# Picture Book books assigned in US schools

**118** books in the Picture Book genre that US schools assign. Sourced from state ELA standards, AP/IB syllabi, and Common Core exemplar lists.

**Lexile range:** 410L–740L
**Grade span:** K–7
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/genre/picture-book
**Wikipedia (entity):** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picture_book
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## Recurring themes

- friendship (13)
- imagination (10)
- identity (8)
- biography (7)
- courage (6)
- kindness (6)
- belonging (5)
- humor (5)
- perseverance (5)
- family (4)

## Authors in this genre

- Duncan Tonatiuh (7)
- Kadir Nelson (4)
- Yuyi Morales (4)
- Ashley Bryan (3)
- Angela Dominguez (2)
- Christopher Denise (2)
- Javaka Steptoe (2)
- Sophie Blackall (2)
- Vashti Harrison (2)
- Adam Rex

## Picture Book titles

- [A Ball for Daisy](https://readinglist.school/book/a-ball-for-daisy) by Chris Raschka _(Grades K–2)_
- [A Coyote Solstice Tale](https://readinglist.school/book/a-coyote-solstice-tale) by Thomas King _(Grades K–3)_
- [A Land of Books](https://readinglist.school/book/a-land-of-books-dreams-of-young-mexihcah-word-painters) by Duncan Tonatiuh _(Grades K–5)_
- [A Letter for Bob](https://readinglist.school/book/a-letter-for-bob) by Kim Rogers _(Grades K–3)_
- [A Mischief of Mice](https://readinglist.school/book/a-mischief-of-mice) by Christie Matheson _(Grades K–3)_
- [A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen](https://readinglist.school/book/a-plate-of-hope) by Erin Frankel _(Grades 3–6)_
- [A Sick Day for Amos McGee](https://readinglist.school/book/a-sick-day-for-amos-mcgee) by Philip C. Stead _(Grades K–3)_
- [Across the Bay](https://readinglist.school/book/across-the-bay) by Carlos Aponte _(Grades K–5)_
- [Beautiful Blackbird](https://readinglist.school/book/beautiful-blackbird) by Ashley Bryan _(Grades K–5)_
- [Because of You, John Lewis](https://readinglist.school/book/because-of-you-john-lewis) by Andrea Davis Pinkney _(Grades 3–5)_
- [Big](https://readinglist.school/book/big) by Vashti Harrison _(Grades K–5)_
- [Big](https://readinglist.school/book/big-harrison) by Vashti Harrison _(Grades K–3)_
- [Blue](https://readinglist.school/book/blue-brew-hammond) by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond _(Grades K–4)_
- [Boogie Boogie, Y’all](https://readinglist.school/book/boogie-boogie-yall) by C.G. Esperanza _(Grades K–5)_
- [Bowwow Powwow](https://readinglist.school/book/bowwow-powwow) by Brenda J. Child _(Grades K–3)_
- [Bright Star](https://readinglist.school/book/bright-star) by Yuyi Morales _(Grades K–5)_
- [Buffalo Fluffalo](https://readinglist.school/book/buffalo-fluffalo) by Bess Kalb _(Grades K–2)_
- [Butt or Face?](https://readinglist.school/book/butt-or-face) by Kari Lavelle _(Grades K–2)_
- [C.L.O.U.D.S.](https://readinglist.school/book/clouds) by Pat Cummings _(Grades K–5)_
- [Call Me Roberto!: Roberto Clemente Goes to Bat for Latinos](https://readinglist.school/book/call-me-roberto) by Nathalie Alonso _(Grades 2–5)_
- [Corduroy](https://readinglist.school/book/corduroy) by Don Freeman _(600L · Grades K–3)_
- [Counting to Tar Beach](https://readinglist.school/book/tar-beach) by Faith Ringgold _(Grades K–5)_
- [Crossing Bok Chitto](https://readinglist.school/book/crossing-bok-chitto) by Tim Tingle _(Grades K–3)_
- [Dadaji's Paintbrush](https://readinglist.school/book/dadajis-paintbrush) by Rashmi Sirdeshpande _(Grades K–3)_
- [Dear Primo](https://readinglist.school/book/dear-primo-a-letter-to-my-cousin) by Duncan Tonatiuh _(Grades K–5)_
