Best illustrated books all over the world
A timeless picture book about Max, a boy who sails to the land of the Wild Things and becomes their king. Maurice Sendak’s iconic story, blending sparse text with powerful illustrations, captures childhood imagination, mischief, and the comfort of home. Winner of the 1964 Caldecott Medal, it remains one of […]
Maurice Sendak (1928-2012) was an American children’s writer, illustrator, producer, actor, and director. He was born in America to Polish immigrants. At the age of 12, he was deeply impressed by the animated film Fantasia and decided to become an illustrator. He wrote his first book in 1951. He received […]
This picture book is a warm collection of short verses and little stories about children playing, pretending, and figuring out the world together. Ruth Krauss’s text is simple and playful, and Maurice Sendak’s drawings capture the small, everyday dramas and joys of childhood. It’s an early example of how well […]
The books in the E. H. Minarik series about the Little Bear are practically classics of American children’s literature. The series of six collections, the first appeared in 1957, is addressed to beginning readers and consists of simple stories from the life of a mother bear and her Little Bear […]
Dear Mili is a little-known fairy tale written by Wilhelm Grimm, the younger of the famous Brothers Grimm, in 1816. The story was sent as a letter to a young girl named Mili but remained unpublished for over 170 years. It tells of a mother sending her child into the […]
Kenny’s Window is the first book Maurice Sendak both wrote and illustrated. It tells the dreamy, tender story of a boy named Kenny, who one night begins to wonder about life and happiness. In his sleep he enters a magical world and sets out to answer seven mysterious questions. Along […]
Very Far Away is Maurice Sendak’s second picture book as both author and illustrator, following Kenny’s Window. The story is about a little boy who, after getting in trouble at home, decides to run away in search of “very far away.” Along the way, he meets talking animals and a […]
The Giant Story is a tender and playful tale about an unlikely friendship between a little boy and a gentle giant. Written by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers and brought to life with Maurice Sendak’s warm, expressive illustrations, the book explores themes of kindness, acceptance, and the joy of companionship. One […]
The Bat-Poet is about a small bat who stays awake while the others sleep. He listens, watches, and begins to make poems about what he notices — the animals, the world, even himself. The other bats don’t really understand why he does this, and he sometimes feels unsure. But little […]
This tender story follows a little girl who wants to find just the right birthday present for her mother. Unsure what to choose, she turns to Mr. Rabbit for advice, and together they imagine gifts as colorful and delightful as the world around them. Charlotte Zolotow’s lyrical text is paired […]
In this small, rhythmic book, Sendak takes the reader through all twelve months of the year, with each month linked to the cozy idea of eating chicken soup with rice. The simple rhymes are fun to read aloud, and the drawings are full of little jokes and charm. It’s a […]
Maurice Sendak’s The Nutcracker offers a strikingly original vision of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic Christmas tale. Created in conjunction with Sendak’s celebrated set and costume designs for the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s 1983 production, this book presents the familiar story of Clara, her mysterious godfather Drosselmeier, and the enchanted journey to the […]
This is the story of Jennie, a little Sealyham terrier who feels she has everything a dog could want — but still believes “there must be more to life.” She leaves home to search for adventure and finds herself in a series of odd and sometimes puzzling encounters, all leading […]
This book joins together two old nursery rhymes, illustrated and expanded by Maurice Sendak. In both, ordinary verses turn into strange little adventures: Hector Protector, who is “dressed all in green,” and the traveler who “went over the water,” each stumble into odd and sometimes unsettling situations. Sendak’s pictures make […]
What Do You Say, Dear? is a delightfully humorous picture book that teaches children manners in a playful and imaginative way. Through a series of whimsical scenarios—ranging from fancy tea parties to encounters with wild animals—the book asks, “What do you say, dear?” at just the right moments. Maurice Sendak’s […]
The Big Green Book tells the story of a boy who finds a strange book in his uncle’s library. It turns out to be full of magic, letting him play tricks and even outsmart the adults around him. Maurice Sendak’s drawings make the story feel even more playful. They are […]