From Peter Rabbit to Nibbles the Book Monster: 200 Great Children's Picture Books

The first incarnation of this chronological run-down of noteworthy picture books ran to a 'mere' 101 titles. It comprised many established British classics (from Peter Rabbit to Each Peach Pear Plum to We're Going on a Bear Hunt) alongside some cult favourites (The Giant Jam Sandwich, The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch) and a smattering of iconic titles from across the pond (Green Eggs and Ham, Where the Wild Things Are, The Very Hungry Caterpillar). The list may have been relatively comprehensive in terms of picture books that would interest 21st century British children and their nostalgic parents but the more I delved into reference books and online polls on the subject I realised that there was a whole other world of picture book greatness that I had no prior knowledge of. Therefore this, vastly expanded, list takes in more pre-war pioneers (Clever Bill, The Story of Ferdinand, Captain Slaughterboard). There are out of print British obscurities (Old Winkle and the Seagulls, The Favershams) as well as American standards that remain unknown here (Caps for Sale, Miss Nelson is Missing!, A Sick Day for Amos McGee); stylish European offerings that border on serious art (See and Say, Linnea in Monet's Garden, My Valley) in addition to contemporary greats (My Grandpa, The Day the Crayons Quit, Odd Dog Out). The definition of a picture book has also been stretched to breaking point, now encompassing the comic strips of Herge and Goscinny/Uderzo, the sumptuous reference works of Sasek and the Mizielinskas and the mixed media hybrids of Kunhardt and Watt/Wells. Basically if there is a significant balance and inter-relationship between illustration and text, then it counts. There are, of course, borderline cases and a trio of classic works penned in the 1920s - The Velveteen Rabbit, Winnie the Pooh and the Rupert Bear books - narrowly miss inclusion as the ratio of text to illustration is just too great for them to be considered picture books, as opposed to illustrated novellas or collections of short stories.      

This is most definitely not a list of the greatest picture books of all time. For one thing my capricious wont of only including one title by each author automatically rules out many classics from the most prolific legends in the pantheon of children's picture books. For example this list contains works from Judith Kerr, David McKee, David Melling and Janet and Allan Ahlberg but features neither Mog, nor Elmer, nor Hugless Douglas, nor Funnybones (nor even Peepo for that matter). There is, however, a septet of authors - Quentin Blake, Raymond Briggs, Lynley Dodd, Wolf Erlbruch, Oliver Jeffers, Tony Ross and the legendary Maurice Sendak - who also force their way in as illustrators on other writer's works; not to mention the great Helen Oxenbury who has three illustrating credits on this rundown. This is, rather, a visual history of children's picture books from Beatrix Potter to the present day (no accompanying blurb this time) although, whilst I hope that I have to some extent redressed the Anglo-American bias of the first version of this list, I feel I must apologise to the many great picture books of other nations that I am simply unaware of or have never made it into an English translation. The intention is purely to reawaken memories of classics that the reader may have enjoyed as a child and to serve as a guide to some examples of the genre that may have slipped under the reader's literary radar. There is, after all, so much more to the world of children's picture books than merely Julia Donaldson - great though she unquestionably is!    

The Tale of Peter Rabbit - Beatrix Potter (1902)

The Slant Book - Peter Newell (1910)

Flower Fairies of the Spring - Cicely Mary Barker (1923)

Ice Cream - Samuil Marshak/ Vladimir Lebedev (1925)

Clever Bill - William Nicholson (1926)

Millions of Cats - Wanda Gag (1928)

  

The Squirrel, the Hare and the Little Grey Rabbit - Alison Uttley/ Margaret Tempest (1929)

The Little Engine That Could - Watty Piper/ Lois Lenski (1930)

The Story of Babar - Jean de Brunhoff (1931)

The Story About Ping - Marjorie Flack/ Kurt Wiese (1933)

The Story of Ferdinand - Munro Leaf/ Robert Lawson (1936) 

