How One Nasty Lie Turned My Life Upside Down

​Actual Title: Awesome Kids Books I’ve Been Inspired By 

By Natalie Peterson 

I have read millions if not hundreds of kids books over these past three years of parenting and one thing I’ve learned is: I like em. 

I love seeing all the ways authors and illustrators play with the picture book form. Finding a great kids book that both you and your kid loves feels like stumbling upon buried treasure (or whatever the modern day equivalent of treasure is) (buried Chick-fil-A gift cards maybe.) 

Here are some of our recent faves 

Meet the Parents by Peter Bentley 

Sara Ogilvie illustrated Meet the Parents. I’ve never seen a more honest and funny depiction of parenthood in a kids book before. I like that it’s not whiny or preachy at the kids- it’s just full of heart and humor about living life in a world of young and old. 

Phoebe picked this out at the library a couple weeks ago and we re-read it several times. It’s about a young family who travels to the border in hopes to give their grandma a Christmas gift. It’s delightfully illustrated with a hand craft feel that I love. 

All of the Toot and Puddle books by Holly Hobby are crazy beautiful. She’s a watercolor master who also knows how to create charming pig friendship stories. These were my favorites as a kid and now Phoebe loves them too. 

I mean….could it get cozier? 

This is Phoebe’s current favorite despite her disdain for dogs. It’s from the 1960s. The illustrations are simple and the colors are weird. Before Phoebe, I wouldn’t have cared much for this one, but I think it’s pull for her is in the strong emotions and the catchy rhyme scheme. Also the story has a satisfying arc. 

We picked up The Tiger Who Came to Tea in England and all of us have loved its charm and simplicity. I like that the drawings feel approachable- like a kid or student could’ve done them, but then also there’s a design complexity that makes them stand out. Phoebe likes that a Tiger has come to tea. Who wouldn’t? 

Baby’s Here is a genius book. Genevieve Godbout is a colored pencil boss if I ever saw one. This is one of my favorites to read with Phoebe because it’s interactive- so she can rock the baby to sleep and help the baby walk etc. Each page is so warm and calming without being too neutral- love. 

So sweet 

Last one! This book is gorgeously golden gilded and full of doodle-full spark. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to grab a fistful of crayons and draw the afternoon away. 

Alrighty. Of course there are lots more I’d recommend- Fancy Nancy for one and Snowy Day for two but I’m done here now. I shall leave thee with a fast fast scribble of my afternoon at the pool