loved them.

[Leeannpk]

I was just coming back to mention Tasha Tudor, but someone beat me to it! Also check out Eloise Wilkin - she illustrated lots of Little Golden Books in the 50s and 60s (I think). Some are religious, many are not. Definitely worth a look.

Leeann

[MMMommy]

I remember someone had included a picture of this book in their Xmas list of gifts last year. The book looked gorgeous, and I remember trying to find it. Here it is--

http://www.snowqueen.us/?gclid=CIr9po_0_5YCFRsRagodJgItYQ

Ooops! Fivi2 already mentioned this above. Sorry!

Updated: Must. Get. Snow Queen book. I can't resist it.

[thomma]

Books with great illustrations and a nice message:


All the Places to Love by Patricia Maclachlan ill by M. Wimmer
Red Berry Wool by Eversole and Coffey

I also LOVE Patricia Polacco...Uncle Vova's Tree, Rechenka's Eggs, Thunder Cake, The Keeping Quilt

Eric Carle is nice too

good luck!
Kim
ds&dd 5/03

[mama2g03]

If you are looking for a good wintery book I just got "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost, Illustrated by Susan Jeffers. I think it's just beautiful. Makes me miss New England. I'll be giving it to DC for Christmas.

[brittone2]

If you are looking for a good wintery book I just got "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost, Illustrated by Susan Jeffers. I think it's just beautiful. Makes me miss New England. I'll be giving it to DC for Christmas.


Oh...we like Susan Jeffers too. We have a few other books illustrated by her.

[amandabea]

look for books with the caldecott seal. or you can look at past winners and honorable mentions here:

winners:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecottwinners/caldecottmedal.cfm

honors:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecotthonors/caldecottmedal.cfm


books are picked each year for their illustrations. one of my favorites is "the hello goodbye window".

it's hard to know what you mean by good illustrations. it's all a matter of opinion i guess.

one that my son loves that i bet will win soon is "chicky, chicky, chook, chook" he is 17 months old and BEGS for this book. the illustrations are very unique. check out both.

another great "A Child's Calendar"

another great resource is your children's librarian.

good luck.
:yeahthat:
I LOVE the illustrations in Mo Willems Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity. The illustrations are black & white photos in NY that the author "cleaned up" in photoshop -- took out the graffiti and trash -- love them.

We read one or both of these books almost everyday. My 21 mo old DD knows Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by heart and often tells me the story (although not with all of the words).

[mama2g03]

Was putting books away today and saw "Hondo and Fabian" by Peter McCarty and thought of your thread. We also have "Little Bunny on the Move" by him and I love the illustrations and the stories. They are simple and short stories, but my five year old still enjoys hearing them when I read them to my two year old.

[citymama]

I really like the illustrations in Barefoot Books. My friend is a consultant and I've bought a ton of books and they are all beautiful.

http://www.barefoot-books.com/site/pages/choice.php

I second this recommendation. And as another thread mentions, they have free shipping right now. I absolutely love Clara Beaton's embroidery illustrations - they are works of art. So I would recommend 2 of our favorites by her - "Mother Goose Remembers" and "Playtime Rhymes for Little People."

[Fairy]

"The Way I Feel" has really cool illustrations.

[bubbaray]

Another vote for Jan Brett.

[westamp]

I don't know what age group you're looking for but I always loved Tasha Tudor's illustrations (she did the Secret Garden and The Little Princess).

[SArcher]

For my 5 year old, I have:

Cosmo's Moon
http://www.amazon.com/Cosmos-Moon-1-Devin-Scillian/dp/1585361232/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227212207&sr=8-1

Polar Express
http://www.amazon.com/Polar-Express-Chris-Van-Allsburg/dp/B001IAZYWA/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227212300&sr=1-5

The Complete Book of Farmyard Tales (Usbourne Books)
This is a nice collection of short stories (they take about 5 minutes to read, so great for bedtime) about Apple Tree Farm. Each page has a little yellow duck hidden in the picture, which is fun for the kids to look for.
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Farmyard-Tales/dp/0746058470/ref=sr_1_1_s9_rk?ie=UTF8&s=books&s9r=8afd3cfe169f44880116b1f98f9701ea&itemPosition=1&qid=1227212385&sr=1-1