You are not too old to read a picture book. I know this because you are reading this blog post right now and therefore, presumably, still alive and not too old to read. And if you are a ghost, then it’s pretty wild that you can still access the internet and you’re using your afterlife to read the teen library blog, but if you can do that then you probably can and still should read a picture book. Because, just like their cousins graphic novels, picture books are capable of addressing any and every topic, and the format forces creators to communicate their ideas in the minimum amount of words and pictures. In great picture books, you can tell that every word and image is carefully considered and that there is nothing extraneous. Constraints produce great art, this is a fact, and I can prove it in six books.
If you want to think, then War by José Jorge Letria is the picture book for you. There are about 100 words in the whole book, but every one of them counts and each of the varied pages could stand in an art gallery. The book manages to communicate the horror of war with powerful metaphorical imagery that can feel more unsettling than an actual depiction.
If you want to be blown away by art, then Paradise Sands is the picture book for you. Everything I picked for this post has got great to pretty good art in my opinion, but Paradise Sands is something else. A mythological-style story where a girl has to escape with her family from a fey realm. It has to be read more than once to get the full meaning. You’ll also want to go through it again to appreciate the rich imagery that is layered with hidden details and symbolism. I would not normally link to the site which shall not be named here, but go ahead and follow this link for a preview of the incredible pictures.
If you want to laugh, then Leave Me Alone is the picture book for you. A grandmother wants to knit some sweaters for her grandchildren, but the house is much too noisy and rambunctious to actually get any work done, so grandma decides to head out to get some peace and quiet. Thus begins a journey through several increasingly ridiculous locations to try and be alone, but just how far will grandma have to go to get her alone time? Well, you’ll just have to read it to find out.
If you want to bawl your eyes out, then The Longest Letsgoboy is the picture book for you. There are plenty of picture books concerning the death of a pet. It’s a common way to address a difficult topic. The thing that makes The Longest Letsgoboy special is the choice to present that death from the perspective of the pet. This presentation even extends to how the dog uses words and describes situations. Like every book of this nature it’s bittersweet, but moving for someone of any age.
If you want to read a biography, then Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein by Linda Bailey is the picture book for you. A window into the years and moments leading up to Shelley writing the famous novel. The art is once again exceptional and well-suited to its subject matter. The book depicts the Monster as something more like a companion to Shelley and many authors have a sense of fondness and friendship with their books, even if they are works of horror. The back of the book goes into even more detail about the rest of Shelley’s life and the continued influence of her Monster which tells you that even though it’s a picture book, it’s still well-researched.
If you want to read something important, then The Walk by Winsome Bingham is the picture book for you. I considered picking out a nonfiction book to round this out, and there are quite a few nice ones, but ultimately decided to use this. A story that is about something very real and that happens all over the US even if the particulars are a little different. A girl and her grandmother go out for a walk and along the way, they stop and gather people one by one until there’s a whole large group. What are they walking for and where are they walking to? Context clues will have older readers figuring it out before it is properly revealed, but the message is important and perhaps even more important to be heard by people older than its intended audience.
There it is, and if you happen to enjoy any of these then the authors and artists on this list all have works of equal quality and impact. I hope this has piqued your interest in reading a picture because you really should.
