Boni Ashburn
CHILDREN’S 
BOOK 
AUTHOR

© 2015 Boni Ashburn. All rights reserved. Site design Donna Farrell.
READ!http://donnadoodles.comshapeimage_4_link_0
i home i about i books i read! i blog i contact
Looking for a GOOD PICTURE BOOK to read? 
(or an easy reader or chapter book?) 
You're in the right place!

My criteria? Simple- but not easy.
It either makes me laugh out loud, wish I'd written it, or want to share it with everyone I meet.

* If you do not have a good appreciation for dark humor and/or enjoy books in which characters (main or otherwise) are devoured, ingested, gobbled up or snacked upon in any way, steer clear of the books marked by an asterisk.
However, if you love them like I do, read on!

o
o
o
My Favorite Picture books 
(Of all time!)
*I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
Itsy Mitsy Runs Away by Elanna Allen
I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont
Piggie Pie by Margie Palatini
Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus by Mo Willems
* Tadpole’s Promise by Jeanne Willis
The Stinky Cheese Man by Jon Scieszka
* Henny Penny by Jane Wattenberg
Falling For Rapunzel by Leah Wilcox
Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum by Lisa Wheeler
The Best Pet Of All by David LaRochelle
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown by Cressida Cowell
When Dinosaurs Came With Everything by Elise Broach
Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt
Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard
Diary Of A Wombat by Jackie French
Dotty by Erica S. Perl

*I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
Itsy Mitsy Runs Away by Elanna Allen
I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont
Piggie Pie by Margie Palatini
Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus by Mo Willems
* Tadpole’s Promise by Jeanne Willis
The Stinky Cheese Man by Jon Scieszka
* Henny Penny by Jane Wattenberg
Falling For Rapunzel by Leah Wilcox
Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum by Lisa Wheeler
The Best Pet Of All by David LaRochelle
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown by Cressida Cowell
When Dinosaurs Came With Everything by Elise Broach
Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt
Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard
Diary Of A Wombat by Jackie French
Dotty by Erica S. Perl
http://www.elannaallen.com/http://karenbeaumont.com/http://www.margiepalatini.com/http://www.mowillems.com/http://jeannewillis.com/http://www.jsworldwide.com/http://www.janewattenberg.com/http://www.lisawheelerbooks.com/http://www.davidlarochelle.net/index.htmlhttp://www.doreencronin.com/http://www.cressidacowell.co.uk/http://www.elisebroach.com/http://melaniewatt.blogspot.com/http://www.elisebroach.com/http://www.jeremytankard.com/http://www.jackiefrench.com/http://www.ericaperl.com/shapeimage_12_link_0shapeimage_12_link_1shapeimage_12_link_2shapeimage_12_link_3shapeimage_12_link_4shapeimage_12_link_5shapeimage_12_link_6shapeimage_12_link_7shapeimage_12_link_8shapeimage_12_link_9shapeimage_12_link_10shapeimage_12_link_11shapeimage_12_link_12shapeimage_12_link_13shapeimage_12_link_14shapeimage_12_link_15shapeimage_12_link_16
Short & sweet:
There’s always time to read a good book!
What Can A Crane Pick Up? by Rebecca Kai Dotlich
Firefly July by Paul B. Janeczko
Jazz Baby by Lisa Wheeler
First The Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
A Good Day by Kevin Henkes
Dog and Bear: Two Friends, Three Stories by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
It's Not Fair by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
The Pigeon Wants A Puppy by Mo Willems
A Penguin Story by Antoinette Portis
Birds by Kevin Henkes
The Frogs And Toads All Sang by Arnold Lobel
All The World by Liz Garton Scanlon
Pete The Cat by Eric Litwin
Guyku by Bob Raczka
http://rebeccakaidotlich.com/http://www.paulbjaneczko.com/http://lisawheelerbooks.com/http://www.kevinhenkes.com/http://www.whoisamy.com/http://www.antoinetteportis.com/http://www.ericlitwin.com/http://www.studiolvs.com/http://www.studiolvs.comhttp://www.mowillems.com/http://www.kevinhenkes.com/http://www.lizgartonscanlon.com/http://www.bobraczka.com/http://www.lindasuepark.com/shapeimage_14_link_0shapeimage_14_link_1shapeimage_14_link_2shapeimage_14_link_3shapeimage_14_link_4shapeimage_14_link_5shapeimage_14_link_6shapeimage_14_link_7shapeimage_14_link_8shapeimage_14_link_9shapeimage_14_link_10shapeimage_14_link_11shapeimage_14_link_12shapeimage_14_link_13
Read-out-loudability: 
The art of language.
