[Jean Reidy Posts: 723 Status: Offline I love kids' books!! WWW]

Hi everyone!
Can you please point me in the direction of some recent picture book titles which have at least 4-6 named characters?
Thanks,
Jean

[KDuBayGillis Posts: 281 Status: Offline]

The one that immediately comes to mind are THE DUNDERHEADS...but I'm sure some will argue it isn't a true PB.

The other one I can think of is THE INSOMNIACS...about a family.

And I think Kevin Henke's CHRYSANTHEMUM has her as the MC, but then lists many of her friends and teachers.  (I think a few of his mouse-character books have several named characters.)

Curious to see what other titles folks come up with!

-Kellie

[Jaina Posts: 2,857 Status: Offline Just keep typing, just keep typing . . .]

Yoko by Rosemary Wells names Yoko, her mom (or is it Grandma?), and at least two kids in her class, if not more.

[Franzilla Posts: 998 Status: Offline Gah! WWW]

I can think of quite a few but they're all big brand series type books (Angelina Ballerina, Olivia, Mickey Mouse etc). That's probably not what you're looking for as with those series books it's easier, I think, for an author to introduce more characters over time.

Does Mo Willem's Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs count? The Three Ninja Pigs?

[CarrieF Posts: 201 Status: Offline WWW]

Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy has lots of named townspeople.

[TMarie Posts: 75 Status: Offline]

Hi Jean Reidy! A few come to mind,

Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor
Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton
Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad by David Soman and Jacky Davis
Henry in Love by Peter McCarty
and my friend Karen Kaufman Orloff's, I Wanna New Room has several!
I also have one circulating, still searching for that perfect publishing house though.

[Alison A Posts: 359 Status: Offline Writing! WWW]

My PB nature series has several named characters who appear in each book:
Five named kids, their teacher-Mr. Tate, and then an extra character who shares important subject information
(Farmer Ellen in THESE BEES COUNT!, Captain Ned in THESE SEAS COUNT!).

[Bobi Martin Posts: 222 Status: Offline Writers open the world to readers. WWW]

The Bernstein Bears have at least four.  Granny and the Bean Thief has six or maybe seven. You're All My Favorites has five.

[Margaret G Posts: 38 Status: Offline WWW]

Here are a few:

HUCK RUNS AMUCK by Sean Taylor -- I believe there are several named characters but one main one.
A HOME FOR BIRD by Philip C. Stead has 4 characters -- Vernon, Porcupine, Skunk, and Bird.
THE GINGERBREAD MAN LOOSE IN SCHOOL has the gingerbread man, coach, art teacher, nurse, and Principal Peacock. They're not all named, but they are all distinct characters who have lines of dialogue.

[eecoburn Posts: 202 Status: Offline]

BEAR'S NEW FRIEND by Karma Wilson

[taralazar Posts: 261 Status: Offline WWW]

This isn't very recent, Jean, but I always use it as an example of a picture book with multiple named characters that works really well. There's SEVEN named characters!

THE LOUDS MOVE IN! By Carolyn Crimi

P.S. THE MONSTORE has five named characters. Six if you count "The Monstore Manager", who doesn't have a name per se, but if he did, it would be Danny DeVito. Tee hee.

[Sheri D. Posts: 82 Status: Offline]

This isn't recent either (2003), but it was a favorite in my house:  HURRY GRANNY ANNIE. (four named characters)

[DonnaE Posts: 163 Status: Offline life is too short to wear pantyhose. WWW]

I hope it is okay to mention my book, Being Frank.
There are, including the main character, there are NINE named characters. They all interact with the main character and are instrumental in the storyline.

[AmyD Posts: 148 Status: Offline WWW]

THE SEVEN SILLY EATERS by Mary Ann Hoberman, illustrated by Marla Frazee. The entire Peters family plays a part, all 7 kids and the parents. It's brilliant.

Oh, just noticed you want recent. 1997 feels like yesterday to me, but I'm guessing it may not qualify 

[CarrieF Posts: 201 Status: Offline WWW]

Too Noisy by Malachy Doyle was one I read recently that had a lot of characters, but I'm not sure how distinct they were from each other (they're all in one family).

The Baby That Roared by Simon Puttock also had quite a few characters.

[GoldenBird Posts: 29 Status: Offline WWW]

CORGIVILLE FAIR by Tasha Tudor has a whole bunch of named characters - 11 or so. A few of them are only mentioned/pictured once, but many of them recur.

[DianaM Posts: 971 Status: Offline Writer, rhymer, runner, punner. WWW]

THE MONSTERS' MONSTER, 2012

[anita Posts: 318 Status: Offline I love kids' books! WWW]

An oldie but a goodie: The Doorbell Rang

[Nanci Posts: 31 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

The Betty Bunny books have 6.

[Jean Reidy Posts: 723 Status: Offline I love kids' books!! WWW]

Thanks, everyone! This is so helpful!
Jean