Wow, what a fabulous decade for picture books! I now present an alphabetical (by title) list of my favorite 52 FICTION (I will have a list of 32 favorite non-fiction picture books next week) from 2010 to 2019. A rule I made myself though: only one book per illustrator on this fiction list (in a quest for a mix of artistic styles). These fantastic, fabulous, all around terrific group of books kept me on my toes and kept surprising me. I see something new every time I look at them. Thank you to the illustrators, authors, designers, editors, publishers and production teams for this absolutely brilliant 52.
Accident!, illustrated and written by Andrea Tsurumi, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ISBN: 978-0544944800.
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, illustrated and written by Dan Santat, published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, ISBN: 978-0316199988.
All the Way to Havana, illustrated by Mike Curato, written by Margarita Engle, published by Henry Holt and Co., ISBN: 978-1-62779-642-2.
Alma and How She Got Her Name, illustrated and written by Juana Martinez-Neal, published by Candlewick Press, ISBN: 978-0763693558.
Spanish edition: Alma y Cómo Obtuvo Su Nombre, illustrated and written by Juana Martinez-Neal, published by Candlewick Press, ISBN: 978-0763693589.
The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse, illustrated and written by Eric Carle, published by World of Eric Carle, ISBN: 978-0399257131.
Big Cat, little cat, illustrated and written by Elisha Cooper, published by Roaring Brook, IBSN: 978-162672-3719.
A Big Mooncake for Little Star, illustrated and written by Grace Lin, published by Little, Brown and Company, ISBN: 978-0316404488.
Blackout, illustrated and written by John Rocco, published by Disney/Hyperion, ISBN: 978-1423121909.
blue, illustrated and written by Laura Vaccaro Seeger, published by Roaring Brook/Neal Porter, ISBN: 978-1626720664.
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, illustrated by Gordon C. James, written by Derrick Barnes, published by Bolden (A Denene Millner Book/An Agate Imprint), ISBN: 978-1572842243.
Daniel’s Good Day, illustrated and written by Micha Archer, published by Nancy Paulsen Books, ISBN: 978-0399546723.
Draw!, illustrated and written by Raúl Colón, published by Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, ISBN: 978-1442494923.
Du Iz Tak?, illustrated and written by Carson Ellis, published by Candlewick, ISBN: 978-0763665302.
Each Kindness, illustrated by E.B. Lewis, written by Jacqueline Woodson, published by Nancy Paulsen Books, ISBN: 978-0399246524.
Egg, illustrated and written by Kevin Henkes, published by Greenwillow Books, ISBN: 9780062408723.
The Field, illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara, written by Baptiste Paul, published by North South, ISBN: 978-0735843127.
Finders Keepers, illustrated and written by Keiko Kasza, published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, ISBN: 978-0399168987.
Firebird, illustrated by Christopher Myers, written by Misty Copeland, published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, ISBN: 978-0399166150.
Flora and the Flamingo, illustrated by Molly Idle, published by Chronicle, ISBN: 978-1452110066.
Grandma’s Gift, illustrated and written by Eric Velasquez, published by Bloomsbury, ISBN: 978-0802735362.
Hank Finds an Egg, created by Rebecca Dudley, published by Peter Pauper Press, ISBN: 978-1441311580.
If I Built a House, illustrated and written by Chris Van Dusen, published by Dial, ISBN: 978-0803737518.
Interrupting Chicken, illustrated and written by David Ezra Stein, published by Candlewick, ISBN: 978-0763641689.
It’s a Tiger!, illustrated by Jeremy Tankard, written by David LaRochelle, published by Chronicle, ISBN: 978-0811869256.
It’s Only Stanley, illustrated and written by Jon Agee, published by Dial Books, ISBN: 978-0803739079.
Leave Me Alone!, illustrated and written by Vera Brosgol, published by Roaring Brook Press, ISBN: 978-1626724419.
Mango, Abuela, and Me, illustrated by Angela Dominguez, written by Meg Medina, published by Candlewick, ISBN: 978-0763669003.
Spanish edition: Mango, Abuela y Yo, ISBN: 978-0763680992 (paperback).
Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, illustrated and written by Peter Brown, published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, ISBN: 978-0316200639.
Mr. Wuffles, illustrated and written by David Wiesner, published by Clarion, ISBN: 978-0618756612.
My Footprints, illustrated by Basia Tran, written by Bao Phi, published by Capstone Editions, ISBN: 978-1684460007.
My Papi Has a Motorcycle, illustrated by Zeke Peña, written by Isabel Quintero, published by Kokila (an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC), ISBN: 978-0525553410.
Spanish edition: Mi Papi Tiene Una Moto, ISBN: 978-0525554943.
Nana in the City, illustrated and written by Lauren Castillo, published by Clarion, ISBN: 978-0544104433.
The Night World, illustrated and written by Mordicai Gerstein, published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, ISBN: 978-0316188227.
Niño Wrestles the World, illustrated and written by Yuyi Morales, published by Roaring Brook, ISBN: 978-1596436046.
Ocean Meets Sky, illustrated and written by The Fan Brothers, published by Simon & Schuster, ISBN: 978-1481470377.
The Patchwork Bike, illustrated by Van Thahn Rudd, written by Maxine Beneba Clarke, published by Candlewick, ISBN: 978-1536200317.
Pokko and the Drum, illustrated and written by Matthew Forsythe, published by Simon & Schuster (A Paula Wiseman Book), ISBN: 978-1481480399.
Princess Super Kitty, illustrated and written by Antoinette Portis, published by HarperCollins, ISBN: 978-0061827259.
The Rabbit Listened, illustrated and written by Cori Doerrfeld, published by Dial Books for Young Readers, ISBN: 978-0735229358.
The Ring Bearer, illustrated and written by Floyd Cooper, published by Philomel (an imprint of Penguin), ISBN: 978-0399167409.
Round Is a Tortilla: A Book About Shapes, illustrated by John Parra, written by Roseanne Thong, published by Chronicle, ISBN: 978-1452106168.
Saturday, illustrated and written by Oge Mora, published by Little, Brown and Company, ISBN: 978-0316431279.
They All Saw a Cat, illustrated and written by Brendan Wenzel, published by Chronicle, ISBN: 978-1452150130.
They Say Blue, illustrated and written by Jillian Tamaki, published by Abrams, ISBN: 978-1419728518.
This Is Not My Hat, illustrated and written by Jon Klassen, published by Candlewick, ISBN: 978-0763655990.
Town Is by the Sea, illustrated by Sydney Smith, written by Joanne Schwartz, published by Groundwood Books, ISBN: 978-1554988716.
¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market!, illustrated and written by Raúl the Third, colors by Elaine Bay, published by VERSIFY, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ISBN: 978-1328557261.
The Very Impatient Caterpillar, illustrated and written by Ross Burach, published by Scholastic, ISBN: 978-1338289411.
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates, illustrated and written by Ryan T. Higgins, published by Disney/Hyperion, ISBN: 978-1368003551.
When Aidan Became a Brother, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita, written by Kyle Lukoff, published by Lee & Low Books, ISBN: 978-1620148372.
When’s My Birthday?, illustrated by Christian Robinson, written by Julie Fogliano, published by Roaring Brook, ISBN: 978-1626722934.
Wolf in the Snow, illustrated and written by Matthew Cordell, Feiwel & Friends, 978-1250076366.
Mr. Brian's Picture Book Picks 