November is Picture Book Month! Celebrate with selections from this list of the Children’s Library’s favorite picture books to read aloud.

Picture Books

It’s Only Stanley by Jon Agee

(Children Picture Book + AGEE)

Very strange noises that keep awakening the Wimbledon family one night have an even stranger source.

Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae, illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees

(Children Picture Book Lg ANDRE)

Gerald the giraffe is too clumsy to dance with all the other animals at the Jungle Dance, until he finds the right music.

Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony

(Children Picture Book + ANTON)

Mr. Panda has a plate of doughnuts to share, but most of the other animals forget to say “Please.”

Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts

(Children Picture Book + BEATY)

Ada Twist is a very curious girl who shows perseverance by asking questions and performing experiments to find things out and understand the world.

Leave Me Alone by Vera Brosgol

(Children Picture Book + BROSG)

Grandmother wants so badly to be left alone to finish the knitting for her grandchildren that she leaves her tiny home and her big family to journey to the moon and beyond to find peace and quiet to finish her knitting.

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

(Children Picture Book BROWN)

A little bunny bids goodnight to all the objects in his room before falling asleep.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

(Children Picture Book CARLE)

Follows the progress of a hungry little caterpillar as he eats his way through a varied and very large quantity of food until, full at last, he forms a cocoon around himself and goes to sleep.

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

(Children Picture Book + CORNW)

“Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He’s finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he’s a great jumper, so he’s not scared at all. “Looks easy,” says Jabari, watching the other kids take their turns. But when his dad squeezes his hand, Jabari squeezes back. He needs to figure out what kind of special jump to do anyway, and he should probably do some stretches before climbing up onto the diving board. In a sweetly appealing tale of overcoming your fears, newcomer Gaia Cornwall captures a moment between a patient and encouraging father and a determined little boy you can’t help but root for” — Amazon.com.

Dragon Was Terrible by Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli

(Children Picture Book DIPUC)

When a dragon has a temper tantrum, no one can tame him, except for a little boy with a good book.

Monkey and Me by Emily Gravett

(Children Picture Book + GRAVE)

Excited about their trip to the zoo, a young girl and her stuffed monkey delight in mimicking all the animals they see, such as a hopping kangaroo and stomping elephant, during their wonderful outing together.

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

(Children Picture Book + HENKE)

Chrysanthemum loves her name, until she starts going to school and the other children make fun of it.

Real Cowboys by Kate Hoefler

(Children Picture Book HOEFL)

Real cowboys are gentle, patient, and creative as they move hundreds of cattle, make camp, and dream under the stars.

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

(Children Picture Book + KLASS)

A bear almost gives up his search for his missing hat until he remembers something important.

Drawn Together by Minh Le; illustrated by Dan Santat

(+ Children Picture Book LEMIN)

A boy and his grandfather cross a language and cultural barrier using their shared love of art, storytelling, and fantasy.

Pete The Cat: I Love My White Shoes by David Litwin, illustrated by James Dean

(Children Picture Book + LITWI)

As he walks down the street, Pete the cat sings about his brand new white shoes as they change from red to blue to brown to wet.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, illustrated by Lois Ehlert

(Children Picture Book + MARTI)

An alphabet rhyme/chant that relates what happens when the whole alphabet tries to climb a coconut tree.

The Mighty Lalouche by Matthew Olshan

(Children Picture Book + OLSHA)

In Paris, France, more than a hundred years ago, a small man named Lalouche is let go from his job as a mail carrier and discovers that he has great skill as a fighter.

Looking for a Moose by Phyllis Root

(Children Picture Book ROOT)

Four children set off into the woods to find a moose.

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri

(+ Children Picture Book RUBIN)

Dragons love tacos. And if you have plenty of tacos, nothing could possibly go wrong at your party. Right?

The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat

(Children Picture Book + SANTA)

An imaginary friend waits a long time to be imagined by a child and given a special name, and finally does the unimaginable–he sets out on a quest to find his perfect match in the real world.

Harriet Gets Carried Away by Jessie Sima

(+ Children Picture Book SIMAJ)

While shopping with her two dads for supplies for her birthday party, Harriet, who is wearing a penguin costume, is carried away by a waddle of penguins and must hatch a plan in order to get herself back to the store in the city.

Sebastian and the Balloon by Phillip C. Stead

(Children Picture Book + STEAD)

“When Sebastian launches himself on a journey in a hot air balloon made entirely of Grandma’s afghans and patchwork quilts, his boring day turns into the adventure of a lifetime”– Provided by publisher.

Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein

(Children Picture Book STEIN)

Little Red Chicken wants Papa to read her a bedtime story, but interrupts him almost as soon as he begins each tale.

How To Hide a Lion by Helen Stephens

(Children Picture Book + STEPH)

Iris understands that grown-ups are afraid of lions, but when she finds one in her playhouse she knows he is kind so she keeps him hidden from her parents for as long as possible.

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems

(Children Picture Book WILLE)

After Trixie and daddy leave the laundromat, something very important turns up missing.