The best picture books 2020

(Image credit: Jim Kay / Bloomsbury Children's Books)

The best picture books aren't just for children. Illustrators create imaginative, character-filled artwork to bring stories to life for readers of all ages. Picture books can also spark the reader's imagination and allow them to enter the world the author has created, holding their attention to the very end. 

Illustrations treat the the reader to extra detail not found in the text, giving more context to the story. Soaking up all of this bonus material is what makes children crave the same story again and again – and it keeps adults interested when reading that one book over and over again. In this rundown, we've selected the best picture books you need to pay attention to, old and new, and included options for all ages, across a range of topics. 

If you want more picture book ideas, there are plenty over on our post rounding up the best children's books, or if you want to try your hand at illustrating your own book, check out our pick of the best how to draw tutorials on the web.

Best picture books: Goodnight Moon

(Image credit: Two Hoots)

01. Goodnight Moon

This old favourite remains the best picture book for babies

Specifications

Publisher: Two Hoots
Author: Margaret Wise Brown
Illustrator: Clement Hurd
Pages: 32
ISBN-10: 9781509831975
ISBN-13: 978-1509831975
Best for: under 3 years

Reasons to buy

+
Great for babies' developing vision
+
Peaceful illustrations

Reasons to avoid

-
Some find it lacking in narrative

allows us a private peek into the bedtime routine of a young bunny rabbit as he says goodnight to everything in his cosy room. This classic book will hypnotise the youngest of children with its rhythmic poetry and striking illustrations, and the board book edition is perfect for little hands.

With pages that alternate from brightly coloured to black and white (colour choices that are perfect for babies), the books' colour palette makes bedtime feel safe and warm, with some slight shadowing that hints at night time. The ink drawings on the black and white pages zoom in on specific parts of the room so you can explore the features in more detail. It's a charming book that's guaranteed to have little ones yawning by the last page.

Best picture books: Paper Dolls

(Image credit: Macmillan Children's Books)

02. Paper Dolls

Go on a delightful adventure with the best picture book for toddlers

Specifications

Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Author: Julia Donaldson
Illustrator: Rebecca Cobb
Pages: 32
ISBN-10: 9781447220145
ISBN-13: 978-1447220145
Best for: 2-5 years

Reasons to buy

+
Imaginative, detailed illustrations
+
Repeated lines for kids to join in with

Reasons to avoid

-
It's a tear-jerker

We had to include a Julia Donaldson book in this list, and

is wonderfully illustrated by Rebecca Cobb. A little girl and her mother make a string of paper dolls and take us along on an adventure laced with sentimental messages about the importance of memories. Cobb has a delicate, whimsical illustrative style that's a departure from the boldness of Donaldson's collaborations with Axel Scheffler. Her pictures bring the imagination of the little girl to life and are full of detail that toddlers (and older children) love to explore. At the end of the story, you feel you've been let in on the secret of child's play; it feels joyful, bittersweet and surprisingly intimate.

Best picture books: Alice in Wonderland

(Image credit: Walker Books)

03. Alice in Wonderland

This reimagining of a classic tale is the best picture book for older children

Specifications

Publisher: Walker Books
Author: Lewis Carroll
Illustrator: Anthony Browne
Pages: 128
ISBN-10: 9781406361575
ISBN-13: 978-1406361575
Best for: 7-12 years

Reasons to buy

+
A fresh take on a known story
+
Distinctive Anthony Browne style

Reasons to avoid

-
Some of the pictures could be frightening 

Ex-children's laureate Anthony Browne celebrated the topsy-turvy world found down the rabbit hole when he lent his unmistakable style to the classic book

in 2015. Known for his surreal approach, Browne is unafraid to let the darkness and confusion of Alice's adventures sing out with bold, sometimes grotesque, imagery that reimagines beloved characters and scenes. Browne tried to stray from the formidable influence of past Alice illustrator Sir John Tenniel, and we especially love his Mad Hatter. Instead of a signature tall hat, Browne's Hatter has lots of hats, stacked on top of each other. This is a fascinating read that will be most appreciated by older children and adults.