Orlando the Marmalade Cat: A Camping Holiday - Kathleen Hale (1938)

High Street - JM Richards/ Eric Ravilious (1938)

Madeline - Ludwig Bemelmans (1939)

Captain Slaughterboard Drops Anchor - Mervyn Peake (1939)

Pat the Bunny - Dorothy Kunhardt (1940)

Caps For Sale - Esphyr Slobodkina (1940) 

Make Way For Ducklings - Robert McCloskey (1941)

Curious George - H.A. and Margret Rey (1941)

Village and Town - SR Badmin (1942)

The Little House - Virginia Lee Burton (1942)

The Little Red Engine Gets a Name - Diana Ross/ Jan Le Witt/ George Him (1942)

The Three Railway Engines - The Rev. W. Awdry (1945)

A Tale of Three Little Birds - Bruno Munari (1945)

The Little Train - Graham Greene/ Dorothy Craigie (1946) 

Goodnight Moon - Margaret Wise Brown/ Clement Hurd (1947)

Ant and Bee and the ABC - Angela Banner (1950)

The Book About Moomin, Mymble and Little My - Tove Jansson (1952)

The Happy Lion - Louise Fatio/ Roger Duvoisin (1954)

Miffy - Dick Bruna (1955)

See and Say - Antonio Frasconi (1955)

Harold and the Purple Crayon - Crockett Johnson (1955)

Eloise - Kay Thompson/ Hilary Knight (1955)

Tim All Alone - Edward Ardizzone (1956)

Crocodile Tears - Andre Francois (1956)

The Calculus Affair - Herge (1956)

I Know a Lot of Things - Ann and Paul Rand (1956)

Harry, the Dirty Dog - Gene Zion/ Margaret Bloy Graham (1956) 

The Cow Who Fell in the Canal - Phyllis Krasilovsky/ Peter Spier (1957)

A Tree is Nice - Janice May Udry/ Marc Simont (1957)

What Do You Say, Dear? - Sesyle Joslin/ Maurice Sendak (1958)

Little Blue and Little Yellow - Leo Lionni (1959)

This is Paris - Miroslav Sasek (1959)

Topsy and Tim's Monday Book - Jean and Gareth Adamson (1960)

Old Winkle and the Seagulls - Elizabeth and Gerald Rose (1960)

Green Eggs and Ham - Dr Seuss (1960)

The General - Janet Charters/ Michael Foreman (1961)

Go, Dog. Go! - PD Eastman (1961)

Asterix the Gaul - Rene Goscinny/ Albert Uderzo (1961)

The Snowy Day - Ezra Jack Keats (1962)

The House on East 88th Street - Bernard Waber (1962)

ABC - Brian Wildsmith (1962)

Clifford, the Big Red Dog - Norman Bridwell (1963)

Where the Wild Things Are - Maurice Sendak (1963)

Bread and Jam for Frances - Russell and Lillian Hoban (1964)

May I Bring a Friend? - Beatrice Schenk de Regniers/ Beni Montresor (1964)

The Giving Tree - Shel Silverstein (1964)

Peter and Jane: Play With Us - Harry Wingfield (1964)

Moon Man - Tomi Ungerer (1965)

Snoopy and the Red Baron - Charles M. Schulz (1966)

Fenella in Greece - David Gentleman (1967)

The Gilded Bat - Edward Gorey (1967)

Corduroy - Don Freeman (1968)

Rosie's Walk - Pat Hutchins (1968)

The Tiger Who Came to Tea - Judith Kerr (1968)

Tikki Tikki Tembo - Arlene Mosel/ Blair Lent (1968)

What Do People Do All Day? - Richard Scarry (1968)

The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark - Jill Tomlinson/ Paul Howard (1968/2001)

The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Eric Carle (1969)

Joseph's Yard - Charles Keeping (1969)

The Elephant and the Bad Baby - Elfrida Vipont/ Raymond Briggs (1969)

