You know those picture books that make you go, "Wow, how did they illustrate that?" Whether they're done with cut paper, pen, Photoshop, or paint - some picture books always stand out in my mind for their illustrations as much as they do for their stories. So without further ado, here are some of my favorite pretty picture books of 2023.
By Carin Berger
New York: Holiday House, 2023. Picture Book.
These gorgeous collage-style illustrations create a beautiful bedtime story about how the world changes after dark. You'll meet a slew of lovely creatures in the night such as fireflies, foxes, and of course a cat. The advanced vocabulary in this book means that you might have to explain some words if reading it to young children (assuming that they don't know what words like "intoxicating" mean.) However, the text is sparse enough and the illustrations are so eye catching that even young children will remain enthralled through the story.
Written by Julie Leung
Illustrated by Hanna Cha
New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2023. Picture Book.
Also in the realm of bedtime stories is this beautiful picture book with watercolor illustrations. The pages feature detailed borders that look like old school fairy tale books. The Truth About Dragons tells of the mythology of dragons from both Western and Eastern cultures where dragons appear either to us as fearsome creatures that breathe fire or as beautiful creatures who rule the skies. This book tells an important story of biracial identity.
Illustrated by Emilia Dziubak
Edinburgh: Floris Books, 2023. Picture Book.
This book, originally published in Polish, tells the story of two friends, Little Owl and Little Rabbit. Although one is awake during the day and the other is nocturnal, they become fast friends. With a combination of full-page spreads and vignettes in dark, rich colors, this book fully transports you to Little Owl and Little Rabbit's forest home. Your little ones will want to live there too.
Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2023. Picture Book.
You may recognize Aaron Becker's name from his Caldecott Honor book Journey. If you do, you probably know that he writes wordless picture books. The Tree and the River highlights the tale of the passage of time and the impact that human technology has on the environment around it. The pencil and gouache illustrations are visually stunning and effectively tell a story of a lost civilization even without words.
Once Upon a Book
Written by Grace Lin and Kate Messner
Illustrated by Grace Lin
New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2023. Picture Book.
Another book illustrated by a Caldecott Honoree, this tale tells the story of Alice who, after she gets bored on a cold winter day, begins to travel through the pages of her story book. As Alice is transported from place to place, so is the reader from the desert, to the ocean, to the sky. Alice's dress in each setting blends into the back of the gouache illustrations making her appear truly part of the books that she's reading.
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