25 Text-Heavy Picture Books
Looking for some longer picture books to read? This book list is full of text heavy picture books that your little ones will love!
Most parents who read aloud picture books to their kids fall into one of two camps.
They’d rather read a big stack of shorter picture books OR they’d prefer one or two longer picture books that are much more text heavy.
If you fall into the latter camp (I’ll admit I’m VERY MUCH in the former), here are some great picture books that won’t take you 90 seconds to read!
25 Long Picture Books
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
You might know the Little Engine’s mantra “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can”. When an engine breaks down bringing fun toys and foods over the mountains, one small engine takes the leap to pull the heavy load. There is a reason this classic is loved by little ones!
The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey
This Little Golden Book classic is not short on words and is always a hit with kids! When some curious little puppies dig a hole under the fence, one particular puppy gets very distracted with the new world he just discovered.
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
I can’t think of a Christmas where we didn’t read this one! You can’t beat curling up under a cozy blanket with a Christmas treat and a long holiday story – and this one is perfect for just that! (Plus you can watch the movie afterward too!)
Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweet
I am legitimately obsessed with this book and I love bringing out my copy every Thanksgiving about the boy who loved puppets and grew up to create the famous balloons that make up the Thanksgiving Day parade. The color and art in this book bring it to life and the end notes and photos and make it even more special. (Full review here)
Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
Two bored children find a board game in the park and when it comes to life, find that their lives are now in mortal peril.
Locomotive by Brian Floca
Learn what it is like to ride on the transcontinental railroad in the 1860s! This book is perfect for train lovers and is packed full of information about the various parts and mechanics of a train, the tasks of the crew members, and the locations these first trains passed through.
One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey
I love Robert McCloskey (he’s most famous for his Caldecott-winning Make Way for Ducklings) and this darling story with black-and-white illustrations follows Sal (yes, from Blueberries for Sal) who is headed out with her father on his boat, is so sweet and fun from first page to last.
The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman and Marla Frazee
With a first child, picky eating might be a little bit cute. By the time there are four or five or six children, it’s much less sweet.
Corduroy by Don Freeman
This delightful story of a little toy bear who is looking for someone to choose him from the shelf at the department store and take him home so he can have a friend has been a classic for more than 50 years and I’ve read it hundreds of times to my girls – it’s a classic for a reason!
Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall
This book showcases what daily life was like living in the country and working on a farm (and all this with 12 children!). The illustrations include mixed media incorporating dresses, wallpaper, and fabric that was found in an actual old farmhouse in upstate New York.
Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola
How can you not just LOVE Strega Nona and her magic pot? This is one of those classics that should be a part of every story time!
The Eleventh Hour by Graeme Base
When I say this book is so much fun – I mean it! When Horace the elephant turns eleven, he hosts an extravagent costume party for all of his friends. But amidst the games and music, a mystery unfolds…the lavish birthday feast has vanished! This rhyming mystery is worth the extra time.
The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Marianna Meyer
The artwork on this one is absolutely gorgeous! But I love this unique take on the classic fairy tale about twelve bewitched princesses and the young hero who discovers the secret and breaks the spell.
James Herriot’s Treasury for Children by James Herriot
I grew up on James Herriot – my mom is a huge fan – and she introduced my girls to his sweet stories about being a farm vet. She gave us this collection that’s meant especially for children and it’s just wonderful.
Heckedy Peg by Audrey Wood
She is probably best known for her book The Napping House, but in this magical fairy tale, a witch turns a mother’s children into different types of food and the mother has to correctly guess which one is each child.
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
I have a special place in my heart for Kevin Henkes’ mouse books and this one is no exception. Chrysanthemum loves her special name. Until she goes to school and the other students laugh at her long name and the fact that she’s named after a flower. For any child who has ever been teased about having a long or uncommon name, this book is just the sweetest (and a good reminder to ALL kids that names are special and not to be mocked for any reason).
Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrated by Mary Azarian
This Caldecott winner is a non-fiction introduction to Wilson Bentley who loved snowflakes from his very earliest years and spent decades figuring out how to photograph them. And subsequently discovered that no two snowflakes are exactly alike.