Kid Sheriff And The Terrible Toads by Bob Shea
Samantha On A Roll by Linda Ashman
If You Want To See A Whale by Julie Fogliano
Xander’s Panda Party by Linda Sue Park
* A Frog In The Bog by Karma Wilson
The Snail and The Whale by Julia Donaldson
Someone Bigger by Jonathan Emmett
The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County by Janice N. Harrington 
Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner 
Grandpa’s Teeth by Rod Clement
The Perfect Nest by Catherine Friend
Very Hairy Bear by Alice Schertle
Snip! Snap! What's That? by Mara Bergman
Gertrude Is Gertrude Is Gertrude by Jonah Winter
Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy
Catfish Kate and the Sweet Swamp Band by Sarah Weeks
Creaky Old House by Linda Ashman
Kid Sheriff And The Terrible Toads by Bob Shea
Samantha On A Roll by Linda Ashman
If You Want To See A Whale by Julie Fogliano
Xander’s Panda Party by Linda Sue Park
* A Frog In The Bog by Karma Wilson
The Snail and The Whale by Julia Donaldson
Someone Bigger by Jonathan Emmett
The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County by Janice N. Harrington 
Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner 
Grandpa’s Teeth by Rod Clement
The Perfect Nest by Catherine Friend
Very Hairy Bear by Alice Schertle
Snip! Snap! What's That? by Mara Bergman
Gertrude Is Gertrude Is Gertrude by Jonah Winter
Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy
Catfish Kate and the Sweet Swamp Band by Sarah Weeks
Creaky Old House by Linda Ashmanhttp://bobshea.com/http://www.lindaashman.com/http://www.lindasuepark.com/http://www.karmawilson.com/http://www.juliadonaldson.co.uk/http://www.scribblestreet.co.uk/http://www.janiceharrington.com/http://www.judithbyronschachner.com/http://www.catherinefriend.com/HTMLMainPages/booksforchildren.htmhttp://www.jonahwinter.com/http://www.sarahweeks.com/http://www.lindaashman.com/index.htmhttp://www.patzietlowmiller.com/shapeimage_17_link_0shapeimage_17_link_1shapeimage_17_link_2shapeimage_17_link_3shapeimage_17_link_4shapeimage_17_link_5shapeimage_17_link_6shapeimage_17_link_7shapeimage_17_link_8shapeimage_17_link_9shapeimage_17_link_10shapeimage_17_link_11shapeimage_17_link_12
SILLY, GOOFY, FUN
(The best kind!)
Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett
Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller
*Oliver and His Alligator by Paul Schmid
Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham
Earth To Clunk by Pam Smallcomb
Jumpy Jack And Googily by Meg Rosoff
Doctor Ted by Andrea Beaty
Monkey With A Toolbelt by Chris Munroe
Big Plans by Bob Shea
Those Darn Squirrels by Adam Rubin
Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas
Are You A Horse? by Andy Rashhttp://www.macbarnett.com/http://www.lauriekeller.com/http://www.paulschmidbooks.com/books/Welcome.htmlhttp://www.kellybinghambooks.com/http://www.pamsmallcomb.com/http://www.megrosoff.co.uk/http://www.andreabeaty.com/http://www.bobshea.com/http://www.adamrubinhasawebsite.com/http://www.janthomasbooks.com/Home.htmlhttp://www.rashworks.com/http://www.mattylong.com/shapeimage_19_link_0shapeimage_19_link_1shapeimage_19_link_2shapeimage_19_link_3shapeimage_19_link_4shapeimage_19_link_5shapeimage_19_link_6shapeimage_19_link_7shapeimage_19_link_8shapeimage_19_link_9shapeimage_19_link_10shapeimage_19_link_11
TERRIFIC Books FOR TODDLERS: 
Guaranteed to induce giggles, hold attention, or be requested over and over again.
