National Picture Book Month!

November is National Picture Book Month! Megan and I are both BIG fans of the picture book--and not just for the wee ones in your life. There are many, many wonderful picture books for all ages. This month, we hope to highlight some of our favorites, some of which we've reviewed before and some of which will be new ones! While you wait for our special highlights, feel free to check out my 21st Century Picture Book Favorites Pinterest board and my Picture Books: Retro Reads Pinterest board. As with all Pinterest boards, they're a work in progress!

In addition to what we will highlight here on Literaritea, there are some terrific posts on the Picture Book Month website by well known illustrators on the importance of picture books. Megan and I are huge fans of Paul O. Zelinsky, whose "Why Picture Books Are Important" post is up today. I echo his comment about picture books being a bridge to art as well as to storytelling; this is why the quality of the illustrations is so important! I've seen my own children imitating their favorite picture book art in their own drawings (most recently in the plethora of stylized elephants and pigs... ahem).

And so, we'll start off our Picture Book Month Celebration with a few of Zelinsky's own picture books that both Megan and I adore (linked, where applicable, to our reviews). He's also done some worthy illustrations for some of Nesbit's books (such as The Enchanted Castle). You'll note that his style is remarkably diverse...

Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham (2012)

Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins (2006) 

(not strictly a picture book, but...)

Rapunzel (1997; Caldecott Medal)

Hansel and Gretel (1984; Caldecott Honor)

Rumpelstiltskin (1996; Caldecott Honor)

Cover images from goodreads

What are some of YOUR favorite picture books? We'll feature some more favorite illustrators and books in the days to some!