Best picture books: Kind

(Image credit: Alison Green Books)

04. Kind

The best picture book about friendship is a collaboration of great illustrators

Specifications

Publisher: Alison Green Books
Author: Alison Green
Illustrator: Various
Pages: 48
ISBN-10: 1407194569
ISBN-13: 978-1407194561
Best for: 3-8 years

Reasons to buy

+
Lots of different illustrative styles
+
A profound message

Reasons to avoid

-
A bigger version would be good

is a brand new book that showcases 38 top illustrators whose styles you are sure to recognise from their work on some of the best children's books (think Quentin Blake and Lauren Child to get an idea of the calibre). The book invites you to imagine a world where everyone is kind, all of the time, with each illustration depicting that premise in different ways. The different illustrative styles are celebrated using minimal writing, usually just a sentence or two. The types of kindness pictured vary from small acts such as opening a door for someone to showing kindness to people from other countries by learning a few words in their language. It's a profound book that'll resonate with both children and adults.

Best picture books: Planetarium

(Image credit: Big Picture Press)

05. Planetarium: Welcome to the Museum

The best picture book about space is an immersive visual treat

Specifications

Publisher: Big Picture Press
Author: Raman Prinja
Illustrator: Chris Wormell
Pages: 112
ISBN-10: 1787411575
ISBN-13: 978-1787411579
Best for: all ages

Reasons to buy

+
Artistically pleasing and scientific
+
Covers a breadth of space topics

Reasons to avoid

-
Could have more detail on topics

One of a series of science-themed books that includes Dinosaurium and Botanicum, this one,

, is published in association with London's Science Museum. It's an impressively-sized hardback book packed full of mesmerising illustrations that depict all aspects of space, from our solar system to the universe beyond. Illustrator Chris Wormell has fulfilled every criteria with his artwork. He dazzles us with sweeping views of galaxies, then changes gear for the precision needed for scientific diagrams. It's like watching the universe on an HD screen of the highest spec. And the text from Professor Raman Prinja is suitably expert too, comprehensive and approachable enough for children and adults. Though if you did want a simpler one, it does come in a junior version. 

Best picture books: Frieda Kahlo

(Image credit: North South Books)

06. Frida Kahlo and her Animalitos

Learn about the life of Kahlo in the best picture book about animals

Specifications

Publisher: North South Books
Author: Monica Brown
Illustrator: John Parra
Pages: 40
ISBN-10: 9780735842694
ISBN-13: 978-0735842694
Best for: 4-8 years

Reasons to buy

+
Illustrations are reminiscent of Kahlo's style
+
A creative way to introduce Kahlo

Reasons to avoid

-
Text sometimes difficult to read 

This stunning book about renowned artist Frida Kahlo has won multiple awards. Monica Brown uses the animals that inspired Kahlo to tell the artist's story in

, showing us how she embodied characteristics from her much-loved pets – two monkeys, a parrot, three dogs, two turkeys, an eagle, a black cat, and a fawn. This book is as much of a celebration of animals and Mexican culture as it is of Kahlo herself. John Parra's vibrant illustrations are tied to Kahlo's artistic style providing an immersive first look at one of the world's most influential artists.

Best picture books: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

(Image credit: Bloomsbury Children's Books)

07. The Chamber of Secrets

The best Harry Potter picture book

Specifications

Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books
Author: JK Rowling
Illustrator: Jim Kay
Pages: 272
ISBN-10: 9781408845653
ISBN-13: 978-1408845653
Best for: all ages

Reasons to buy

+
Paint, pencil and digital art are mixed
+
Breathes new life into Harry Potter

Reasons to avoid

-
Not all the characters are illustrated
-
Too childish for some

These glossy hardbacks illustrated by Jim Kay are a whole new way to experience Harry Potter. Kay is about to release number four out of the seven Potter books, and uses paint, pencil and digital art to breathe new life into the fantasy series. It was tough to choose a favourite, but we've gone for

. The variety of technique and style is impressive, the dark plot is celebrated with eerie images and scenes that occur in dark places are printed on black paper. There's a particularly special double page imagining of the phoenix and a mesmerising double page of neon digital graphic art that blew us away.

