My Favorite Picture Books of 2017

In 2017 I read about 600 picture books. Of those, 346 had been published in 2017. After I read each book, I took some notes, and rated them all on a scale from 1 to 9. The following 68 books all received a rating of 9.

These books charmed me. They made me laugh, they make me cry, they made me think. These book made me happy that I write picture books.

First I’ll mention my very favorites (in no particular order):

  • A GREYHOUND A GROUND HOG by Emily Jenkins and Chris appelhaus
  • I AM NOT A CHAIR by Ross Burach
  • THE LEGEND OF ROCK PAPER SCISSORS by Drew Daywalt and Adam Rex
  • THE GOOD FOR NOTHING BUTTON by Charise Mericle Harper
  • AFTER THE FALL by Dan Santat
  • THE WOLF THE DUCK AND THE MOUSE by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen

And now for the full list (again, in no particular order):

Picture Book Author Illustrator
LOVE, TRIANGLE Colleen, Marcie Shea, Bob
A GREYHOUND A GROUND HOG Jenkins, Emily Appelhans, Chris
NOPE! Sheneman, Drew Sheneman, Drew
LITTLE FOX IN THE FOREST Graegin, Stephanie Graegin, Stephanie
LOVE IS Adams, Diane Keane, Claire
I AM JIM HENSON Meltzer, Brad Eliopoulos, Christopher
THE LEGENDARY MISS LENA HORNE Weatherford, Carole Boston Zunon, Elizabeth
WHEN JACKIE SAVED GRAND CENTRAL Wing, Natasha Boiger, Alexandra
CHARLOTTE AND THE ROCK Martin, Stephen W. Cotterill, Samantha
FRESH PICKED POETRY Schaub, Michelle Huntington, Amy
SLOPPY WANTS A HUG Julian, Sean Julian, Sean
I AM NOT A CHAIR Burach, Ross Burach, Ross
MOO MOO IN A TUTU Miller, Tim Miller, Tim
LIFE ON MARS Agee, Jon Agee, Jon
ROSIE & CRAYON Marcero, Deborah Marcero, Deborah
POPPY LOUISE IS NOT AFRAID OF ANYTHING McCarthy, Jenna Idle, Molly
THE LEGEND OF ROCK PAPER SCISSORS Daywalt, Drew Rex, Adam
PLEASE PLEASE THE BEES Kelley, Gerald Kelley, Gerald
BEAR LIKES JAM Gavin, Ciara Gavin, Ciara
I LIKE, I DON’T LIKE Baccelliere, Anna Ale + Ale
MRS. MCBEE LEAVES ROOM 3 McLellan, Gretchen Brandenberg Zong, Grace
PRISCILLA GORILLA Bottner, Barbara Emberley, Michael
THE YOUNGEST MARCHER Levinson, Cynthia Newton, Vanessa Brantley
OLIVIA THE SPY Falconer, Ian Falconer, Ian
MOUSE AND HIPPO Twohy, Mike Twohy, Mike
THE GOOD FOR NOTHING BUTTON Harper, Charise Mericle Harper, Charise Mericle
I’M AWAKE Eaton III, Maxwell Eaton III, Maxwell
CHARLOTTE THE SCIENTIST IS SQUISHED Andros, Camille Farley, Brianne
BULLDOZER HELPS OUT Fleming, Candace Rohmann, Eric
WHAT THIS STORY NEEDS IS A BANG AND A CLANG Virjan, Emma J. Virjan, Emma, J.
A PIG, A FOX, AND STINKY SOX Fenske, Jonathan Fenske, Jonathan
ROLLING THUNDER Messner, Kate Ruth, Greg
LITTLE EXCAVATOR Dewdney, Anna Dewdney, Anna
BLOOM Diesen, Deborah Lundquist, Mary
ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL ANSWERS THE CALL Fraser, Mary Ann Fraser, Mary ann
THERE’S A PEST IN THE GARDEN Thomas, Jan Thomas, Jan
BRAVO! Engle, Margarita Lopez, Rafael
LITTLE RED RIDING SHEEP Lodding, Linda Ravin Atkinson, Cale
MUHAMMAD ALI: A CHAMPION IS BORN Barretta, Gene Morrison, Frank
ALMOST EVERYBODY FARTS Kelley, Marty Kelley, Marty
ALL THE WAY TO HAVANA Engle, Margarita Curato, Mike
NOTHING RHYMES WITH ORANGE Rex, Adam Rex, Adam
THE BOOK OF GOLD Staake, Bob Staake, Bob
CANCER HATES KISSES Sliwerski, Jessica Reid Song, Mika
POCKET FULL OF COLORS Guglielmo, Amy & Tourville, Jacquline Barrager, Brigette
MAYA LIN Harvey, Jeanne Walker Phumiruk, Dow
THE BAD MOOD AND THE STICK Snicket, Lemony Forsythe, Matthew
BRUCE’S BIG MOVE Higgins, Ryan T. Higgins, Ryan T.
BLACK BELT BUNNY Davis, Jacky Fleck, Jay
DRAGONS RULE, PRINCESSES DROOL! Pippin-Mathur, Courtney Pippin-Mathur, Courtney
ELLA WHO? Ashman, Linda Sanchez, Sara
CREEPY PAIR OF UNDERWEAR! Reynolds, Aaron Brown, Peter
MIGUEL AND THE GRAND HARMONY de la Pena, Matt Ramirez, Ana
ALFIE Heder, Thyra Heder, Thyra
BIZZY MIZZ LIZZIE Shannon, David Shannon, David
FRANK THE SEVEN-LEGGED SPIDER Razi, Michaele Razi, Michaele
MINE! Mack, Jeff Mack, Jeff
THE LITTLE RED CAT WHO RAN AWAY AND LEARNED HIS ABC’S McDonnell, Patrick McDonnell, Patrick
AFTER THE FALL Santat, Dan Santat, Dan
MUDDY Mahin, Michael Turk, Evan
THE WOLF THE DUCK & THE MOUSE Barnett, Mac Klassen, Jon
HOW TO BE AN ELEPHANT Roy, Katherine Roy, Katherine
GRAND CANYON Chin, Jason Chinm Jason
MIGHTY MOBY DaCosta, Barbara Young, Ed
GRIMELDA AND THE SPOOKTACULAR PET SHOW Murray, Diana Ross, Heather
BONAPARTE FALLS APART Cuyler, Margery Terry, Will
SNAPPSY THE ALLIGATOR AND HIS BEST FRIEND FOREVER! Falatko, Julie Miller, Tim
SAM & EVA Ohi, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Debbie Ridpath
DOGOSAURUS REX Staniszewski, Anna Hawkes, Kevin

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