- [Diego Rivera](https://readinglist.school/book/diego-rivera-his-world-and-ours) by Duncan Tonatiuh _(Grades K–5)_
- [Don't Think of Tigers](https://readinglist.school/book/dont-think-of-tigers) by Alex Latimer _(Grades K–3)_
- [En Mi Familia](https://readinglist.school/book/family-pictures-cuadros-de-familia) by Carmen Lomas Garza _(Grades K–5)_
- [Ernö Rubik and His Magic Cube](https://readinglist.school/book/erno-rubik-and-his-magic-cube) by Kerry Aradhya _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Farmhouse](https://readinglist.school/book/farmhouse) by Sophie Blackall _(Grades K–4)_
- [Finding Winnie: The Story of the Real Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh](https://readinglist.school/book/finding-winnie) by Lindsay Mattick _(Grades 1–4)_
- [Flotsam](https://readinglist.school/book/flotsam) by David Wiesner _(Grades K–4)_
- [Forever Cousins](https://readinglist.school/book/forever-cousins) by Laurel Goodluck _(Grades K–3)_
- [Fry Bread](https://readinglist.school/book/fry-bread-a-native-american-family-story) by Kevin Noble Maillard _(Grades K–3)_
- [Funny Bones](https://readinglist.school/book/funny-bones-posada-and-his-day-of-the-dead-calaveras) by Duncan Tonatiuh _(Grades K–5)_
- [Gibberish](https://readinglist.school/book/gibberish) by Young Vo _(Grades K–3)_
- [Grandma's Gift](https://readinglist.school/book/grandmas-gift) by Eric Velasquez _(Grades K–5)_
- [Heart and Soul](https://readinglist.school/book/heart-and-soul-the-story-of-america-and-african-americans) by Kadir Nelson _(Grades K–5)_
- [Heart and Soul](https://readinglist.school/book/i-have-a-dream-martin-luther-king-jr) by Kadir Nelson _(Grades K–5)_
- [Hello Lighthouse](https://readinglist.school/book/hello-lighthouse) by Sophie Blackall _(Grades K–3)_
- [Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust](https://readinglist.school/book/hidden-hope) by Elisa Boxer _(Grades 2–5)_
- [Hot Dog](https://readinglist.school/book/hot-dog) by Doug Salati _(Grades K–2)_
- [How Dinosaurs Went Extinct: A Safety Guide](https://readinglist.school/book/how-dinosaurs-went-extinct) by Ame Dyckman _(Grades K–2)_
- [How This Book Got Red](https://readinglist.school/book/how-this-book-got-red) by Margaret Chiu Greanias _(Grades K–2)_
- [How to Eat a Book](https://readinglist.school/book/how-to-eat-a-book) by MacLeod _(Grades K–4)_
- [I Am a Tornado](https://readinglist.school/book/i-am-a-tornado) by Drew Beckmeyer _(Grades K–4)_
- [I Lived Inside a Whale](https://readinglist.school/book/i-lived-inside-a-whale) by Xin Li _(Grades K–3)_
- [I'm Going to Sing, Black American Spirituals, Volume Two](https://readinglist.school/book/im-going-to-sing) by Ashley Bryan _(Grades K–5)_
- [If You Give a Mouse a Cookie](https://readinglist.school/book/if-you-give-a-mouse-a-cookie) by Laura Numeroff _(410L · Grades K–3)_
- [In the Time of the Butterflies](https://readinglist.school/book/the-coquies-still-sing) by Julia Alvarez _(Grades K–5)_
- [Introducing Sandwina: The Strongest Woman in the World!](https://readinglist.school/book/introducing-sandwina) by Vicki Conrad _(Grades 2–5)_
- [It's a Sign!](https://readinglist.school/book/there-was-a-party-for-langston) by Jarrett Pumphrey _(Grades K–5)_
- [John's Turn](https://readinglist.school/book/johns-turn) by Mac Barnett _(Grades K–4)_
- [Just In Case](https://readinglist.school/book/just-in-case) by Yuyi Morales _(Grades K–5)_
- [Just Like Millie](https://readinglist.school/book/just-like-millie) by Lauren Castillo _(Grades K–3)_
- [Kitten's First Full Moon Board Book](https://readinglist.school/book/kittens-first-full-moon) by Kevin Henkes _(Grades K–2)_
- [Knight Owl](https://readinglist.school/book/knight-owl) by Christopher Denise _(Grades K–3)_
