20 of the Best Picture Books You’ve Never Heard Of

At school, Holden, a Navajo boy, is held to certain expectations. There are daily agendas, notions on how he ought to behave, and even limitations on how and when he should think. But with an active imagination, adhering to his school’s rules is a challenge. Everything in Holden’s life has potential — but now he must ask whether he has the potential to fall in line. And if he can, should he? Readers of all ages can enjoy this story, full of high-contrast and simple illustrations, leaving enough to the imagination that readers can enjoy the exciting journey of mental creation along with Holden.

It seems to Veronica’s peers that she is too highfalutin for the likes of them. After all, she has an awful lot of adventures and they sound pretty pricey and cultured! When Veronica feels her classmates shun her, she invites them over to do some world traveling and soon helps them to see that her experiences come from the magic of books. Engaging, rhythmic, and endlessly fun, The 5,000 Friends of Veronica Veetch is coupled with bright and friendly illustrations. Read this book if you want to be inspired to read even more!

In a jubilant observance of biracial identities, author Toyomi Igus celebrates her Japanese mother and African American grandmother in this picture book memoir. Igus notes the qualities of each important woman and considers the roles they play in her life. Simplistic in its prose, Two Mrs. Gibsons introduces lots of texture through patterned illustrations and the deeper concepts of its autobiographical story. As both a personal family narrative and one that honors the experience of embodying two different cultures, Two Mrs. Gibsons is a special book that readers can enjoy on several levels.

Benji and Bel have come upon a dugong on a beach, but the Dugong insists she’s a mermaid. With all the right qualities like a tail and the ability to sing, the Dugong is sure she can convince Benji and Bel that she is a mermaid as they traverse the beaches of the Philippines. With self-assurance, confidence, and conviction, the Dugong believes Benji and Bel will come around. Ideal for a lesson on respect, Is It a Mermaid? blends mythology into a humorous story with textured illustrations.

With curiosity nudging her out of the bounds of her farm, Kitten explores the broader world in the season of fall. There, she discovers caterpillars, chipmunks, and more friends-to-be-made. Young readers will enjoy seeking the charm of Kitten’s world, finding elements particular to autumn. Built from rhyming couplets, the story offers fun rhythmic enjoyment alongside incredible mixed media illustration that leaves room for hours of examination for kids and adults inspired by Kitten’s curiosity.

With a new outlook, Melena starts her day off with a commitment to behaving differently. Melena will avoid bickering with her brother, be charitable, share, and more. With a focus on how to live life in the spirit of jubilee, including what kids can do, Melena’s Jubilee celebrates the notion of jubilee and further informs readers with an author’s note on the concept. Mixed media illustrations combine simple and more detailed images, creating a visually interesting book along with the importance of the premise.

Not everyone is a morning person, and that is especially true for Grumples. Grumples hate mornings. Told in verse, Good Morning, Grumple is the story of one such child as Grumple’s mother tries some gentle coaxing to get Grumple up and going for the day. Grumple and his mother’s special bond comes through in this difficult morning, illustrated with a layered collage style and an adorable creature of new invention. With Good Morning, Grumple to look forward to, getting up in the morning won’t be so hard.

Tonight is very special — Saturn and Mars will be visible together in the night sky. And what’s more, Phoebe gets to help her dad with the telescopes on the sidewalk. The only threat to their perfect night: city lights. And then the rain comes. It seems that Phoebe won’t get to see Saturn and Mars after all, until the storm brings a power outage before sweeping out of the city. With darkness all around, maybe Phoebe’s dream isn’t lost after all. With magical and charming illustrations, this story also comes with an educational afterword with information about outer space to inspire young readers.

Camille loves her grandmother. They have such special times together between sleepovers, baking, and other fun activities. But something has changed. Suddenly, Grandma doesn’t remember Camille’s name. Then, she loses her shoes. While Camille isn’t ready to give up, after she learns her grandmother is sick with a disease called Alzheimer’s, she sets herself on a mission to continue carrying on their shared activities in a way that works for them both. A beautiful book on a sensitive and difficult topic, Still My Grandma features similarly gentle art and an unforgettable sense of kindness and warmth.

The two bears of Something to Do might have nothing to do, but they fortunately have their imaginations. On a journey of inventiveness and ingenuity, these bears are at a loss of how to spend their time until they encounter a stick and begin to draw out creative fantasies to share. With a simple narrative and minimal text, Something to Do pairs its story with a simple art style to help bring out the reader’s imagination alongside their two new bear friends. This one will leave you with a cozy feeling and plenty of ideas of what to do the next time there’s nothing to do.

Being shy and timid can be difficult, but it can be easier with a friend. When one little girl feels overwhelmed by the world, her trusty cat is there to encourage exploration and pushing boundaries. Kwon employs limited prose to great effect and quietly celebrates gentle growth in My Cat Copies Me’s young main character. Coupled with charming and colorful illustrations full of movement, this picture book leaves readers with confidence mixed with comfort.

Fat cats, skinny cats, fluffy cats, bald cats, serious cats, silly cats, and all cats in between, the narrator of I Love Cats! loves them all. While readers explore different kinds of cats throughout the spirited prose, they are also treated to similarly varied illustrations of the many cats discussed. Bold and packed to the edge of each page, the art of I Love Cats! is extraordinarily bold and colorful, giving readers plenty to look at as they take in each unique cat.

Miz Mozetta may not look like she’s up for a party, but the kids of her neighborhood won’t know what hit them. Intending to go out and enjoy the moon, Miz Mozetta is struck by the kids’ music and, even when her friends won’t join her, Miz Mozetta is ready to hit the dance floor, inspiring a trip down Memory Lane. Detailed and deep illustrations bring excitement and movement to each page in this book that will leave you with a song in your heart.

Arohan may want a guitar more than anything for his birthday, but he is left with a bamboo flute from his grandmother. Known as a xiao, this flute, however, is more than just a flute. Now, Arohan has the opportunity to discover the myths and magic behind the instrument, especially after his brothers go missing and it seems Arohan is the only one who can find them and bring them home. With a slightly haunting illustrative style, Arohan’s mythical story comes to life in Phoenix Song.