Best Picture Books of 2025

1. Broken by X. Fang 

X. Fang strikes again. Mei Mei tells the story of accidentally breaking Ama’s cup (while trying to scare the cat). Ama doesn’t realize it was Mei Mei and blames the cat, and Mei Mei feels a mixture of extreme fear of getting caught and intense guilt over the cat getting the blame. So much of the genius of this book is timing and framing. Fang uses them to maximum dramatic and comedic effect. There are a few pages of the cat staring down Mei Mei, the cat’s head getting bigger and bigger as Mei Mei’s guilt intensifies. Of course Mei Mei’s worst fears do not come to pass, as grandma does not get mad and repairs the cup. Fang’s illustrations are excellent all around, as usual.

2. Everyday Bean by Stephanie Graegin 

Bean is a small hedgehog who lives with her grandma. Everyday Bean is a collection of eleven sweet, cozy, often humorous stories about everyday things that Bean does. She picks out a plant that is just right (a small cactus that bears a striking resemblance to Bean). In another story she transforms a cardboard box into a house, a spaceship, a pirate ship, and an ice cream truck. In another, she leaves the house in search of a better mood, and her grandma tells her to be back by Tuesday. The illustrations look like colored pencil, but were drawn on an iPad, using Adobe Fresco, and perfectly match the warmth and coziness of the stories.

3. When I Hear Spirituals by Cheryl Willis Hudson, illustrated by London Ladd 

Each spread of this beautiful book about African American/Negro spirituals contains a few lines about the powerful effect of spirituals on the soul, along with lyrics of a spiritual and a rich mixed media illustration. Some spreads feature modern life, while others depict the past. Spirituals seem to speak to every part of life: joy, sorrow and suffering, peace, dancing, courage and strength, and, of course, religious faith. As soon as I read it, I looked up the spirituals to listen to them properly, which I really enjoyed. A beautiful, meaningful book that speaks to the soul.

4. Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur!) by Linda Bailey

“Here is Lena. She looks like a chicken, right? But Lena didn’t believe she was a chicken. Not for one second! Deep down in the bottom of her heart, Lena was sure she was a…DINOSAUR!” Lena is bold and different, but her family are chickens! They’re scared of everything, especially the weasel trying to break into the coop. Enter Lena, whose inner dinosaur makes her a fearsome opponent. Hilarious, entertaining, and based on recent scientific discoveries. K-Fai Steele illustrates and adds so much. The chicks are little hairy balls that crack me up, there’s even a silky chicken, the weasel has a vanity and pink slippers, at the science fair at the end you can see one kid picking his nose, Lena has the shadow of a dinosaur. LOVE it!

5. The Polar Bear and the Ballerina by Eric Velasquez

After young ballerinas have a photoshoot with the polar bear at the zoo, one young ballerina and the polar bear form a bond. The bear escapes the zoo, grabs the ballerina’s dropped red scarf and makes his way to the Met to find her. After some tense moments and a certain amount of growling, the bear gets to watch, enraptured from the audience as the ballerina dances. The bear returns home, dancing as he goes, imagining himself as a ballerina. Velasquez’s illustrations make this book, especially since it’s wordless. He paints blue toned pages with a single red accent: the red scarf, which pulls the reader through the story. The paintings are beautiful—I loved the faces and the ballerina’s elongated fingers and pointed toes.

6. A Fall Day for Bear by by Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton

This is a heartwarming story of two friends who were supposed to have a picnic, but one of them is just too, too sad. Bear’s accidental and gymnastic slip and fall leads to laughter, a cozy afternoon and repaired moods. It has a lovely, old fashioned feel to it. Denton’s expressive illustrations show the characters feeling their emotions throughout their entire bodies. I loved the drama of Mouse’s forlorn sadness and Bear’s eventual succumbing to the sadness: “I’m going home,” Bear announced. “I shall be deeply sad by the fire!” Laughter is the best medicine.

7. Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat

The narrator of this funny book starts by describing categories of animals, first mammals, then reptiles, then birds, then fish. “Fish don’t follow any rules,” the narrator notes. Some have gills. Some have lungs. Some live in salt water. Some live in fresh water.” and on with the conclusion: “DON’T TRUST FISH.” Soon, the narrator reveals a bit of his own paranoia–are the fish plotting our demise? It gets funnier and funnier as we see a lazy-eyed fish with an empty eyed stare who the narrator claims is their leader, named Jeff. It’s silly and funny and ridiculous, but it also contains a lot of real facts and information about fish.  Kids will love it.

