Children's Picture Books first published in the 1940s and before. An easy accessible list of those books read in childhoods.
Picture Books by Decade:
2020s, 2010s, 2000s, 1990s, 1980s, 1970s, 1960s, 1950s, 1940s and before
Picture Books by Year:
2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Caldecott Contenders aka Mock Caldecotts by year:
2009
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025
See also:
Best Popular Picture Books on Goodreads
Best Picture Books
Charlotte Zolotow Award Winners and Honors
Children's Picture Books With Beautiful illustrations
Caldecott Medal Winners
Caldecott Honor Books
Wordless Picture Books
Picture Books by Decade:
2020s, 2010s, 2000s, 1990s, 1980s, 1970s, 1960s, 1950s, 1940s and before
Picture Books by Year:
2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Caldecott Contenders aka Mock Caldecotts by year:
2009
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025
See also:
Best Popular Picture Books on Goodreads
Best Picture Books
Charlotte Zolotow Award Winners and Honors
Children's Picture Books With Beautiful illustrations
Caldecott Medal Winners
Caldecott Honor Books
Wordless Picture Books
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Cheryl wrote: "The Little Prince is short and has pictures but is def. not a picturebook. Wee Gillis is even shorter but is still more text than illustration and so doesn't qualify imo. I would not include The ..."
It does get to be a little bit of a grey area what is and isn't a picture book. I see your point. I'll leave the decision to you. Thanks for all your help.
Rainbowheart wrote: "Someone added Peter Pan, so I removed that one. That's in no way a picture book."Thank you Rainbowheart. I agree with you. Thanks for the help.
Calista, are you the creator? I won't mess with a list if the creator is monitoring it. (How does one know who the creator is?)
Cheryl wrote: "Calista, are you the creator? I won't mess with a list if the creator is monitoring it. (How does one know who the creator is?)"Hi Cheryl. I did start the list, but I cannot edit it unless it is a book I added and doesn't have any other votes. I am basically powerless over the list. I guess I can ask for a book to be removed, but I can't do that. Thanks.
Huh.Well, I deleted The Little Prince, but left the others on.
Thanks for monitoring, and if you want any other help please ask!
I also removed The Water Babies. That's quite a long children's novel, not a picture book.Calista, what do you think about The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales? Two people have added it, but it's 880 pages.
fwiw, I would delete the Grimm... picture-books are supposedly about the integration of the illustrations with the story, the enhancement they provide. But Grimm's stories don't need them, and are also fine no matter who, with what style, illustrates which scenes.imo
Btw, good catch on Water Babies and totally agree.
Rainbowheart wrote: "I also removed The Water Babies. That's quite a long children's novel, not a picture book.Calista, what do you think about The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales? Two people have added it, but it's 880..."
Hello,
I would agree that Grimm's fairy tales are too long. People all the time take one story and illustrate it for kids and plus that isn't from the 40's, but it is much older. Thanks!
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Anyone can add books to this list.










I would not include The Rooster Crows or Paddle-to-the-Sea (or anything by Hollings) myself but I do understand why they're here so ok.
For ease in finding childhood favorites, I wonder if narrower lists might help more. Great concept though!!