[alan-jordan Posts: 945 Status: Offline Writing that Entertains and Empowers]

My favorite recent PB is  Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin. Daniel Samlieri's whimsical illustrations appeal to me. The story is captivating and uses a great deal of varied sensory inputs. 

Care to chime in with your favorite PB that's been published in the last five years?

[HDWestlund Posts: 993 Status: Offline writer and bookseller]

Just one? I can't manage that.

My kiddo (two) and I both love Ben Hatke's JULIA'S HOUSE FOR LOST CREATURES. The art and layout are fantastic (PB meets graphic novel), and the story is very cute. My daughter likes to pretend that she's putting signs on the door and creatures are coming to stay. We also really love BERNICE GETS CARRIED AWAY by Hannah Harrison. The art is gorgeous and the story pitch perfect for little kids seeking to understand moods and actions. She's also super into ZEN GHOSTS by Jon Muth right now. I think with that one it's primarily the illustrations, though she seems to really like the little side story Stillwater tells, too, and she's started saying, "Draw me a story, Mama!" If only I had the skill.

[Anne Marie Posts: 2,854 Status: Offline VAMPIRINA season 3 is on Disney Junior now! WWW]

SOPHIE'S SQUASH written by Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf, for the language and word play.
MOTHER BRUCE written and illustrated by Ryan T. Higgins for the humor.
LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET written by Matt de la Pena, illustrated by Christian Robinson for the heart.

You said one. I could do twenty.  I compromise.

[alan-jordan Posts: 945 Status: Offline Writing that Entertains and Empowers]

Three is fine.  Thanks.  I also like  One by Kathryn Otoshi for her simple way of conveying a lesson on bullying through colors,  and helping children to learn to count.

[Arona Posts: 449 Status: Offline The house didn't fall on me. It fell on my sister.]

Lane Fredrickson's Monster Trouble. Cute and colorful. MC isn't portrayed as is customary (being scared of monsters), and finds an adorable way of getting them out of her hair. (Love that it rhymes, too.)

[Shauna LaVoy Reynolds Posts: 34 Status: Offline reader / writer / dreamer / delighter]

Anne Marie, we have very similar taste.

I'll add Deborah Underwood and Claudia Rueda's HERE COMES _______ CAT books because they make me laugh out loud even after multiple reads.

Dan Santat's BEEKLE for heart (and because I'm still smug about predicting the Caldecott Medal that year.)

WORM LOVES WORM by JJ Austrian and Mike Curato because it could have been preachy and heavy-handed and instead was super-simple and lovely.

And MAYBE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL by F. Isobel Campoy, Theresa Howell, and Rafael Lopez because the illustrations are so warm and rich and I love the story more every time I read it.

I could go on. And on and on and on. And on.

[Marcia Posts: 474 Status: Offline Never Too Late To Be What You Were Meant to Be WWW]

Another vote for Worm Loves Worm. I also thought My Friend Maggie by Hannah Harrison was very sweet and special.

[Schriscoe Posts: 1,803 Status: Offline www.sharonchriscoebooks.com WWW]

Oh! Fun topic!

WAITING by Kevin Henkes is simply beautiful! I'll be back later to add some more! There are sooo many great ones!

[Rissa W. Posts: 13 Status: Offline *~ Think Good Thoughts ~*]

THE CURIOUS GARDEN by Peter Brown is one of my absolute favorites for its simplicity, eco-optimism, and subtle humor.

INTERSTELLAR CINDERELLA by Deborah Underwood is another stellar (ha!) book for its humorous and empowering twist on a classic.

MY BLUE IS HAPPY by Jessica Young is a fantastic way to introduce kids to different perspectives and associations, and to show that it's okay to view the world differently.

MARISOL MCDONALD DOESN'T MATCH by Monica Brown is a colorful, bilingual (English/Spanish), delightful book about individuality and confidence.

And finally, anything and everything by Peter Reynolds, especially THE NORTH STAR and SKY COLOR (really, the whole Creatrilogy).

[Andi W. Posts: 546 Status: Offline WWW]

Ida Always by Caron Levis/ Charles Santoso for great heart.