8. Zip Zap Wickety Wack: A Story About Sharing by Matthew Diffee

Farm animals make their sounds, until sheep claims “baa” and goat is left wondering what he can say since “baa” is taken. He tries “oink,” quack” and “ribbit,” but all are taken. Goat’s solution? “Zip zap wickety wack bing bang walla balla flip flap yackety yack wing ding dilly!” Surely no one else says that…right? Enter an alien who informs goat that that is what he says.” The alien teaches the animals about sharing, while also hilariously demonstrating his own unwillingness to share. The colored pencil illustrations are warm and cozy, like an old fashioned book, while the story is wacky and funny.

9. Let’s Be Bees by Shawn Harris

The first time I read this, I wasn’t sure if I liked it or if it weirded me out. A father reads Let’s Be Bees to his son/daughter (not entirely clear), starting with the first words: “Let’s be bees. Let’s buzz.” On the next page, we see father bee buzzing with little bee. This pattern continues with animals, plants, natural phenomenon, etc. More and more sounds fill the page with each page turn until, “Let’s be the earth” and they’re making every sound. It’s super fun. Lots of opportunities for silliness and sound-making. It’s a little weird and disconcerting to see things like trees growing out of their shirts instead of heads as they “rustle” and become trees, but in the end I decided to go with it and had a blast.

10. Parks: A Nonfiction Picture Book About Parks Around the World by Marc Majewski

The text of Parks consists of simple descriptive sentences (Parks are big; parks are small; parks sparkle; parks dazzle; parks bark; parks roar; etc). Each descriptor is illustrated with a busy, lively illustration of a real park from somewhere in the world. The note at the end tells the reader all about the various parks–everything from Central Park in NYC to the Nishi-Rokugo Park in Japan that is filled with 3,000 recycled tires. I loved the spare text and full, busy and bright illustrations. There is so much to look at! A celebration of parks, play and exploration.

Honorable Mention

Tuck Me In by Nathan W Pyle 

Pencil by Hye-Eun Kim 

Bally The Amazing Wonderball by Jordan Morris

The Riding Lesson by Jennifer K. Mann

Books of 2025

Books read: 47
Fiction: 26
Nonfiction: 21
Adult: 29
Teen: 6
Children's: 12
Graphic Novels: 2
Classics: 4
Longest: 1312 pages
Shortest: 60 pages 

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen 

The 1995 adaptation of this movie, written by Emma Thompson and directed by Ang Lee is one of my all-time favorite movies, so I was bound to love the book. I love the characters and how they often contrast each other—especially Elinor and Marianne, sense and sensibility, so to speak. Willoughby, beautiful, unmoderated, reckless and selfish, acts as a perfect foil to Edward and Colonel Brandon who are good, honorable and unassuming. I appreciated Austen’s portrayal of relationships and the effects of romantic feelings and entanglements on the two sisters. Truly, very little has changed in 200 years. Austen’s descriptions are spot on and she does it all with wit and grace.

I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This: A Graphic Memoir by Eugene Yelchin 

I was immediately pulled in by this graphic memoir by Eugene Yelchin, set in 1980s Soviet Russia. Yevgeny is an artist, showing a self-portrait at an illegal art show, when his eyes meet with an American girl's through the crowd. He falls hard, and much of the book involves their relationship, but the specter of the Soviet Union always looms. KGB eyes watch, people go missing or die unexpectedly (in "accidents") and a draft for the Afghanistan War (that isn't really a war, it's a "military operation") threatens Yevgeny. He takes a job painting sets in Siberia to avoid the draft. Yelchin's art is arresting. He evokes not only the cold and dark of the snow but the oppressiveness of the country. The backgrounds are grainy like old film reels, and images of Soviet propaganda and leadership  are constantly featured. Yelchin creates cinematic moments with his panels, like when Yevgeny and Lizzy meet, you get the distinct feeling that time has stopped as their eyes meet through the crowd. And I love the faces--so expressive, never especially beautiful, but that's what I loved. The effect is powerful. Yelchin’s story is harrowing and brutal. It blew me away, and I hope Yelchin continues to share more of his story through literature. (The book that came before this, about his childhood (and written for a younger audience), The Genius Under the Table, is also excellent, as is his fictional children’s book, Breaking Stalin’s Nose.) (Teen)

I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest with You by Miranda Hart 

