35 Amazing Picture Books For Adults That Will Warm Your Heart

1. The Pilot and the Little Prince: The Life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, by Peter Sis

Sis’s book illuminates the life of French pilot and author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, creator of The Little Prince. This epic tale of adventure follows Saint-Exupéry as he grows from a fatherless child to pioneer of flight.

2. The Heart and the Bottle, by Oliver Jeffers

For anyone who has ever suffered the loss of a close person, Jeffers’s book captures the journey from loss of innocence to the revitalization of the soul.

3. LaRue Across America: Post Cards From the Vacation, by Mark Teague

Gertrude LaRue and her canine companion, Ike, take a road trip through the heartland of American with two cats in tow. The delightful illustrations give us a fun sense of wonder and show us some of the great landscape and adventures found throughout the United States.

4. New Big House, by Debi Gliori

5. Seasons, by Blexbolex

This boldly illustrated book takes the reader through the symphony of the four seasons. It captures the great moments of winter, spring, summer and fall with fascinating simplicity.

6. MAPS, by Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski

MAPS is an aesthetically pleasing, antique-type depiction of various countries’ borders and topography. The book also includes interesting information about various countries’ culture

7. Slim and Miss Prim, by Robert Kinerk, illustrations by Jim Harris

Slim, a strong but shy cowboy, is secretly in love with ranch owner Marigold Prim. After both Slim and her cattle are stolen, Miss Prim travels through the majestic imagery of the Wild West to rescue them. After his rescue, Slim gets up the courage to marry Miss Prim.

8. Bentley and Blueberry, by Randy Houk

Blueberry is a lonely stray dog sitting in a shelter waiting for a family. Bentley is loved but lonely puppy. When the two meet, it brings mayhem and happiness to their owner Ms. Moody’s life. This book is based upon a true story.

9. Olivia, by Ian Falconer

Every Olivia book is a delightful journey into the mind of a young girl. With simple but character-filled illustrations, every one of Olivia’s adventures – whether real or imaginary – are fun.

10. Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?, by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle

This poetic tale of a day at the zoo depicts Eric Carle’s amazing creativity, coupled with Bill Martin’s sense of rhyme for an enjoyable exploration through the eyes of animals.

11. Corduroy, by Don Freeman

Corduroy – a little bear all alone on a department store shelf – finds the love of a young girl, only to be abandoned because of his broken overalls. Corduroy ventures off his shelf to find a button to fix his overalls, but despite his escapades through the department store, he cannot fix them. In the end, the young girl’s love brings her back to buy the broken bear. This heartwarming tale has been loved by generations.

12. Jumanji, by Chris Van Allsburg

Jumanji – the only board game that literally sucks you in – is an amazing jungle adventure that comes to life and symbolizes a son’s conflict with his father and his transformation into adulthood.

13. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl

14. Give Thanks for Each Day, by Steve Metzger, illustrated by Robert McPhillips

This heartwarming poem illustrates the beauty of giving thanks for the simple things in life.

15. Little Bea and the Snowy Day, by Daniel Roode

Little Bea and her friends show us the many ways we can have fun playing on a snowy day.

16. A Fine Picnic, by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Leon Baxter

17. The River, by Alessandro Sanna

The very talented Alessandro Sanna takes us through the seasons with divine watercolor pictorials of each season’s special burst of color and flair.

18. Fox, by Margaret Wild, illustrated by Ron Brooks

Another amazing illustrated book, this story explores the wonderful side of friendship and the dark side of jealousy.

19. FArTHER, by Grahame Baker-Smith

FArTHER is a heartwarming story about how the bonds between father and son are hard to break, even when death tears them apart. Yet another amazing illustrated book, the story follows a young man who loses his father during the war and then proceeds to honor his father’s dream of flying.

20. Voices in the Park, by Anthony Browne

Sometimes seeing the world from another person’s point of view can be difficult. Voices in the Park enlightens adults and children alike on how to see life from another person’s perspective and how to look beyond our own prejudice.

21. The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, by William Joyce, illustrated with Joe Bluhm

An amazing book about loving books made for book lovers of all ages.

22. Frankenstein, by Rick Walton, illustrated by Nathan Hale

Walton’s parody of Ludwig Bemelmans’s Madeline features a not-so-scary Frankenstein encompassing the fun spirit of Halloween.

23. Goodnight iPad: a Parody for the Next Generation, by Ann Droyd

A parody of Goodnight Moon, Goodnight iPad pokes fun at the human race’s inability to unplug – ever. It’s also a good reason to put down the mobile device and pick up a book.

24. Lights Out!, by John Himmelman

Himmelman’s book is for moms, dads and sisters who have always wanted to know what really goes on at Boy Scout Camp, or for Boy Scouts who want to remember the silly stuff that makes camp so memorable.

25. What Moms Can’t Do, by Douglas Wood, illustrated by Doug Cushman

26. The Littlest Pilgrim, by Brandi Dougherty, illustrated by Kirsten Richards

Mini the pilgrim is a kind soul looking to help out those she loves, but she cannot seem to find anyone who is in need of her help. Eventually, Mini finds a girl who is in need of her friendship.

27. When Lucy Goes Out Walking, by Ashley Wolff

We follow lovable puppy Lucy through her first year of life, month by month. Each month illustrates not only Lucy’s growth, but also the enjoyable aspects of the month, such as the cool April wind and October’s colorful leaves.

28. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, by Charles Schultz

29. The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

One day, Duncan goes looking for his crayons only to find out they have left him a list of grievances and they have gone on strike. Duncan must figure out a way to fix each of their grievances before they will work again. Much like real life, Daywalt and Jeffers illustrate the complexity of relationships and how we can work to make them better.

30. The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats

A simply beautiful story about a young boy named Peter who wakes up to find the delight of the first snow fall of the season. Peter’s adventures of making snow angels and throwing snowballs are reminiscent of the innocence of a snowy day as a child.

31. The Story of Ferdinand, by Munro Leaf, illustrated by Robert Lawson

Ferdinand is a gentle bull who would rather smell flowers than butt heads. Ferdinand’s life of contentment and gentle being reminds us all how to be happy with ourselves – as we are—even if we aren’t the same as others.

32. The Story about Ping, by Marjorie Flack, illustrated by Kurt Wiese

Ping the duck lives on a boat in the Yangtze River with his family. One night, Ping becomes separated from his family and through some misadventures figures out just how much he loves them. Ping’s genuine love of his family encourages readers to cherish time with their own families.

33. The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle

Eric Carle’s classic story follows a caterpillar as he evolves from an egg into a beautiful butterfly. This boldly illustrated story is captivating even as an adult.