Mr. Gumpy's Outing - John Burningham (1970)

Frog and Toad Are Friends - Arnold Lobel (1970)

Barbapapa - Annette Tison/ Talus Taylor (1970)

Mr. Tickle - Roger Hargreaves (1971)

Sesame Street: The Monster at the End of This Book - Jon Stone/ Mike Smollin (1971)

Good Night, Alfie Atkins - Gunilla Bergstrom (1972)

Momoko and the Pretty Bird - Chihiro Iwasaki (1972)

The Giant Jam Sandwich - John Vernon Lord/ Janet Burroway (1972)

Meg and Mog - Helen Nicoll/ Jan Pienkowski (1972)

The Church Mouse - Graham Oakley (1972)

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day - Judith Viorst/ Ray Cruz (1972)

My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes - Eve Sutton/ Lynley Dodd (1974)

Strega Nona - Tomie de Paola (1975)

Arthur's Nose - Marc Brown (1976)

Miss Nelson is Missing! - Harry Allard/ James Marshall (1977)

Anno's Journey - Mitsumasa Anno (1977)

The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch - Ronda and David Armitage (1977)

Hippos Go Berserk! - Sandra Boynton (1977)

Fungus the Bogeyman - Raymond Briggs (1977)

Everyone Poops - Taro Gomi (1977)

Dogger - Shirley Hughes (1977)

Each Peach Pear Plum - Janet and Allan Ahlberg (1978)

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs - Judi and Ron Barrett (1978)

Freight Train - Donald Crews (1978)

Masquerade - Kit Williams (1979)

Brambly Hedge: Spring Story - Jill Barklem (1980)

Where's Spot? - Eric Hill (1980)

Not Now, Bernard - David McKee (1980)

Peace At Last - Jill Murphy (1980)

A Dark, Dark Tale - Ruth Brown (1981)

Dear Zoo - Rod Campbell (1982)

Miss Rumphius - Barbara Cooney (1982)

Revolting Rhymes - Roald Dahl/ Quentin Blake (1982)

The Favershams - Roy Gerrard (1982)

Doctor De Soto - William Steig (1982)

Gorilla - Anthony Browne (1983)

Hairy Maclary From Donaldson's Dairy - Lynley Dodd (1983)

Angelina Ballerina - Katharine Holabird/ Helen Craig (1983)

Angry Arthur - Hiawyn Oram/ Satoshi Kitamura (1983)

Katie Morag Delivers the Mail - Mairi Hedderwick (1984)

Linnea in Monet's Garden - Christina Bjork/ Lena Anderson (1985)

The Polar Express - Chris Van Allsburg (1985)

Animalia - Graeme Base (1986)

Princess Smartypants - Babette Cole (1986)

Old Bear - Jane Hissey (1986)

Love You Forever - Robert Munsch/ Sheila McGraw (1986)

I Want My Potty - Tony Ross (1986)

Where's Wally? - Martin Handford (1987)

Winnie the Witch - Valerie Thomas/ Korky Paul (1987)

Owl Moon - Jane Yolen/ John Schoenherr (1987)

One Snowy Night - Nick Butterworth (1989)

The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew it was None of his Business - Werner Holzwarth/ Wolf Erlbruch (1989)

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom - Bill Martin, Jr./ John Archambault/ Lois Ehlert (1989)

Katie's Picture Show - James Mayhew (1989)

We're Going on a Bear Hunt - Michael Rosen/ Helen Oxenbury (1989)

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs - Jon Scieszka/ Lane Smith (1989)

Frog in Love - Max Velthuijs (1989)

Maisy Goes to Bed - Lucy Cousins (1990)

Six Dinner Sid - Inga Moore (1990)

Window - Jeannie Baker (1991)

The Mousehole Cat - Antonia Barber/ Nicola Bayley (1991)

Amazing Grace - Mary Hoffman/ Caroline Binch (1991)

Kipper - Mick Inkpen (1991)