Miranda Hart is virtually unknown in the US, but in the UK, she’s a well-loved comedian with a TV show called Miranda. I loved that show. It made me laugh and, in some ways, feel less alone, because she was awkward and silly. For the last 10 years or so, she’s been living out of the spotlight, largely because of chronic illness. This book is a bit of a memoir, but it’s largely about living with chronic illness and the “treasures” that have helped her to approach it in a mentally healthy way and experience more joy, peace and confidence in her life. I really loved this book. For one, I loved hearing the stories from her life—especially how she met someone and fell in love in the most unlikely circumstances and eventually got married at the age of 51. But I also loved her realistic approach to her treasures. She describes how much she rolled her eyes at certain platitudes, how much she resisted optimistic and zen attitudes, and how she came to believe she could have a good life in her difficult circumstances. I listened to this book and have listened to it again at times when I needed a boost or comfort or encouragement. 

The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Dr. Edith Eger 

Edith Eger was sent to Auschwitz as a teenager. She survived and returned home, married, had a baby and then fled the communist takeover of her homeland. She immigrated to America where she and her family started from scratch, enduring poverty and prejudice before finally settling in El Paso, TX, which, for her, was a land of tolerance and freedom. But no matter where she went or what she did, the trauma of her experiences at the hands of the Nazis came with her. She went on to study psychology, wondering, much like Viktor Frankl, what it was that allowed some survivors of the Holocaust to thrive. Her story is a fascinating one, and her ability to forge ahead in spite of her stolen youth, murdered family, and horrible trauma is impressive, to say the least. She is one of those people with a gift for resilience, but she doesn’t sugar-coat trauma or view the world through unrealistic rose-colored glasses. The book has lots to offer—an interesting life story as well as psychological wisdom that she’s gleaned over the years both from her own experiences and from counseling others in her psychology practice.

Cabin Head and Tree Head by Scott Campbell 

I don’t even know how to explain this book. Who are Cabin Head and Tree Head? Best friends who like to say hello to other heads, like Mossy Rock Head and Telephone Pole Head. They have six stories, plus one chapter that is a collection of stories read to them by Library Head during storytime. In one story, Leaf Head asks for an overly ambitious “leaf cut” (think haircut but for a tree) of “a dolphin jumping over a wave made of stars with an octopus surfing on it eating a taco covered in planets and a tiger wearing a hat.” Needless to say, it doesn't go well. In another story Cabin Head and Tree Head go around offering enthusiastic “hellos” to everyone in sight and startle Volcano Head so much that he starts to erupt and they must find a way to calm him down. The illustrations are well done and give kids plenty to look at–-there are so many heads participating in various activities. The book has Frog and Toad and Noodleheads vibes. It’s a graphic novel, but would probably work as an easy reader and/or an easy chapter book. Delightful, funny, silly, weird. It’s great. (Children's)

The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook by Hampton Sides 

An account of Captain Cook’s fateful and final voyage. I was pretty drawn in from the beginning of this book. Hampton Sides has written an interesting narrative that pulls you in while also providing a balanced, fleshed out account of Captain Cook, somewhere between the extremes of hero and villain. He used sources from native Hawaiians as well as the first-hand accounts of crewmembers and commentary from modern historians. I found everything about the story interesting. There was so much I didn’t know, hadn’t heard. And as is so often the case, truth is often stranger than fiction. (Adult)

Infidel: My Life by Ayaan Hirsi Ali 

Ayaan Hirsi Ali was born in Somalia but spent portions of her childhood in Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and Kenya. As an adult in her 20s she fled an arranged marriage on her way to Canada by claiming refugee status in the Netherlands. Her life and perspective were so interesting to read about—her experiences in different countries, her relationship to her religion, and then her experience living in a Western country for the first time. I especially appreciated hearing her take on Europe--seeing the West from an outsider’s perspective rather than someone who grew up in it. This book was written years ago, when she was a quite vocal atheist. But fascinatingly, she announced her conversion to Christianity in 2023. I very much hope she will publish a book about that part of her life to add to this one. 

