18 Best Picture Books of 2022
Have you ever experienced pure joy? Perhaps gazing upon a landscape that takes your breath away. Or recalling a meal you’ve retained in taste memory years after the last morsel was consumed. Maybe it was a sweet moment with your kids or listening to a song that made you weep. There are a myriad of ways to experience joy throughout life.
Books, for me, provide some of the most glorious everyday moments of joy. Picture books especially hold a tender place in my heart. Maybe you feel the same?
These books, all published in 2022, feel familiar and fresh all at once. They wrap a temporary spell of stories around readers and force a gentle slowing down. Give these to the children in your lives. To their educators. Even to their grandparents. Mostly, though, share them with those who need the ever-present comfort of a good book.
Something About Grandma by Tania de Regil
What you should know.
For the first time, Julia spends the summer alone with Grandma. In a little house in Mexico City, the two spend ordinary days together playing games, sharing hot chocolate, and swapping tricks. When, at last, mom and dad return, they carry Julia’s baby brother and spend a few magical moments in the place filled with love.
Why I love it.
With intricate illustrations (many of them featuring handwritten Spanish notes masquerading as lampshades, skirts, or trees), this book brings the sensory experience of being at a grandmother’s home with a sprawling garden and eating delicious meals. It feels special because of the magical connection born of that unique intergenerational relationship.
Mum, Me, and the Mulberry Tree by Tanya Rose
What you should know.
A young girl and her mother leave the city, ride the bus (buckets in hand) and find their summer field aglow with a mulberry tree. Together they pick and eat the tart wild fruit until their harvest is done. Once home, the two bake and create a treat to top off their day.
Why I love it.
Pie! Honestly, I can’t resist any children’s book that features pie. With gentle rhyming text and the encapsulation of a perfect summer day, this one reminds me of many fruit-picking ventures with my girls.
Apple and Magnolia by Laura Gehl
What you should know.
Two trees, Apple and Magnolia, live beside one another. Every day Britta visits them, until one day, Magnolia gets sick. Britta cares for the trees through the ensuing winter months, ensuring their friendship remains strong.
Why I love it.
Yes, another tree book. But its pink, blue, red, white, and brown illustrations possess a wild energy all their own. With a young girl who offers assistance in the shape of a warm scarf, twinkle lights, and a means of communication, this book showcases a determination that is an inspiring ode to nature and its many wonders.
Every Dog in the Neighborhood by Philip C. Stead
What you should know.
Louis is on a mission to count every dog in the neighborhood. People tell him about their dogs and he jots down names. Meanwhile, Grandma has a mission of her own and gets to work turning a town eyesore into a useful dog park.
Why I love it.
Particular author and illustrator duos hit it out of the park with every collaboration. This is one of those. While I’m decidedly not a dog person, I can appreciate the chutzpah Louis and Grandma demonstrate in getting exactly what they want in this book.
Be My Neighbor? by Suzy Ultman
What you should know.
The lion family moves into their new pink house. But it doesn’t feel like home until a batch of cookies has been baked. They venture through the neighborhood, intent on gathering ingredients while meeting their new neighbors.
Why I love it.
With 60+ lift-the-flaps, this interactive and design-centric book is perfect for busy little hands. The hiding location for butter is my favorite, while my four-year-old heartily endorses the entire book!
Big and Small and In-Between by Carter Higgins
What you should know.
An early concept book of sorts, but not really. From BIG things like trophies and feeling left-out to in-between things like nickels found in a sofa and socks that keep toes toasty. Small things like a plip of rain in a puddle or the fizz of a sparkler after it has faded. All of these bits are part of you and me and us.
Why I love it.
Paper engineering! Words like fuzziness and waggles and droopy. And the effervescent magic of illustrations that sing with light and shadow.
Things to Look Forward To by Sophie Blackall
What you should know.
Caldecott winner Sophie Blackall writes descriptive paragraphs about tidying up. Mending a hole. Taking a hot shower. Baking muffins. Looking at maps. With 52 separate entries, this book can be read in an hour or throughout the year.
Why I love it.
Even though this is technically a children’s book, it’s one of those delightful books that can be a coffee table book or a gift to a friend who is going through a difficult time. While it captures Pandemic specific references, it is an ode to seeking out the small joys of life.
The World Belonged to Us by Jacqueline Woodson
What you should know.
“In Brooklyn in the summer not so long ago…” kids were released from school and bid, “Have a good summer!” Fire hydrants were uncapped, and chalk sidewalk games ensued. Stories were swapped, and jumping rope filled sweltery days. Summer was freedom, and anything felt possible.
Why I love it.
For those of us who grew up in the late 70s and 80s, this book is reminiscent of those halcyon days; laxer parenting and roaming urban or suburban neighborhoods. With prominent Black joy as the focus of this book, readers cannot help but feel childhood joy emanating from the pages.
