Best Picture Books of 2025 from a Collection Development Librarian
Posted on December 5, 2025
by Amy H
Collection Development librarians spend significant amounts of their workdays exhaustively poring over book reviews and publisher advertising for all kinds of new titles when selecting materials for the Library to acquire. So we see a lot (and I mean A LOT) of books. Youth materials selection specialist Cindy V also has 25+ years of experience working with kiddos and picture books in particular, so when we get the chance to share her suggestions for best picture books of the year, you can pretty much guarantee these are sure-fire winners — both for kid readers and for the adult variety. Here are her favorites for 2025.
broken by X. Fang
When Mei Mei accidentally breaks her ama's favorite cup, she's convinced it's the end of the world. What if Ama is angry? What if she yells? What if she kicks Mei Mei out of her house? Mei Mei can't face it. But when Mimi, the innocent cat who witnesses her crime, ends up being blamed, the guilt is too much! Mimi's accusing eyes follow Mei Mei until she just can't take it anymore, and the truth comes spilling out.
aggie and the ghost by Matthew Forsythe
Aggie is very excited to live on her own--until she finds out her new house is haunted. But no fear, the situation is nothing that can't be fixed with a carefully considered list of rules: No haunting after dark. No stealing socks. No eating all the food. But the ghost doesn't like playing by the rules and challenges Aggie to an epic game of tic-tac-toe--winner gets the house.
scarecited on the first day of school by Alliah L. Agostini
It's the first day of school for Afua! There's no one word to name her feelings. Is she scared? Excited? Oh wait, she's scarecited! Her own combination of both. Why should she have to choose?
i know how to draw an owl by Hilary Horder Hippely
A homeless girl, who lives in a car with her mother, draws a lifelike portrait of an owl based on firsthand experience.
whoa panda! by C. S. Jennings
An excited, affectionate young panda learns to navigate his friends' personal boundaries.
this book is dangerous! by Ben Clanton
While everything seems to come sunny-side up for Narwhal on their adventures, Jelly has more than a few worries about the many dangers out there in the ocean: sea serpents, pirate crabs, circus cannons, lost porcupines, and spiky things of any kind could be lurking around each turn of the page!
the interpreter by Olivia Abtahi
A sharp and heartfelt picture book about a young soccer-loving girl who's an interpreter for her Spanish-speaking parents.
i have three cats by Michelle Sumovich
Over the course of a year, a stray cat becomes part of a young girl's family.
every monday mabel by Jashar Awan
Every Monday Mabel takes her breakfast outside and waits for her favorite part of the week: the garbage truck.
the bear out there by Jess Hannigan
The signs are clear--there's a BEAR OUT THERE! You're lucky to be safe in this cabin in the woods, with a host who is levelheaded, trustworthy, and smart about bear safety. There's certainly no need to worry about any dark shadows or sneaky schemes in this book...RIGHT?
otter carries on by Maya Tatsukawa
Otter loves floating and collecting pretty, heavy rocks all by themself. When a storm comes, Otter has so many rocks that they can't swim home--and soon, they're lost at sea. But when a few rocks accidentally slip away, Otter feels--lighter. And with the help of a new friend, Otter realizes that maybe they don't need to carry everything alone.
the littlest drop by Sascha Alper
When a forest fire attacks their home, one brave hummingbird attempts to extinguish the flames, inspiring the other animals, paralyzed by fear and doubt, to do their part.
ada and the goat by Heidi Aubrey
Ada seeks a peaceful, solitary life in a remote fixer-upper cottage, but her plans are disrupted by a capricious goat.
pop! goes the nursery rhyme by Betsy Bird
The sensible Secretary Bird wants nothing more than to get on with their job of properly narrating a classic nursery rhyme book. But something is afoot in the orderly land of nursery rhymes . . . a zippy little Weasel has entered the scene! As the Secretary Bird tries to get through the rhymes--from "Little Miss Muffet" to "Jack and Jill"--the Weasel bursts in, throwing everything into a comical tailspin. Can the Secretary Bird put an end to the chaos?
here is a book by Elisha Cooper
The life of a picture book begins in the artist's studio, journeys through the world of publishing, finds itself on a bookshelf, and lands in the home of a young reader.
to see an owl by Matthew Cordell
Inspired by her teacher, Mr. Koji, a girl begins bird watching in the hopes of seeing an owl.
all the stars in the sky by Art Coulson
A young boy learns the Cherokee lesson of gadugi from his grandmother and how working together and helping each other makes the whole community stronger.
the wombats go wild for words by Beth Ferry
Evergreen Forest is a very nice forest, with very nice trees and very nice animals. It's a rather dull place, but no one says a word about it. In fact, no one says very many words at all! And therein lies the problem. Until the word-loving wandering wombats arrive.
the backwards alphabet book by Paul Friedrich
When the alphabet starts with Z instead of A, Zebra and Yak make their way through a mixed-up alphabet in search of Apple.
no more chairs by Dan Gill
From art to science, history to math, there are so many things to learn at school! But Mr. Gill's students are most interested in learning about the empty chair that sits in the front of their classroom. He tells them a story from his childhood about his Black best friend, Archie, the racism they experienced at a classmate's birthday party, when Archie was told there wasn't a chair for him, and how it inspired Mr. Gill to prioritize inclusivity and love.
¡mistaco! by Eliza Kinkz
After a terrible day at school, Izzy's grandfather helps her turn things around by making "mistacos" and celebrating their mistakes.
cat nap by Brian Lies
In the warm, late afternoon sunlight, a girl sits on the couch reading a book. Her kitten dozes nearby. But when Kitten notices a mouse and dives after it through a framed poster on the wall, an epic chase through time, art, and history ensues. Is it a dream? That's up to the reader to decide, but for the kitten, every leap and bound is full of suspense and makes for a masterpiece.
big enough by Regina Linke
Little Ah-Fu has a big imagination, but he can't imagine being the Oxherd Boy . . . yet. When the day comes for Ah-Fu to bring the huge family ox home from the woods, he worries that he's not big enough to do the job.
who ate steve? by Susannah Lloyd
Welcome to this extremely interesting book about size. Marcel is a bird and he is big. Steve is a worm, and he is . . . Wait a minute! Steve has DISAPPEARED! Does Marcel know something about it? And can he be persuaded to return that poor worm RIGHT NOW?!
kittybunkport by Scott Rothman
Chowder and Crackers, two scaredy-cat friends, face their fears to fix a haunted lighthouse and save their coastal town, Kittybunkport, from trouble.
leena mo, ceo by Deena Shakir
There's nothing Leena Mo dreads more than shoveling snow. Her time would be much better spent dreaming up new ideas and inventions. What if she invented something to take the chore off her plate? After tinkering and testing, Leena creates the robot Helmy, whose shoveling prowess sweeps her neighbors off their feet.
don't trust fish by Neil Sharpson
A supposed nature guide humorously warns readers why they should never trust fish, exploring their mysterious and villainous nature.
recess by Lane Smith
An interactive picture book in which students participate in riotous recesses to break up the tiresome moments at school.
alberto salas plays paka paka con la papa by Sara Andrea Fajardo
What can a potato do? To Peruvian scientist Alberto Salas, they have the power to change the world.
safe crossing by Kari Percival
Every spring, frogs and salamanders must travel from wooded uplands where they were born to vernal pools where they will mate. Unfortunately, roads constructed through their habitats have made the journey dangerous for these slow-moving animals. Many never reach their destinations. But with the help of the Amphibian Migration Team, there is hope for a safe crossing!
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