Heidi by Johanna Spyri 

I read Heidi because of an upcoming trip to Switzerland. Heidi is raised by her grandfather up in the mountains with goats and goat-herding neighbors. She’s not educated and doesn’t go to church, until her aunt whisks her away to the big city to become a companion to a young teen confined to a wheelchair. Heidi is too young and uncivilized for the position but charms most everyone with her exuberance, spunk, and frankness. I was charmed too. Heidi is funny, heartwarming, and surprisingly religious. It’s about the healing power of nature, friendship, faith, and that Secret Garden trope of you can be healed from your wheelchair-confining illness if you just get some fresh air and try to walk. Also, it gives the distinct impression that Swiss farmers subsisted mostly on milk and cheese. (Children's)

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor 

I loved this book. Marty is presented with a moral and ethical dilemma: he finds a dog that doesn’t belong to him and wants to keep him. To make matters worse, the dog rightfully belongs to Judd, a mean man who is known to abuse his dogs. Marty knows he can care for and love the dog better than his true owner. Marty first tries theft and dishonesty, hiding the dog at home, knowing that his parents won't approve. (spoilers follow) But keeping Shiloh in a hiding spot in the woods puts him in danger. When Shiloh is attacked by another dog, Marty must get him to the vet, revealing his secret to everyone, and sending Shiloh back into the hands of Judd. Next, Marty sees an opportunity to blackmail Judd into getting Shiloh back, but Marty’s naivete leads him into a worthless contract with no leverage. What I really loved was what Marty does once Judd reveals he’s not going to honor the deal: Marty continues to work, fulfilling his promise, and doing his part to earn the money to buy Shiloh. It’s in this honorable act that Marty gets to know Judd a little bit better, and Judd's heart is softened to the point that he gives Shiloh to Marty as originally promised. (Children's)

George Orwell: A Sage for All Seasons by Michael Shelden

A lecture series from the Great Courses--does that count? Because it absolutely was one of my favorite things I listened to this year. Orwell lived a fascinating and adventurous life. Michael Shelden wrote the authorized biography of Orwell, speaking to many people who knew him personally and gaining access to letters. I read a number of essays alongside the lectures, notably "The Prevention of Literature" and "Politics and the English Language," both of which are incredibly relevant today. I admire many things about Orwell--for one, his willingness to get dirty. Instead of just talking about class, he lived amongst the working class and got to know them and their challenges first-hand, he even fought in the Spanish Civil War. But even more than that, I admire his pursuit of truth and his determination to speak truth no matter what (and in the midst of a mess of propaganda and ideology). He saw hypocrisy and called it out, even when it was coming from people supposedly pushing his own ideals.  

Honorable Mention

Raising Hare: A Memoir by Chloe Dalton 

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas 

The Wish Swish by Lynn Painter 

On Democracies and Death Cults: Israel and the Future of Civilization by Douglas Murray

In the Hands of the Lord: The Life of Dallin H. Oaks by Richard E. Turley Jr.

The Wild River and the Great Dam: The Construction of Hoover Dam and the Vanishing Colorado River by Simon Boughton

All the books:

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen • Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor • The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman • Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan • Heidi by Johanna Spyri • I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest with You by Miranda Hart • Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White • Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger • Infidel: My Life by Ayaan Hirsi Ali • Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death by James Runcie • The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke • The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness by Simon Wiesenthal • You’re the Boss by Brian Weisfeld & Bonnie Bader • The Wild River and the Great Dam: The Construction of Hoover Dam and the Vanishing Colorado River by Simon Boughton • Build the Life You Want by Arthur C. Brooks • Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton • The Wish Switch by Lynn Painter* • The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas • The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins • What Happened to Rachel Riley? By Claire Swinarski • Fahrenheit 182 by Mark Hoppus* • George Orwell: A Sage for All Seasons by Michael Shelden •1984 by George Orwell • It’s Only Drowning: A True Story of Learning to Surf and the Search for Common Ground by David Litt* • I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery* • The Art Thief by Michael Finkel • Class Clown: The Memoirs of a Professional Wiseass: How I Went 77 Years Without Growing Up by Dave Barry* • The Midnight Library by Matt Haig • The Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis Sachar* • O Pioneers! By Willa Cather • The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night that Saved America by Kostya Kennedy* • Homecoming by Kate Morton • I Am Not Jessica Chen by Ann Liang* • Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A. S. King • The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Edith Eger • Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim* • The Gift: 14 Lessons to Save Your Life by Edith Eger • The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas • On Democracies and Death Cults: Israel and the Future of Civilization by Douglas Murray •  I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This: A Graphic Memoir by Eugene Yelchin* • In the Hands of the Lord: The Life of Dallin H. Oaks by Richard E. Turley Jr. • The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook by Hampton Sides* • The Village Beyond the Mist by Sachiko Kashiwaba* • Hostage by Eli Sharabi* • Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen • 100 Years of Healing: The Legacy of a Missionary Doctor by Evelyn E. Cook

* indicates published in 2025