The Whales' Song - Dyan Sheldon/ Gary Blythe (1991)

Farmer Duck - Martin Waddell/ Helen Oxenbury (1991)

Tuesday - David Wiesner (1991)

The Rainbow Fish - Marcus Pfister (1992)

The Queen's Knickers - Nicholas Allan (1993)

Stellaluna - Janell Cannon (1993)

Grandfather's Journey - Allen Say (1993)

Gues How Much I Love You - Sam McBratney/ Anita Jeram (1994)

Good Night, Gorilla - Peggy Rathmann (1994)

Dinosaur Roar! - Paul and Henrietta Stickland (1994)

The Little Red Train: Runaway Train - Benedict Blathwayt (1995)

Handa's Surprise - Eileen Browne (1995)

Oliver's Vegetables - Vivian French/ Alison Bartlett (1995)

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse - Kevin Henkes (1996)

How To Live Forever - Colin Thompson (1996)

Giraffes Can't Dance - Giles Andreae/ Guy Parker-Rees (1998)

Zagazoo - Quentin Blake (1998)

The Selfish Crocodile - Faustin Charles/ Michael Terry (1998)

I Love You, Blue Kangaroo - Emma Chichester Clark (1998)

Pumpkin Soup - Helen Cooper (1998)

Amazing Machines: Terrific Trains - Tony Mitton/ Ant Parker (1998)

My Valley - Claude Ponti (1998)

The Gruffalo - Julia Donaldson/ Axel Scheffler (1999)

Bark, George - Jules Feiffer (1999)

That's Not My Puppy... - Fiona Watt/ Rachel Wells (1999)

Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs - Ian Whybrow/ Adrian Reynolds (1999)

I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato - Lauren Child (2000)

Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type - Doreen Cronin/ Betsy Lewin (2000)

Olivia - Ian Falconer (2000)

Max - Bob Graham (2000)

Shark in the Park! - Nick Sharratt (2000)

Madlenka - Peter Sis (2000)

Fox - Margaret Wild/ Ron Brooks (2000)

Fix It Duck - Jez Alborough (2001)

Skippyjon Jones - Judy Schachner (2001)

The Tale of Jack Frost - David Melling (2002)

Beegu - Alexis Deacon (2003)

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! - Mo Willems (2003)

Tadpole's Promise - Jeanne Willis/ Tony Ross (2003)

Wolves - Emily Gravett (2005)

Lost and Found - Oliver Jeffers (2005)

A Lion in Paris - Beatrice Alemagna (2006)

The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon - Mini Grey (2006)

The Arrival - Shaun Tan (2006)

Duck, Death and the Tulip - Wolf Erlbruch (2007)  

The Island - Armin Greder (2007)

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes - Mem Fox/ Helen Oxenbury (2008)

The Lion and the Mouse - Jerry Pinkney (2009)

The Wolf's Whistle - Bjorn Rune Lie (2010)

A Sick Day for Amos McGee - Philip C. and Erin E. Stead (2010)

I Want My Hat Back - Jon Klassen (2011)

Claude in the City - Alex T. Smith (2011)

Press Here - Herve Tullet (2011)

My Grandpa - Marta Altes (2012)

Maps - Aleksandra and Daniel Mizielinska (2012)

Rosie Revere, Engineer - Andrea Beaty/ David Roberts (2013)

Journey - Aaron Becker (2013)

The Promise - Nicola Davies/ Laura Carlin (2013)

The Day the Crayons Quit - Drew Daywalt/ Oliver Jeffers (2013)

Weasels - Elys Dolan (2013)

The Memory Tree - Britta Teckentrup (2013)

Oi Frog! - Kes Gray/ Jim Field (2014)

The Book With No Pictures - BJ Novak (2014)

The Fox and the Star - Coralie Bickford-Smith (2015)

Odd Dog Out - Rob Biddulph (2016)

Nibbles, the Book Monster - Emma Yarlett (2016)