* Bark, George by Jules Feiffer 
Gossie by Olivier Dunrea
Do Pigs Have Stripes? by Melanie Walsh
The Teeny, Tiny Woman by Arthur Robbins
Frank Was A Monster Who Wanted To Dance by Keith Graves 
Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems
Mrs McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash by Sarah Weeks
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Beach Day by Patricia Lakin
Wiggle by Doreen Cronin
What Will Fat Cat Sit On? by Jan Thomas 
* I’m The Biggest Thing In The Ocean by Kevin Sherry
Pouch! by David Ezra Steinhttp://www.olivierdunrea.com/http://www.keithgravesart.com/http://www.mowillems.com/http://www.sarahweeks.com/http://www.eric-carle.com/home.htmlhttp://www.patricialakin.com/http://www.doreencronin.com/http://www.janthomasbooks.com/Home.htmlhttp://www.kevinsherryonline.com/http://www.davidezra.com/http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/shapeimage_21_link_0shapeimage_21_link_1shapeimage_21_link_2shapeimage_21_link_3shapeimage_21_link_4shapeimage_21_link_5shapeimage_21_link_6shapeimage_21_link_7shapeimage_21_link_8shapeimage_21_link_9shapeimage_21_link_10
The art of STORYTELLING: 
Captivating well-told tales.
Stuck by Oliver Jeffers
Abe Lincoln Crosses A Creek: A Tall, Thin Tale by Deborah Hopkinson
Jake Johnson: The Story Of A Mule by Tres Seymour 
The Gigantic Turnip by Aleksei Tolstoy & Niamh Sharkey
How I Became A Pirate by Melinda Long
* The Hungry Hen by Richard Waring
Two Of Everything by Lily Toy Hong
And The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon by Janet Stevens
Clever Jack Takes The Cake by Candace Fleming
The Full Belly Bowl by Jim Aylesworth
Many Moons by James Thurber
Hoodwinked by Arthur Howard
Enemy Pie by Derek Munson
A Visitor For Bear by Bonny Becker
Thunder Boomer by Shutta Crum
Here Comes The Garbage Barge by Jonah Winter
Stuck by Oliver Jeffers
Abe Lincoln Crosses A Creek: A Tall, Thin Tale by Deborah Hopkinson
Jake Johnson: The Story Of A Mule by Tres Seymour 
The Gigantic Turnip by Aleksei Tolstoy & Niamh Sharkey
How I Became A Pirate by Melinda Long
* The Hungry Hen by Richard Waring
Two Of Everything by Lily Toy Hong
And The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon by Janet Stevens
Clever Jack Takes The Cake by Candace Fleming
The Full Belly Bowl by Jim Aylesworth
Many Moons by James Thurber
Hoodwinked by Arthur Howard
Enemy Pie by Derek Munson
A Visitor For Bear by Bonny Becker
Thunder Boomer by Shutta Crum
Here Comes The Garbage Barge by Jonah Winterhttp://www.oliverjeffers.comhttp://www.deborahhopkinson.com/http://www.niamhsharkey.com/http://www.melindalong.com/http://www.janetstevens.com/http://www.candacefleming.com/http://www.ayles.com/http://www.enemypie.com/http://bonnybecker.com/http://shutta.com/http://www.jonahwinter.com/http://www.jsarconeroach.com/shapeimage_24_link_0shapeimage_24_link_1shapeimage_24_link_2shapeimage_24_link_3shapeimage_24_link_4shapeimage_24_link_5shapeimage_24_link_6shapeimage_24_link_7shapeimage_24_link_8shapeimage_24_link_9shapeimage_24_link_10shapeimage_24_link_11
POETIC NON-FICTION: 
Picture book perfection!