A Bad Case of the Stripes by David Shannon
On the first day of school, Camilla becomes so worried about what everyone else will think of her. She discovers that she is covered from head to toe in stripes, then polka-dots, and many other patterns. With a little help, she learns the secret of accepting her true self, in spite of her peculiar ailment.
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
I’ve loved this Caldecott winner my entire life and the story of two ducks who find a place in Boston to raise their little brood of ducklings just makes the whole world feel like springtime to me, even with it’s single-color illustrations.
You Are Special by Max Lucado
Punchinello, a little wooden man, spends his day trying to earn gold stars. These are reserved for those that are smart and beautiful. When mistakes are made, he earns gray dots. When Punchinello begins to get covered in gray dots, will he learn that he is worth more than his mistakes?
Eloise by Kay Thompson
What is there not to love about the classic 6-year-old Eloise who lives at the Plaza Hotel? She is spunky, smart, and a little bit mischievous and her antics definitely put a smile on my girls’ faces.
The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden
This is a charming little Christmas story about a six-year-old orphan named Ivy who is searching for a grandmother who doesn’t exist, a beautiful little doll named Holly looking for a child to love her, and a sad policeman’s wife yearning for that missing something to complete her life.
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
I see this as the classic vehicle book. The sweet story and vintage illustrations about Mike’s mission to prove his beloved steam shovel isn’t antiquated has been a favorite for generations (and for good reason!).
Other recommendations from readers:
The Quiltmaker’s Gift by Jeff Brumbeau
I think you will have a whole new perception of quilts and generosity after reading this one! When a greedy king demands one of the quiltmaker’s stunning quilts, she challenges him to give away all he owns – only for him to discover that giving brings more happiness than having.
Hope at Sea by Daniel Miyares
I think this is one my girls would love! When Hope stows away on her father’s ship during one of his sailing expeditions, she finds out her adventure is just beginning. Especially when they caught in a dangerous storm!
Thimbleberry Stories by Cynthia Rylant
I don’t think there is much Cynthia Rylant can’t do – she is well known for many childhood classics. This charming story about a cottage dwelling chipmunk and his daily adventures sounds absolutely adorable!
Brambly Hedge by Jill Barklem
This one is technically a collection of 8 stories (think a treasury of illustrated stories). But the mice from Brambly Heddge are always on an some sort of fun-filled adventure in these much-loved classics. Plus, the illustrations are so sweet and whimsical.
The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish by Neil Gaiman
Can you imagine wanting two goldfish so much that you would trade your dad for them? And what would you say when your mom came home and asked where your dad went? Well that is this book in a nutshell!
Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen
Who would I be if I didn’t recommend a book about the LIBRARY? This one is all about a lion who shows up at the library for the first time and wonders if it is ever okay to break the rules there. He learns that sometimes a good deed that breaks the rules should be forgiven.
Gator Gumbo by Candace Fleming
I can never say no to a fractured fairy tale, and this Cajun version of The Little Red Hen looks like laugh out loud fun! And I wouldn’t say no to a pot of gumbo too, thank you very much.
Who’s That Knocking on Christmas Eve? by Jan Brett
Every time we read a Jan Brett book, I find something new in the illustrations – she does gorgeous detailed illustrations and this is one that I would love to add to our collection. This one about a little girl trying to keep her home safe from ice trolls, is saved by a young boy and his pet polar bear looks so fun!
What if You Had Animal Teeth? by Sandra Markle
This is the perfect book for animal lovers and those who love learning fun new facts! Can you imagine if your two front teeth were replaced by hippo teeth, or naked mole rat teeth!? You are bound to walk away from this book knowing so much more about animal teeth than you ever thought you should know!
Lilibet the Brave by Katy Rose
You can never go wrong with a nonfiction picture book – especially if you don’t want the reading to end AND you want to learn something new! This one about the late Queen Elizabeth II, specifically during WWII, sheds light on her childhood.
And if you’d like a printable copy of this list that you can take to your library or screenshot on your phone for easy access, just pop in your email address below and it’ll come right to your inbox!
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