Creepy Crayon! by Aaron Reynolds
What you should know.
Jasper Rabbit is back, and with him comes a perfect, pointy, purple crayon. A crayon that helps him ace his spelling test and takes over his art project – a waxed wonder that can do no wrong. But Jasper quickly feels freaked out by something again taking over his life.
Why I love it.
As someone who wasn’t initially keen on Creepy Carrots, I’m so glad this series eventually won me. This might even be my favorite of the three, simply because Jasper not only rids himself of the creepy crayon, he consciously makes better choices to improve his study habits. A win-win in my book.
Rosa’s Song by Helena Ku Rhee
What you should know.
Jae is new to the city. He meets Rosa and her parrot from downstairs. Jae recounts memories of his old home to Rosa while she listens intently and then sings a beautiful melody. Summer passes swiftly, and one morning Rosa is gone, her parrot remaining.
Why I love it.
A heartfelt nod to the immigration experience and the unexpected ways friendships blossom, evolve, and change through childhood.
Sanctuary: Kip Tiernan and Rosie’s Place, The Nation’s First Shelter for Women by Christine McDonnell
What you should know.
Growing up in her grandmother’s home during the Great Depression, Kip saw the generosity of a matriarch who would feed anyone who came to her door. As an adult, in 1974, she opened Rosie’s Place in Boston, a spot for women to gather for a hot meal, clean clothes, a bed, and a listening ear.
Why I love it.
This book is a conversation starter to talk about homelessness with your child(ren). With interesting backmatter and compelling illustrations, this nonfiction book is one I can’t help recommending as a true standout of the year.
The Tunnel by Sarah Howden
What you should know.
“Something bad happened. I don’t like to think about it.” A young boy consumed with mixed emotions digs a tunnel through his bedroom floor. Once outside his home, looking in, he wonders whether he should return or disappear forever. Something inside him shifts, and back through the tunnel, he climbs. His mother is there upon his return, wrapping him in a warm, loving embrace.
Why I love it.
With incredible sensitivity to grief and childhood sadness, this book explores the need for space and mental processing through difficult seasons.
The New Rooster by Rilla Alexander
What you should know.
Rooster is new on the job, and he’s good at it. But at the new hotel where he has been charged with the task of wake-up calls, he fails to rouse the snoozing guests. Undeterred, he tries again. And again. It isn’t until Rooster takes a different tactic that he gets results.
Why I love it.
If you’ve ever heard David Sedaris talk about how animals sound in different languages, you’ll appreciate this take on various cultures melding together in one hotel. Plus the bold primary color graphics are just top-notch!
A Sweet New Year for Ren by Michelle Sterling
What you should know.
Ren awakes to the smell of Lunar New Year preparations. Fresh ingredients like fish and noodles are procured from the local market and the family gets to work preparing for the feast. Is Ren finally big enough to help?
Why I love it.
With a special author’s note that sets the stage, this book is a sensory delight of color and nearly smelling copious amounts of food. Blend that with familiar family traditions and a recipe for pineapple cakes, and you can easily see what makes this book a standout of the year.
Holding On by Sophia N. Lee
What you should know.
Summers are filled with music and singing. A granddaughter learns to hold on to memories through time spent with her Lola. When Lola doesn’t remember, the young girl sings Tagalog love songs and shares stories and songs right back.
Why I love it.
The theme of holding on to loved ones through song, mementos, meals, and shared experiences is a universal experience that is depicted so lovingly in this story. I also appreciate how it touches briefly on memory loss in grandparents.
Berry Song by Michaela Goade
What you should know.
Grandma teaches her young granddaughter how to forage and find food in the Alaska wilderness. Smells of cedar and moss tickle the senses while baskets fill with huckleberries, strawberries, crowberries, and berries you’ve never imagined.
Why I love it.
Ethereal illustrations make this dreamy read one worth returning to often, as does the reminder to care for the land so the land can care for you. Plus, the author’s note gives a brief history of the Tlingit people of Alaska.
The Lantern House by Erin Napier
What you should know.
A new house greets its first family and watches as the family grows. Over time the occupants age and slowly depart until the house sits empty again. Another family comes, and the house cares for them, keeping them warm and safe as only a home can do.
Why I love it.
Stories and homes, families, and children are intertwined in this book depicting home as a safe place and one that weathers the passage of time.
Mina by Matthew Forsythe
What you should know.
Mina the mouse is a sensible, book-loving child. Her father is a bit more reckless. When the two wind up in a precarious situation, an unexpected hero saves the day.
Why I love it.
Matthew Forsythe is a lesser-known author/illustrator who deserves to be more widely read. His unique color palette and characters are filled with a whimsy irresistible to children and adults alike. Besides, who can resist a bookish little mouse?
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