Picture Books that Cause Delight

I hope you liked my Joyful Picture Books Part 1! Welcome to Part 2! 

Let’s talk about the word “joy” itself for a moment? What does it conjure for you? Perhaps you are remembering the birth of a child? A wedding day? The conclusion of a huge accomplishment like your graduation day? Getting a dream job?

Here are two brief definitions that I think are particularly apt. In the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, joy is described as being “a source or cause of delight” while at Dictionary.com, it says that joy is “the expression or display of glad feeling.” When applied to picture books, I think both these definitions are spot on. Picture books can most definitely be a source and cause of delight as well as evoke the expression of glad feelings. 

Evidence that picture books bring joy is very easy to find. When was the last time you saw a child interact joyfully with a picture book? Perhaps it was when you read your child their favourite bedtime story for the zillionth time. Maybe it was when you broke out a crowd-pleaser at storytime and had a roomful of toddlers squealing with delight at each page turn. From personal experience, I also believe that picture books bring joy to the solitary adult reader. Given that the state of the world can sometimes feel overwhelming, I am hereby offering the unsolicited but general advice to all adults to spend time reading picture books when it all gets a bit too much. Here are some recent picture books that might be balm for your soul too. Additionally, they are all wonderful to recommend to families for reading aloud at home, and I think they would also go over well in your programs. 

L is for Love written by Atinuke, illustrated by Angela Brooksbank. Image courtesy of Penguin Random House.

Annotation: A Nigerian family sets out for Lagos to bring their harvest of lemons to market. Each gorgeously illustrated page begins with “L is for…” and lets words that begin with “L” lead the way. Lions, lightning, leopard, lagoon are just a few of the things encountered on their way to Lagos! Once they arrive, words like “large”, “lace”, “lovely” and of course “lunch” appear. After work (and play), they take the “long way home” arriving “late” and greeting their waiting family members with “love” of course!  

Why this book brings me joy: Not going to lie, Atinuke’s work always brings me joy! Her writing is so engaging and vibrant, and I love how she centres her Nigerian culture in her work. Her books are a perfect example of what Rudine Sims Bishop (1990) referred to as a “mirror” (for Nigerian heritage children) and a “window” for folks like me, who are given an opportunity to learn and appreciate Nigerian culture. In this book, I love the pared down alphabet book style prose that still manages to tell a riveting tale of adventure and fun. The colorful painted illustrations bring this part of Nigeria to life and moreover make it easy to fall in love with this awesome family who work and play together all day with so much “LOVE!” 

Towed by Toad written and illustrated by Jashar Awan. Image courtesy of Penguin Random House Canada.

Annotation: Tow-truck driver Toad skips breakfast and spends his day helping drivers out of various calamities: engine breakdowns, flat tires, crashes into logs, missed stop signs, and more engine failures are all handled with a cheery “Happy to help!” from Toad. But when Toad’s tow-truck plops to a stop what will he do? A lesson in perseverance as well as knowing when to ask for help, Toad’s tale will delight the storytime crowd and everyone else. It’s a real charmer with wonderful wordplay too. 

Why this book brings me joy: I have a special love for books that have a nostalgic feel but are also true originals, and this one hits both those marks. Toad’s story reminds me of some of my old favourites (Trashy Town springs to mind!) so it is nice to think about younger librarians adding this to their own storytime shelves. Its boisterous humour just makes for a book that is super easy to recommend for anyone needing a belly laugh. But, my mushier side also just loves this sweet story for the depiction of a connected community, Toad’s admirable work ethic, and the inclusion of a touching intergenerational theme.

I Hear You Mountains, written by Kallie George, illustrated by Carmen Mok. Image courtesy of Greystone Books.

Annotation: This simply told, and warmly illustrated story encourages young children to listen to the sounds of nature. As a group walks in a mountainous region, each double page spread introduces a new sound, and a child’s brief conversation with its speaker, whether animal or otherwise! There are so many sounds to respond to as the young hikers (and their grown-up guide) encounter a chipmunk, a waterfall, a pinecone, and even a snowflake! Finally, they reach their destination and shout “yahoo” purely for the joy of hearing it echo back at them. 