Some Bugs by Angela DiTerlizzi
An Island Grows by Lola Schaefer
What Do You Do With A Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page
Ubiquitous by Joyce Sidman
Red Sings From Treetops by Joyce Sidman
In the Wild by David Elliott
Insect Detective by Steve and Charlotte Voake
Vulture View by April Pulley Sayre
Comets, Stars, The Moon And Mars by Douglas Florian
An Egg Is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Aston
You Never Heard Of Sandy Koufax?! by Jonah Winter
Mammoths On The Move by Lisa Wheelerhttp://www.lolaschaefer.com/http://www.stevejenkinsbooks.com/http://www.joycesidman.com/http://www.joycesidman.com/http://www.davidelliottbooks.com/http://www.aprilsayre.com/http://www.douglasflorian.com/http://diannahaston.com/http://www.jonahwinter.com/http://lisawheelerbooks.comhttp://janeyolen.com/http://www.heidieystemple.com/http://laurelsnyder.com/shapeimage_26_link_0shapeimage_26_link_1shapeimage_26_link_2shapeimage_26_link_3shapeimage_26_link_4shapeimage_26_link_5shapeimage_26_link_6shapeimage_26_link_7shapeimage_26_link_8shapeimage_26_link_9shapeimage_26_link_10shapeimage_26_link_11shapeimage_26_link_12
Wicked humor, delightfully dark 
(Just the way I like it!)
*Arlene Sardine by Chris Raschka
*Carnivores by Aaron Reynolds
* Ugly Fish by Kara LaReau
* Wolves by Emily Gravett
* Tadpole’s Promise by Jeanne Willis
* Hush, Little Dragon by me
Monster Goose by Judy Sierra
* The Gashlycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey
Yummy by Lucy Cousins 
Sipping Spiders Through A Straw by Kelly DiPucchio
* Beware Of The Frog by William Bee 
* Egg Drop by Mini Grey
* The Book That Eats People by John Perryhttp://www.aaron-reynolds.com/http://karalareau.com/HUSH,_LITTLE_DRAGON.htmlhttp://www.edwardgoreyhouse.org/http://www.kellydipucchio.com/http://williambee.com/http://minigrey.com/http://www.bookthateatspeople.com/http://lucyruthcummins.squarespace.com/shapeimage_28_link_0shapeimage_28_link_1shapeimage_28_link_2shapeimage_28_link_3shapeimage_28_link_4shapeimage_28_link_5shapeimage_28_link_6shapeimage_28_link_7shapeimage_28_link_8
Bedtime books: 
Soothing stories for sweet dreams.
The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood
Time For Bed by Mem Fox
Kiss Goodnight by Amy Hest
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
I Took The Moon For A Walk by Carolyn Curtis
Starry Safari by Linda Ashman
Goodnight, Moon by Margaret Wise Brown 
When The Wind Stops by Charlotte Zolotow & Stefano Vitale
The Napping House by Audrey Wood
Stella: Fairy of The Forest by Marie-Louise Gay
Don’t Let The Pigeon Stay Up Late by Mo Willems
Where The Giant Sleeps by Mem Fox
In A Blue Room by Jim Averbeck
http://www.deborahunderwoodbooks.com/http://www.memfox.com/welcome.htmlhttp://www.amyhest.com/http://www.karmawilson.com/http://www.lindaashman.com/index.htmhttp://www.audreywood.com/http://marielouisegay.com/http://www.mowillems.com/http://memfox.com/http://www.jimaverbeckbooks.com/shapeimage_30_link_0shapeimage_30_link_1shapeimage_30_link_2shapeimage_30_link_3shapeimage_30_link_4shapeimage_30_link_5shapeimage_30_link_6shapeimage_30_link_7shapeimage_30_link_8shapeimage_30_link_9
learning to read: 
Fun, funny books which will build confidence and improve skills.
Cork And Fuzz: Short and Tall by Dori Chaconas
The Cat On The Mat Is Flat by Andy Griffiths
Sheep In A Jeep by Nancy Shaw
Elephant and Piggie: My Friend Is Sad by Mo Willems
Elephant and Piggie: Are You Ready To Play Outside? by Mo Willems
Cowboy and Octopus by Jon Scieszka
The Monster In The Backpack by Lisa Moser
Joe And Sparky Get New Wheels by Jamie Michalak
Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo & Alison McGheehttp://www.dorichaconas.com/http://www.andygriffiths.com.au/http://www.nancyshawbooks.com/http://www.mowillems.com/http://www.mowillems.com/http://www.jsworldwide.com/http://lisamoserbooks.com/http://www.jamiemichalak.com/http://www.katedicamillo.com/http://www.alisonmcghee.com/http://bobshea.com/shapeimage_32_link_0shapeimage_32_link_1shapeimage_32_link_2shapeimage_32_link_3shapeimage_32_link_4shapeimage_32_link_5shapeimage_32_link_6shapeimage_32_link_7shapeimage_32_link_8shapeimage_32_link_9shapeimage_32_link_10
RELUCTANT READER picks: 
Recommendations straight from my son, Jack-and one from his sister, Lily. 
