Let’s get this out of the way first…I’m an adult who reads a lot of picture books. I genuinely enjoy stories that are told through a combination of words and illustrations, and I love the simplicity of the stories. That’s not to say that these stories are simple or boring, only that that are succinct and accessible to readers of all ages. What a treat! So, since we’re already into November, I combed through my reading list and pulled up 10 cute picture books that I’ve read this year that I thought would be fun to share with the rest of you. I hope you enjoy!
The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear (Don & Audrey Wood)
This book was hilarious! In this story, a little mouse finds a red ripe strawberry (it’s even bigger than he is!) and he can’t wait to dig in. But, the narrator warns the mouse that there is a bear in the area. A bear that loves strawberries very much. In fact, this big hungry bear can smell a single strawberry at a distance, and nothing the mouse does (such as burying the treat) will prevent the bear from finding it. So, narrator and mouse must come up with a plan to ensure that the mouse doesn’t lose out on getting to enjoy his strawberry. As a fan of strawberries myself, this looked like such a delicious snack, and I was rooting for the adorable mouse the entire time. His silly facial expressions made the book so much funnier!
The Grumpy Ghost Upstairs (Mamiko Shiotani)
There’s a ghost in the attic, and all he wants to do is be left alone to have fun in his own ghostly way, such as making himself very very big (or very very small) or swooping around the room. Sure, it can get lonely up there, but he likes his solitude and does not want anything to change. But, when a little girl pops her head in to visit, the ghost decides that he has to scare her away. But, perhaps that’s not the right thing to do? And perhaps the ghost will learn a valuable lesson in friendship instead? This is a really cute little book about making friends. And the ghost really isn’t grumpy so much as he is shy. Timid little listeners will find a lot to relate to.
The Teeny Tiny Ghost (Kay Winters)
There’s a little ghost who is so small and so cute. But, he’s really bad at being a ghost. He’s not scary. He goes to haunting school to become a better, scarier ghost, but it’s hard to scare others when you’re frightened of your own screams. One October night, the teeny tiny ghost is at his teeny tiny home when he learns a RAP TAP TAP on his door. And even though he’s scared, he knows that it’s up to him to keep his teeny tiny cats safe. Will the teeny tiny ghost be able to face his fears? You’ll have to read this adorable picture book to find out! I’m a huge fan of Halloween picture books, so this was a delight to read, and easily one of the cutest titles I’ve picked up in 2025!
Don’t Eat Eustace (Lian Cho)
Bear lives all alone in a lighthouse, turning on the lighthouse at night, turning it off in the morning, and fishing for their lunch. Today’s lunch is Eustace, a delicious looking fish. But, Eustace doesn’t want to be eaten. Besides, he has a girlfriend who will certainly be worried about him! But, Bear doesn’t seem too deterred. Will Eustace be able to wriggle his way out of this, or will he end the day in Bear’s cooking pot? Through a series of distractions, Eustace manages to keep Bear at bay…but for how long? This is a sweet and hilarious little book that had me cracking up. Young readers will enjoy the beautiful and silly illustrations and adults will love the twist at the end!
Substitute Creacher (Chris Gall)
A troublesome class of students loves to make things difficult for their teachers. But, a special substitute has just been called in to help get them back into line. Mr. Creacher is no ordinary teacher. And as he calmly addresses each students problematic behavior, he shares a series of cautionary tales about other children who have had horrible things happen because they misbehaved. But, the spookiest story of them all is his own. While the premise sounds pretty chilling, this is a fun spooky book that will give children a shiver, but won’t scare them outright. What is Mr. Creacher’s creepy secret? Curl up with this book on a chilly fall night and find out…if you dare!
Children Make Terrible Pets (Peter Brown)
What child hasn’t wanted to bring an outdoor animal inside and make it into their pet? I used to daydream about inviting all manner of woodland creatures into my house (foxes, skunks, wolves, the neighbor’s cats…) and I can only assume that this is a universal experience, especially for those of us who don’t have pets of our own. In this story, Lucy (a bear) finds a little boy in the woods. She names him Squeaker and takes him home. This is going to be the best day ever! Lucy and Squeaker are going to have so much fun together! But, just like in real life, if you bring a “wild animal” into the house, things are not going to be quite as idyllic as one thinks. Will Lucy be able to keep Squeaker, or is he better off with his own people? This hilarious book is the first of a series!
The Lamb Who Came for Dinner (Steve Smallman)
A hungry old wolf is making vegetable stew…but wouldn’t it be better if it had a little lamb? Just then, there’s a knock at the door, and would you believe it? A little lamb stands there, just ripe for the taking! But, she’s so cold. And the wolf can’t stand to eat frozen food, so he warms her up first. But, then he realizes she’s hungry. He can’t eat a lamb with a rumbly tummy! So, he has to feed her first. And on and on, he keeps finding reasons to delay making himself a delicious lamb stew…until he can’t stand it any longer. This hilarious little book is the first of a series featuring Wolf and Little Lamb, and readers of all ages will find a lot to enjoy here.
George Washington’s Spectacular Spectacles: The Glasses that Saved America (Selene Castrovilla)
Deviating slightly from our collection of adorable animal books, this real-life story about George Washington is both inspiring and tender. Fighting in the American Revolution was extremely difficult and conditions were often less than ideal for the cold, tired, and hungry soldiers. When the army learns that the government won’t be able to pay them for their service (at least, not right away), they are understandably furious and make a march on the capital. George Washington knows that he has to make some sort of speech to calm the troops. But, what can he possibly say? On top of that, Washington has another secret…one which he is extremely embarrassed about. He has to wear glasses! Will he be able to find the right words to inspire the troops while also hiding this embarrassing secret?
The Girl Who Built an Ocean: An Artist, an Argonaut, and the True Story of the World’s First Aquarium (Jess Keating)
Learn all about one of the early pioneers of women in STEM. Jeanne Villepreux-Power began her career as a dressmaker, but her heart belonged to the sciences, and it was not long before she moved to the seaside. There, she filled her pockets with shells and collected jars of specimens, writing copious notes and learning all that she could about the wondrous marine life before her. It could be difficult to study at the beach, but she couldn’t bring anything home without killing it. So, she created the first aquarium! Learn all about this amazing lady with this fascinating book!
Finding Narnia: The Story of C.S. Lewis and His Brother (Caroline McAlister)
Before he wrote The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis was just a little boy named Jack who spent his days dreaming up fantasy stories. Meanwhile, his brother, Warnie, spent his time imagining stories of trains, boats, and technology. On a rainy day, the two of them found an old wardrobe in a little room next to the attic, and wondered: what would happen if the wardrobe had no end? The rest as they say, is history. This is a great introduction to The Chronicles of Narnia and readers of all ages will love learning the real story of a beloved author.