- [Knight Owl and Early Bird](https://readinglist.school/book/knight-owl-and-early-bird) by Christopher Denise _(Grades K–3)_
- [Last Stop on Market Street](https://readinglist.school/book/last-stop-on-market-street) by Matt de la Peña _(610L · Grades K–3)_
- [Let it Shine](https://readinglist.school/book/let-it-shine-three-favorite-spirituals) by Ashley Bryan _(Grades K–5)_
- [Like](https://readinglist.school/book/like-barrows) by Annie Barrows _(Grades K–4)_
- [Little You / kiya kâ-apisîsisiyan](https://readinglist.school/book/little-you) by Richard Van Camp _(Grades K–3)_
- [Locomotive](https://readinglist.school/book/locomotive) by Brian Floca _(Grades 2–6)_
- [Make Way for Ducklings](https://readinglist.school/book/make-way-for-ducklings) by Robert McCloskey _(730L · Grades K–3)_
- [Maria Had a Little Llama / María Tenía Una Llamita](https://readinglist.school/book/maria-had-a-little-llama) by Angela Dominguez _(Grades K–5)_
- [Me Gusta](https://readinglist.school/book/mango-abuela-and-me) by Angela Dominguez _(Grades K–5)_
- [Midnight and Moon](https://readinglist.school/book/midnight-and-moon) by Kelly Cooper _(Grades K–4)_
- [Millie Fleur's Poison Garden](https://readinglist.school/book/millie-fleurs-poison-garden) by Christy Mandin _(Grades K–3)_
- [Milloo's Mind](https://readinglist.school/book/milloos-mind) by Reem Faruqi _(Grades K–4)_
- [Mr. S](https://readinglist.school/book/mr-s) by Monica Arnaldo _(Grades K–4)_
- [Nelson Mandela](https://readinglist.school/book/nelson-mandela) by Kadir Nelson _(Grades K–5)_
- [Night in the City](https://readinglist.school/book/night-in-the-city) by Julie Downing _(Grades K–2)_
- [No Cats in the Library](https://readinglist.school/book/no-cats-in-the-library) by Lauren Emmons _(Grades K–2)_
- [Not All Sheep Are Boring!](https://readinglist.school/book/not-all-sheep-are-boring) by Bobby Moynihan _(Grades K–4)_
- [Oh No, the Aunts Are Here](https://readinglist.school/book/oh-no-the-aunts-are-here) by Adam Rex _(Grades K–4)_
- [Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote](https://readinglist.school/book/pancho-rabbit-and-the-coyote-a-migrants-tale) by Duncan Tonatiuh _(Grades K–5)_
- [Pedro's Yo-Yos: How a Filipino Immigrant Came to America and Changed the World of Toys](https://readinglist.school/book/pedros-yo-yos) by Rob Peñas _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Radiant Child](https://readinglist.school/book/radiant-child-the-story-of-young-artist-jean-michel-basquiat) by Javaka Steptoe _(Grades K–5)_
- [Radiant Child](https://readinglist.school/book/radiant-child) by Javaka Steptoe _(Grades 2–5)_
- [Rap a Tap Tap](https://readinglist.school/book/rap-a-tap-tap-heres-bojangles) by Leo Dillon _(Grades K–5)_
- [Separate Is Never Equal](https://readinglist.school/book/separate-is-never-equal-sylvia-mendez-and-her-familys-fight-for-desegregation) by Duncan Tonatiuh _(Grades K–5)_
- [Sitting Bull](https://readinglist.school/book/sitting-bull-lakota-warrior) by S.D. Nelson _(Grades K–3)_
- [Something, Someday](https://readinglist.school/book/something-someday) by Amanda Gorman _(Grades K–4)_
- [Sonadores (Dreamers)](https://readinglist.school/book/dreamers) by Yuyi Morales _(Grades K–5)_
- [Thank a Farmer](https://readinglist.school/book/thank-a-farmer) by Maria Gianferrari _(Grades K–2)_
- [That's Not My Name!](https://readinglist.school/book/thats-not-my-name-syed) by Anoosha Syed _(Grades K–4)_
- [The Adventures of Beekle](https://readinglist.school/book/the-adventures-of-beekle) by Dan Santat _(Grades K–3)_
- [The Bees of Notre-Dame](https://readinglist.school/book/the-bees-of-notre-dame) by Meghan Browne _(Grades K–4)_
