Berger, Barbara. Grandfather Twilight.

A perfect demonstration of the proper relationship between words and pictures.

Clerk, Jessica, illustrated by Laura Rankin. The Wriggly, Wriggly Baby.

Terrific rhyme and pictures that show much more than the text says.

Gleason, Libby, illustrated by Freya Blackwood. Half a World Away.

A deep understanding of childhood friendship and psychology, with gorgeous illustrations.

Henkes, Kevin. Julius, the Baby of the World.

The words carry the story far more than the illustrations do, but spot-on child psychology and very effective use of repetition. The other mouse books have the same virtues.

Henkes, Kevin. Kitten’s First Full Moon.

A Perfect Picture Book par excellence.

LaRochelle, David, illustrated by Richard Egielski. The End.

A brilliantly constructed, brilliantly simple backward fairy tale given a whole new dimension through the illustrations.

McCully, Emily. Beautiful Warrior:  The Legend of the Nun’s Kung Fu.

You can look at the beautiful illustrations alone to see what’s happening here, but then you’d miss the depth of the story Emily has to tell about two strong females and the practice of Kung Fu.

Meyer, Susan, illustrated by Marla Frazee. Everywhere Babies.

Good rhyme and wonderful, character-ful illustrations.

Raschka, Chris. Charlie Parker Played Be-Bop.

My favorite read-aloud in life for the way the text and the rhythm of the page turns create a be-bop experience. Pure pleasure.

Rathmann, Peggy. Good Night, Gorilla.

Hilarious, sweet, and entirely illustration-driven.

Sendak, Maurice. Where the Wild Things Are.

The best picture book ever, the standard to which all picture-book-makers aspire.

Small, David. Imogen’s Antlers.

A simple concept given no explanation and taken to its logical conclusion becomes pure delight, thanks to David’s gifts for characterization and the understated text.

Steig, William. Pete’s a Pizza; Shrek; Sylvester and the Magic Pebble.

The text carries the story here much more than the illustrations, but such glorious, funny, warm and affectionate text!  

Stewart, Sarah, illustrated by David Small. The Gardener.

A marvelous warm voice and good plot structure, again with David’s amazing illos.

Williams, Mo. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

The vanguard of a still-developing revolution in picture-book style—but no other book has yet done it so concisely and cleverly.

Winter, Jonah, illustrated by Ana Juan. Frida.

A picture-book biography of Frida Kahlo really does have child appeal thanks to Jonah’s zeroing-in on the great truth of her life:  Pain plus bravery can equal incredible art. Breathtaking illustrations.

Yolen, Jane, illustrated by John Schoenherr. Owl Moon.

A quiet text with illustrations that perfectly capture the experience of the protagonist.

Shulevitz, Uri. Writing with Pictures.

The definitive guide to creating a picture book—required reading for illustrators, and enormously useful for writers.