Why this book brings me joy: Sure, exciting books with riveting plots and lots of wild adventure are fun and satisfying but sometimes you need a breather, right? Here, the author and illustrator do just that. I feel like this book makes it easy to remember that, yes, we all need to slow down, breathe, listen, and appreciate what is in front of us. I love how the child’s sensibilities are centred with the repetitive language and phrasing, as well as the universal joy of exploring and appreciating the utter beauty of the mountains. I live in a city that is close to a stunning mountain range and this reminded me of the quiet joy I feel to be here. 

Stitches of Tradition (Gashkigwaaso Tradition) written by Marcie Rendon, illustrated by Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley. Image courstesy of HarperCollins Canada.

Annotation: A little Ojibwe girl named Tatiana narrates how her Nookomis (Grandmother) makes her a ribbon skirt for the first time. As she grows up, Nookomis follows the same steps of measuring and cutting as she makes new ribbon skirts for her to wear to various important occasions in their lives, culminating in Tatiana’s coming of age ceremony. The repeated phrasing, including Nookomis saying “My granddaughter, live a good life” on each occasion, emphasizes the deep significance of their family’s traditions and how they “stitch together generations with love.” 

Why this book brings me joy: The warm, proud tone of this story makes me think that Ojibwe kids will take great pride in their traditions when reading this book. Also, the cultural specificity surrounding ribbon skirts offers non-Ojibwe readers a clear window into Ojibwe traditions while presenting a universal story of intergenerational love. I also appreciated that while Nookomis is clearly raising her grandchild, the reason why Tatiana’s parents are absent is left unsaid. Many grandparents, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, raise their children’s children and these family structures should be reflected in the books we share with all children. Ultimately, I think this lovely story helps to broaden our collective understanding of what really makes a family and that brings me joy.  

A Roof! Written by Stephanie Ellen Sy, illustrated by Daniel Tingcungco. Image courtesy of Penguin Random House Canada.

Annotation: During a typhoon, a young Filipina child named Maya hears a very loud “THUD” coming from outside. When the storm abates, and she is outdoors again, she realizes that the sound she heard was from a corrugated roof that had been torn off of someone else’s house during the storm and landed in her yard! The rest of the story follows Maya’s determined quest to return the roof to its owners and it is a journey you will be delighted to go along with. The Tagalog word Bayanihan means “being in a community” and Maya’s story is both culturally and geographically authentic as well as absolutely universal in its message of generosity, compassion, and cooperation. 

Why this book brings me joy: I am just so happy that publishers are making efforts to better represent Filipino culture in picture books. Also, as a Vancouverite, with many treasured Filipino friends and neighbours, I have to say, I really perk up when I see authentic stories about the Philippines and Filipino culture, because there is so much to celebrate and learn. Also, as a librarian who believes in the power of books being “mirrors” it great to know that Filipino-heritage parents, grandparents and caregivers can share books like this with their kids! Also, I find it really easy to demonstrate the potential for books to be “windows” for non-Filipino kids with this story. I think everyone can relate to the idea of a community coming together to help someone in need. I just love Maya’s story and think you will too!

This post is intended to address the following ALSC Competencies:  I: Commitment to client group; II: Reference and User Services; IV: Collection Knowledge and Management.  

Tess Prendergast worked as a children’s librarian for 23 years. She has a PhD in early literacy education and now teaches librarianship and children’s literature courses at The School of Information, University of British Columbia, in Vancouver, Canada. Tess is a ALSC Priority Group Consultant (for Group 6 Professional Development) and she has facilitated the annual ALSC Preschool Discussion since 2023. Tess is currently serving on the Children’s Literature Association 2026 Phoenix Picture Book Award Committee.

The post Picture Books that Cause Delight appeared first on ALSC Blog.

 I hope you liked my Joyful Picture Books Part 1! Welcome to Part 2!  Let’s talk about the word “joy” itself for a moment? What does it conjure for you? Perhaps you are remembering the birth of a child? A wedding day? The conclusion of a huge accomplishment like your graduation day? Getting a dream job? Here are two brief definitions that I think are particularly apt. In the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, joy is described as being “a source or cause of delight” while at Dictionary.com, it says that joy is “the expression or display of glad feeling.” When applied to picture books, I think both these definitions are spot on. Picture books can most definitely be a source and cause of delight as well as evoke the expression of glad feelings.  Evidence that picture books bring joy is very easy to find. When was the last time you saw a child…
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