The Children’s Book Review | July 2, 2016
The best selling picture book from our affiliate store is Serge Bloch’s Reach for the Stars, an inspiring collection of idioms.
You’ll also find our hand selected titles of the most popular picture books from the nationwide best selling picture books listed by The New York Times. The delightful The Wonderful Things You Will Be, by Emily Winfield Martin, is great gift book for preschoolers. The New York Times best selling picture books list also continues to host titles by Oliver Jeffers and Drew Daywalt, B.J. Novak’s The Book with No Pictures; as well as the wildly popular Press HereI.
The Children’s Book Review’s Best Selling Picture Book
Reach for the Stars: and Other Advice for Life’s Journey
Written and Illustrated by Serge Bloch
TCBR Review: Author Serge Bloch has cleverly combined an inspiring collection of idioms into one marvelous anecdote that is both humanizing and uplifting. The outcome:“Reach for the Stars.” Presented on thick, white pages are simple pen and ink illustrations of a boy and his dog; complimenting, enhancing, explaining, and humoring each turn of phrase. Small amounts of photography have been added to the pictures, providing splashes of energetic color.
Bloch’s comedic timing offers readers a chance to laugh at life’s “bumpy” moments and reminds us to “blaze our own trail.” Readers that may frequently find themselves in a pickle will undoubtedly be left smiling—inside and out. This hardcover gift book is a great choice for graduation, the first day of school, a first job—or anyone that needs a little reminder to “march to the beat of a different drummer.”
Ages 4-99 | Publisher: Sterling | 2010 | ISBN-13: 978-1402771293
Nationwide Best Selling Picture Books
The Wonderful Things You Will Be
Written and Illustrated by Emily Winfield Martin
TCBR Review: Every child is unique, and parents can’t wait to see what they will one day be!
Emily Winfield Martin’s delightful book dreams of what children will someday grow to be.
This is a gorgeous book with warm and playful illustrations featuring a diverse set of children. Little ones will be drawn to the pictures, quickly pointing out which one matches what they themselves want to be. The surprise of a double foldout page at the end is a very exciting treat for children too, and my daughter wanted to look at it over and again. The prose is sweet and rhyming, drawing children in and lulling them (hopefully) to sleep before bedtime. A charming book that I highly recommend for young children. Read the full review …
Ages 3-7 | Publisher: Random House Children’s Books | 2015 | ISBN-13: 978-0-385-37671-6
Press Here
By Herve Tullet
Publisher’s synopsis: Press the yellow dot on the cover of this book, follow the instructions within, and embark upon a magical journey! Each page of this surprising book instructs the reader to press the dots, shake the pages, tilt the book, and who knows what will happen next! Children and adults alike will giggle with delight as the dots multiply, change direction, and grow in size! Especially remarkable because the adventure occurs on the flat surface of the simple, printed page, this unique picture book about the power of imagination and interactivity will provide read-aloud fun for all ages!
And coming this September! Watch colors splatter, mix and transform in Mix It Up!, the highly anticipated follow-up to Press Here.
Ages 2 and up | Publisher: Chronicle Books | Mar. 30, 2011 | ISBN-13: 978-0811879545
The Book with No Pictures
By B.J. Novak
Publisher’s synopsis: A #1 New York Times bestseller, this innovative and wildly funny read-aloud by award-winning humorist/actor B.J. Novak will turn any reader into a comedian.
You might think a book with no pictures seems boring and serious. Except . . . here’s how books work. Everything written on the page has to be said by the person reading it aloud. Even if the words say . . .
BLORK. Or BLUURF.
Even if the words are a preposterous song about eating ants for breakfast, or just a list of astonishingly goofy sounds like BLAGGITY BLAGGITY and GLIBBITY GLOBBITY.
Cleverly irreverent and irresistibly silly, The Book with No Pictures is one that kids will beg to hear again and again. (And parents will be happy to oblige.)
Ages 5-8 | Publisher: Dial | 2014 | ISBN-13: 978-0803741713
Dragons Love Tacos
By Adam Rubin; Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
Publisher’s synopsis: This scrumptious New York Times bestseller has a whole lot of kick!
Dragons love tacos. They love chicken tacos, beef tacos, great big tacos, and teeny tiny tacos. So if you want to lure a bunch of dragons to your party, you should definitely serve tacos. Buckets and buckets of tacos. Unfortunately, where there are tacos, there is also salsa. And if a dragon accidentally eats spicy salsa . . . oh, boy. You’re in red-hot trouble.
The award-winning team behind Those Darn Squirrels! has created an unforgettable, laugh-until-salsa-comes-out-of-your-nose tale of new friends and the perfect snack.
Ages 3-5 | Publisher: Dial | June 14, 2012 | ISBN-13:978-0803736801
The Day the Crayons Quit
By Drew Daywalt; Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
Publisher’s synopsis: Crayons have feelings, too, in this funny back-to-school story illustrated by the creator of Stuck and This Moose Belongs to Me — now a #1 New York Times bestseller!
Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: His crayons have had enough! They quit! Beige Crayon is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown Crayon. Black wants to be used for more than just outlining. Blue needs a break from coloring all those bodies of water. And Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking—each believes he is the true color of the sun.What can Duncan possibly do to appease all of the crayons and get them back to doing what they do best?
Kids will be imagining their own humorous conversations with crayons and coloring a blue streak after sharing laughs with Drew Daywalt and New York Times bestseller Oliver Jeffers. This story is perfect as a back-to-school gift, for all budding artists, for fans of humorous books such as Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Sciezka and Lane Smith, and for fans of Oliver Jeffers’ Stuck, The Incredible Book Eating Boy, Lost and Found, and This Moose Belongs to Me.
Ages 3-7 | Publisher: Philomel | June 27, 2013 | ISBN-13: 978-0399255373
The information for the best selling books was gathered from the New York Times Best Sellers list, which reflects the sales of books from books sold nationwide, including independent and chain stores. It is correct at the time of publication and presented in random order. Visit www.nytimes.com for their most current and up-to-date list.
The best selling picture books by Oliver Jeffers, Drew Daywalt and more, sure are a gorgeous feast for the eyes. Follow along with our Picture Book and Board Book categories for more great titles to peruse.