Best picture books: Where's Warhol?

(Image credit: Laurence King Publishing)

08. Where's Warhol?

Have educational fun with the best picture book about art history

Specifications

Publisher: Laurence King Publishing
Author: Catherine Ingham
Illustrator: Andrew Rae
Pages: 40
ISBN-10: 1780677448
ISBN-13: 978-1780677446
Best for: all ages

Reasons to buy

+
Packed full of information
+
Historically accurate

Reasons to avoid

-
Warhol is quite easy to find

Where's Wally is reborn for the art crowd in this super-fun picture book, Where's Warhol?  sees Andy Warhol catapulted into different eras as he visits art of the past. He's hidden in scenes depicting 12 iconic moments from art history ranging from Michelangelo working on the Sistine Chapel to Studio 54. Each picture serves as a who's who of the period, with famous faces littering the crowds. With amusing and well-crafted detail that was carefully created from archival research, this is an engaging and informative whistle stop tour through art history.

Best picture books: Jolly Christmas Postman

(Image credit: Puffin)

09. The Jolly Christmas Postman

The best Christmas picture book is a twist on an original

Specifications

Publisher: Puffin
Author: Janet and Allan Ahlberg
Pages: 52
ISBN-10: 0141340118
ISBN-13: 978-0141340111
Best for: 3-7 years

Reasons to buy

+
Lots to explore inside
+
Recognisable characters on every page

Reasons to avoid

-
Quite fragile
-
A long story if you read everything 

has letters for all your favourite fairytale characters on Christmas eve. The format of The Jolly Postman books lend themselves to excitement (kids love opening a letter), and adding in the wonder of Christmas amps it up a level. The reader can visit the home of the Three Bears and Cinderella and open the actual letters and cards sent to them. With so many characters to spot in the captivating illustrations, and so much detail in the post itself, this book will keep small (and bigger) ones busy for hours. Just be careful with the littlest of readers as the envelopes are easy to rip.

Best picture books: Home

(Image credit: Walker Books)

10. Home

Explore different cultures with the best picture book about people

Specifications

Publisher: Walker Books
Author: Carson Ellis
Pages: 40
ISBN-10: 9781406365795
ISBN-13: 978-1406365795
Best for: 3-7 years

Reasons to buy

+
Provokes discussion
+
Mix of real and imaginary homes

Reasons to avoid

-
Not much of a story

What does home mean to you? A caravan? An igloo? A shoe? In Home, Carson Ellis explores the many imaginative possibilities of where home could be through her precise style that seems simple but holds delightful detail. Some of her images come straight from real life, like the urban grit in the city scene, whereas others such as a pirate ship are more at home in a storybook. Her distinctive artistic style, though, is consistent throughout. Rich in colour and thought provoking, this book is a great basis for discussion about how different people live.

Best picture books: Sea Prayer

(Image credit: Bloomsbury Publishing)

11. Sea Prayer

This moving poem is the best picture book for adults

Specifications

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Illustrator: Dan Williams
Pages: 48
ISBN-10: 1526602717
ISBN-13: 978-1526602718
Best for: Adults

Reasons to buy

+
Watercolour illustrations
+
Topical and heartfelt

Reasons to avoid

-
Some wish it were longer

This beautifully illustrated book, Sea Prayer, is based on the tragic real-life death of a refugee child that made international news. A father sits with his sleeping son on the evening before they take a boat across the sea to search for a new home. Part prayer, part reflection, the father talks of his life in his beautiful home country of Syria and laments all they'll be leaving behind. The poem is brief but leaves a lasting impact, while the watercolour illustrations are evocative and serve to make the father's words even more moving. This is a book you'll want to return to again and again.

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Georgia Coggan

Georgia is lucky enough to be Creative Bloq's Editor. She has been working for Creative Bloq since 2018, starting out as a freelancer writing about all things branding, design, art, tech and creativity – as well as sniffing out genuinely good deals on creative technology. Since becoming Editor, she has been managing the site on a day-to-day basis, helping to shape the diverse content streams CB is known for and leading the team in their own creativity.