Picture Book Month is an international literacy initiative that celebrates the print picture book during the month of November.
According to author Victoria Kann, “A picture book is one of the most exciting things because you can read a story and look at incredible pictures at the same time, so it takes you out of the place that you are in, and it brings you to a completely different other world.”
As a children’s librarian and a parent, picture books have been a wonderful gift to my storytime programs, my interactions with parents and children, and with my own children. As my sons were growing up, we read various picture books multiple times daily throughout every room of the house and even while we were out and about.
After I read a book a few times with them they were often able to tell me the story by looking at the pictures. Sometimes we read wordless picture books. The illustrations conveyed what was happening in the book, allowing us to tell the stories in our own way.
Reading picture books with children can be a magical experience transporting them to places they have not yet been and opening up their imaginations to the possibilities of the diverse world around them.
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has an abundance of picture books within our buildings and online on OverDrive and Hoopla for you to share with your children. We have also developed recommended booklists for all ages and grades to help you pick some great titles.
Below are some of my favorite picture books. Celebrate Picture Book Month by reading some to your favorite person today!
You can sign up for a free library card here. If you are new to our eResources, check out these tutorial videos on how to get started.
Looking for a good book, album, movie or TV show? We’re happy to recommend them to you! Use this Personalized Recommendations form to send us some information about what you like and we’ll curate a list just for you.
If you have any additional questions, you can contact a librarian through Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. You can also call us at 412-622-3114 or email us at info@carnegielibrary.org.
After falling off the wall, Humpty Dumpty is very afraid of climbing up again but is determined not to let fear stop him from being close to the birds. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby.
An assortment of animals living separate lives discover they need each other when they have a chance encounter on a river. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby or as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby.
Every year, Haitians all over the world ring in the new year by eating a special soup, a tradition dating back to the Haitian Revolution. This year, Ti Gran is teaching Belle how to make the soup — Freedom Soup — just like she was taught when she was a little girl. You can also check out this title as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby, as eAudio on Hoopla, as video on Hoopla and as video on Hoopla with read along.
Deep, deep down in their underground town, the prairie dogs live in harmony–until a mysterious, fluorescent, very fuzzy thing (otherwise known as a tennis ball) rolls down their hole. When the prairie dogs discover that they can pluck and pull the fuzz into fabulous fashions, their fear quickly turns to curiosity, then delight, then pure greed. You can also check out this title as eBook on Hoopla.
Bear can’t wait to spend a pleasant day by himself. But his persistent next-door neighbor, Duck, wants to take a morning stroll . . . with Bear. You can also check out this title as eBook on Hoopla or as eAudio on Hoopla.
A young boy rides the bus across town with his grandmother and learns to appreciate the beauty in everyday things. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby, as eAudio on Hoopla, as video on Hoopla or as video with read along on Hoopla.
Mira lives in a gray and hopeless urban community until a muralist arrives and, along with his paints and brushes, brings color, joy, and togetherness to Mira and her neighbors.
This title is also available for checkout in print in Spanish and as an eBook on Libby and/or an eBook, eAudio and movie in both English and Spanish on Hoopla.
Growing up in the segregated town of Clarksville, Tennessee in the 1960s, Alta’s family cannot afford to buy her new sneakers–but she still plans to attend the parade celebrating her hero Wilma Rudolph’s three Olympic gold medals. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby, as eBook on Hoopla or as eAudio on Hoopla.
When Stick rescues Stone from a prickly situation with a Pinecone, the pair becomes fast friends. But when Stick gets stuck, can Stone return the favor? You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby, as eBook on Hoopla, as eAudio on Hoopla or as video on Hoopla.