(these vary in reading level-some are more advanced than others.)
Apocalypse Bow Wow by James Proimos III
Sidekicks by Dan Santat
Lunch Lady And The Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Stone Rabbit- B.C. Mambo by Erik Craddock
Otto's Orange Day by Jay Lynch & Frank Cammuso
Stinky by Eleanor Davis
Wombat And Fox by Terry Denton
Diary Of A Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Knights Of The Lunch Table by Frank Cammuso 
The 3-2-3 Detective Agency by Fiona Robinson
Frankie Pickle by Eric Wight
The Riot Brothers Books by Mary Amato
Babymouse by Jennifer L. Holmhttp://dansantat.tumblr.com/http://www.studiojjk.com/http://www.erikcraddock.com/http://www.cammuso.com/http://www.terrydenton.com/http://www.wimpykid.com/http://www.cammuso.com/http://fionarobinsonbooks.com/http://ewight.carbonmade.com/http://www.maryamato.com/http://www.jenniferholm.com/http://www.johngreenart.com/http://www.squeetus.com/stage/main.htmlshapeimage_34_link_0shapeimage_34_link_1shapeimage_34_link_2shapeimage_34_link_3shapeimage_34_link_4shapeimage_34_link_5shapeimage_34_link_6shapeimage_34_link_7shapeimage_34_link_8shapeimage_34_link_9shapeimage_34_link_10shapeimage_34_link_11shapeimage_34_link_12
CHAPTER BOOKS: 
Okay, now I can read. Find me a fun book!
Starring Jules As Herself by Beth Ain
Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon
Timmy Failure-Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis
Violet Mackerel’s Brilliant Plot by Anna Branford
Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little by Peggy Gifford
Bad Kitty Gets A Bath by Nick Bruel
Clementine by Sara Pennypacker 
Supernatural Rubber Chicken by D. L. Garfinkle
Violet Bing And The Grand House by Jennifer Paros
Snake And Lizard by Joy Cowley
Knucklehead by Jon Scieszka
Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo
The Dunderheads by Paul Fleischman
You're A Bad Man, Mr. Gum by Andy Stanton
Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist by R. L. LaFevers
Bad To The Bone (The Down Girl And Sit series) by Lucy Nolan
Marty McGuire by Kate Messner
The Brixton Brothers series by Mac Barnett

http://www.bethain.com/HOME.htmlhttp://www.abbyhanlon.com/http://annabranford.com/http://www.peggygifford.com/http://www.nickbruel.com/http://www.sarapennypacker.com/http://www.debralgreen.com/http://www.jenniferparos.com/http://www.joycowley.com/http://www.jsworldwide.com/http://www.katedicamillo.com/http://www.paulfleischman.net/http://www.mrgum.co.uk/author/http://www.rllafevers.com/Home.htmlhttp://www.lucynolanbooks.com/Web%20Site/index.htmlhttp://www.katemessner.com/http://www.macbarnett.com/shapeimage_36_link_0shapeimage_36_link_1shapeimage_36_link_2shapeimage_36_link_3shapeimage_36_link_4shapeimage_36_link_5shapeimage_36_link_6shapeimage_36_link_7shapeimage_36_link_8shapeimage_36_link_9shapeimage_36_link_10shapeimage_36_link_11shapeimage_36_link_12shapeimage_36_link_13shapeimage_36_link_14shapeimage_36_link_15shapeimage_36_link_16
i home i about i books i read! i blog i contact
i home i about i books i read! i blog i contactHOME.htmlABOUT.htmlBOOKS.htmlhttp://boniashburnblogs.blogspot.comCONTACT.htmlshapeimage_55_link_0shapeimage_55_link_1shapeimage_55_link_2shapeimage_55_link_3shapeimage_55_link_4shapeimage_55_link_5