I love picture books. Always have. As a teacher, I experience pure joy in picking out books to read aloud and to share for writing lessons. When I became a mama, I relived the same happiness as I collected seasonal books and sweet stories, especially for family book days.
Now, that Harper and Jameson are older, they tend to be more into their own series of books. But nevertheless, I continue to put out our picture book collection each time the season changes or a holiday approaches. A couple of days ago, we put away our Halloween books and dug out our November and Thanksgiving books. There are so many beautiful ones, so I thought I might share some with you.
Have you seen Sweep? I love this book. A bad mood is eventually swept away as this leaf sweeper makes his way through the city. The images are beautiful.
This one was on repeat when my own kids were little. It’s adorable, it rhymes, and honestly, it is a delightful message. It’s so darn cute. I’m reading it again this year, to be certain.
I came across Thanksgiving in the Woods a couple of years ago and fell in love with its beauty. It is based on a true story of a family who lived in upstate New York and organized an outdoor family feast each year. Festive and sweet.
Of course, I adore Splat. Splat Says Thank You is actually not my favorite of the entire Splat collection (I just love the original), but it is still such a feel good book. Splat’s fur and eyes will capture your heart. The illustrations are hilarious and utterly charming.
Your collection should definitely include Fletcher and the Falling Leaves. Sweet, kind Fletcher feels terrible about the tree losing its leaves. But then, one morning, the tree is standing all iced over, glittering for the world, and Fletcher is so relieved to see its joy.
How Big Could your Pumpkin Grow is fun and informative. It imagines giant pumpkins in all kinds of places, and the pictures are great. But the neatest part is the back, where it lists true tidbits about traditions in different states. I did not know, for example, that people actually carve pumpkins into boats and ride in them across Lake Champlain.
Awww, George. I am loyal to George. We are not too old for Happy Thanksgiving, Curious George, even if it is the board book version. Long live the man in the yellow hat and his silly monkey sidekick.
I share picture books with my students all the time, as big as they are. They still love them, too. Cynthia Rylant authored two of my favorites, both of which I used in class this week for slice of life writing.
In November is a slow-down, smell your way through its pages experience. I read it every year to teach about the precision of words. Rylant does it just right.
My students were inspired to do their own …
And you’ve never thought of a scarecrow this way before … his sweet “button-borrowed eyes” have watched the earth “vine itself around him.” Ugh. I love words. This one is like a book of art.
Happy November reading!