How Martha Saved Her Parents From Green Beans by David LaRochelle/Mark Fearing for the humor

Poor Doreen, A Fishy Tale by Sally Lloyd-Jones/Alexandra Boiger for Brilliance

And there are so many more...

[anne-corkery Posts: 10 Status: Offline Picture Book Writer and Former School Librarian]

Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast by Josh Funk!

[Jean Reidy Posts: 724 Status: Offline I love kids' books!! WWW]

Another vote for WAITING by Kevin Henkes

[alan-jordan Posts: 945 Status: Offline Writing that Entertains and Empowers]

Hi Everyone,

I'm having a great time reading these books. Thank you for suggesting them. 

Waiting resonates with me.  It resonates as much as My Little Polar Bear by Claudi Rueda, which awakens a deep sense of peace with me.

I have decided to use Waiting as a model for book with the tentative title of Wondering. My manuscript will be totally different, but I hope to capture Waiting's sense of serenity, and to inspire a sense of awe for the value that comes from collective, constructive wondering.

[RebeccaL-G Posts: 1,197 Status: Offline RA SCBWI Cen-Cal WWW]

Ned the Knitting Pirate by our own Diana Murray.  My class adores it. 

[DianaM Posts: 969 Status: Offline Writer, rhymer, runner, punner. WWW]

Aw, thanks so much, Rebecca!!! 

My seven year old recently became obsessed with EVERYBODY LOVES BACON by Kelly Dipucchio, illustrated by Eric Wight. She thought it was just hilarious, as did I. She also loves IT'S RAINING BATS AND FROGS by our own Rebecca Colby from the UK (a different Rebecca).

Both of my kids also loved BEARD IN A BOX.

I recently read QUIT CALLING ME A MONSTER and that was very funny. So was NORMAL NORMAN.

We tend to go for funny around here.

[Sue Irwin Posts: 63 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Melanie Watt's Scaredy Squirrel books
I love the way Melanie's writing makes me laugh, as the little worrywart works to overcome his fears... So cute!
 

[gregory-bray Posts: 35 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

My son has been enjoying Too Many Moose by Lisa M Bakos. A great rhyming picture book.

[LindaJoy Posts: 391 Status: Offline Linda Joy Singleton author of SNOW DOG, SAND DOG WWW]

My favorite recent picture book is SWALLOW THE LEADER by Danna Smith. Yes, she's a friend of mine but I'm speaking on the behalf of my 5 year old granddaughter who asked me to read this funny fish-shark counting book over and over. Educational with great art and fishy humor.

[Vijaya Posts: 6,890 Status: Offline Encourage WWW]

A lot of my favorites are already mentioned. I'll add an author-illustrator: Salina Yoon. I love her PBs because they are so charming and layered. Great read-aloud quality. And the illustrations are so cute. I don't know how she makes all her characters so expressive.

[Schriscoe Posts: 1,803 Status: Offline www.sharonchriscoebooks.com WWW]

A lot of my favorites are already mentioned. I'll add an author-illustrator: Salina Yoon. I love her PBs because they are so charming and layered. Great read-aloud quality. And the illustrations are so cute. I don't know how she makes all her characters so expressive.

Agree! And Salina's messages are always so kind and loving.  her books!

[Marcia Posts: 474 Status: Offline Never Too Late To Be What You Were Meant to Be WWW]

I have a new blog post containing quick reviews for 16 of my favorite recent picture book releases--difficult to narrow them down, but I opted for a variety of publishers and styles. Let me know in the comments which of your favorites I've missed and I'll add them to next month's library purchases. Thanks!  https://marciastrykowski.com/2016/10/26/new-picture-book

[Tammi Posts: 1,342 Status: Offline WWW]

Marcia, thanks so much for including MARY HAD A LITTLE GLAM in the mix. 

[Marcia Posts: 474 Status: Offline Never Too Late To Be What You Were Meant to Be WWW]

Hi Tammi, sorry I didn't see your comment sooner. I love MARY HAD A LITTLE GLAM and hadn't even realized (or rather, I hadn't remembered) it was a blue board book! Just yesterday I pulled it off a bottom shelf and put it high on display at my library.