- [The Bell Rang](https://readinglist.school/book/the-bell-rang) by James E. Ransome _(Grades K–5)_
- [The Christmas Coat](https://readinglist.school/book/the-christmas-coat) by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve _(Grades K–3)_
- [The Dream Catcher](https://readinglist.school/book/the-dream-catcher) by Marcelo Verdad _(Grades K–5)_
- [The Girl Who Figured It Out](https://readinglist.school/book/the-girl-who-figured-it-out) by Minda Dentler _(Grades 3–6)_
- [The Giving Tree](https://readinglist.school/book/the-giving-tree) by Shel Silverstein _(530L · Grades K–5)_
- [The House in the Night](https://readinglist.school/book/the-house-in-the-night) by Susan Marie Swanson _(Grades K–2)_
- [The Invention of Hugo Cabret](https://readinglist.school/book/the-invention-of-hugo-cabret) by Brian Selznick _(Grades 3–7)_
- [The Lion & the Mouse](https://readinglist.school/book/the-lion-and-the-mouse) by Jerry Pinkney _(Grades K–3)_
- [The Middle Passage](https://readinglist.school/book/the-middle-passage) by Tom Feelings _(Grades K–5)_
- [The Princess and the Warrior](https://readinglist.school/book/the-princess-and-the-warrior-a-tale-of-two-volcanoes) by Duncan Tonatiuh _(Grades K–5)_
- [The Snowy Day](https://readinglist.school/book/the-snowy-day) by Ezra Jack Keats _(500L · Grades K–2)_
- [The Yellow Bus](https://readinglist.school/book/the-yellow-bus) by Loren Long _(Grades K–3)_
- [This Is Not My Hat](https://readinglist.school/book/this-is-not-my-hat) by Jon Klassen _(Grades K–3)_
- [Time to Make Art](https://readinglist.school/book/time-to-make-art) by Jeff Mack _(Grades K–3)_
- [Two Dogs](https://readinglist.school/book/two-dogs) by Ian Falconer _(Grades K–4)_
- [Uptown](https://readinglist.school/book/uptown) by Bryan Collier _(Grades K–5)_
- [Ursula Upside Down](https://readinglist.school/book/ursula-upside-down) by Corey R. Tabor _(Grades K–3)_
- [Victory. Stand!](https://readinglist.school/book/victory-stand-raising-my-fist-for-justice) by Tommie Smith _(Grades K–5)_
- [Viva Frida](https://readinglist.school/book/viva-frida) by Yuyi Morales _(Grades K–5)_
- [Watch Out for the Lion!](https://readinglist.school/book/watch-out-for-the-lion) by Brooke Hartman _(Grades K–4)_
- [Watercress](https://readinglist.school/book/watercress) by Andrea Wang _(Grades K–4)_
- [We Are Water Protectors](https://readinglist.school/book/we-are-water-protectors) by Carole Lindstrom _(Grades K–4)_
- [We Are the Ship](https://readinglist.school/book/we-are-the-ship-the-story-of-negro-league-baseball) by Kadir Nelson _(Grades K–5)_
- [Where the Wild Things Are](https://readinglist.school/book/where-the-wild-things-are) by Maurice Sendak _(740L · Grades K–3)_
- [Wild Blue: Taming a Big-Kid Bike](https://readinglist.school/book/wild-blue-taming-a-big-kid-bike) by Dashka Slater _(Grades K–2)_
- [Willie and the All-Stars](https://readinglist.school/book/the-blacker-the-berry) by Floyd Cooper _(Grades K–5)_
- [Wolf in the Snow](https://readinglist.school/book/wolf-in-the-snow) by Matthew Cordell _(Grades K–3)_
- [Wombat Said Come In](https://readinglist.school/book/wombat-said-come-in) by Carmen Agra Deedy _(Grades K–4)_
- [You're So Amazing!](https://readinglist.school/book/youre-so-amazing) by James Catchpole _(Grades K–2)_
- [Yuna's Cardboard Castles](https://readinglist.school/book/yunas-cardboard-castles) by Marie Tang _(Grades K–2)_

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_Generated from primary-source citations indexed on ReadingList.school. JSON API: https://readinglist.school/api/genre/picture-book · HTML view: https://readinglist.school/genre/picture-book._
