The Picture Books We Couldn’t Part With

Our children are not really children anymore. It’s been a long time since we read picture book stories to them. But if you look at our bookcases at home, you’ll see that our family still has picture books. We didn’t save most of them—bookcase space is too precious for that—but there are also some picture books that are too precious to part with. Books that were read too many times, that became too much a part of us and our family history together to think of letting go. We had a conversation over dinner recently about the picture books we all remember and love the most, and I thought some of you might like to hear what we came up with. This list represents many hours of read-aloud story times in the Lewis home, times that continue to live on as treasured memories for all of us. So if you have little ones at home, or nephews or nieces or grandchildren or friends with smallies, you might enjoy these, as well. Here’s our list:

Frog and Toad
The Frog and Toad stories are simple and short, and the two friends mostly do ordinary kinds of things together. The beauty of these books is in the friendship between the two—this series is one of the most positive depictions of genuine friendship I’ve seen anywhere, and it’s all done with lovely illustrations and plenty of funny moments.

Anatole
Most people are afraid of mice and see them as pests. Anatole, a noble mouse of honour in France, would beg to differ. He is determined to earn his own living as a respectable business-mouse, and eventually finds a way to do just that. Truly, he is a mouse magnifique!

Katie Morag
Katie lives on the Scottish Isle of Struay, a setting that provides a rich and colourful context for her adventures. The illustrations of Katie’s island life are excellent, and the stories are wholesome and fun.

Alfie and Annie Rose
Alfie is a little boy doing little boy things in little boy ways, and Annie Rose is his little sister. Their stories are heartwarming, and the characters in them ring true to life. On top of all that one of the best things about these books is the illustrations. Gorgeous!

Thoughts To Make Your Heart Sing
This is the only book on the list that isn’t actually a series of books. It’s just one book, but each page is a new (and beautifully illustrated) devotional thought for children. I say they are for children, but actually I was encouraged in my own faith over and over again by reading this book to our children.

Bonus:

Winnie The Pooh
I’m not talking about the Disney-era Pooh, I’m talking about the original stories by A.A. Milne. I can’t include it properly on a list of picture books because there really aren’t enough illustrations to qualify for that, but the illustrations are still fantastic and the original Pooh stories are some of the best read-aloud stories that have ever been written (in my opinion). Honestly, I think Milne was one of the great under-rated masters of the English language—his writing style is clever and fun, and his cast of characters have become enduring classics for a reason. The stories may be written for children, but they are just as enjoyable for the grown-ups reading them, and that’s a great accomplishment.

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These are not the only picture books we’ve kept, but they are some of our favourites. Maybe you and the children in your life might enjoy them, too. What picture books would you add to the list?