Favorite Picture Books for the Homeschool

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Picture books aren’t difficult to find, but many of them are full of twaddle. I’m sharing our top favorite picture books that are inspired by a Charlotte Mason education.

First of all, what is twaddle? In the simplest of terms, it is any content which doesn’t inspire. It describes books that are a waste of time to read.

Twaddle doesn’t inspire intelligence and is dumbed down. Basically, if it does not inspire the mind, soul, and spirt….it is twaddle.

Living books are kind of a big deal in a Charlotte Mason inspired education. And a living book is one which comes to life. It is a book which engages the reader and will produce interest in the topic as they become enthralled by the storyline.

For picture books, the images are both beautiful and inspiring. They also inspire good values and create imaginative play in children.

New to Homeschooling? Check out the 6 Methods of Homeschooling post for some ideas on getting started.

This post has been updated from its original publish date of January 12, 2021.

Favorite Charlotte Mason Inspired Picture Books

In this post, I’m sharing some of our absolute favorite picture books that are clean, inspiring, rich in language and include beautiful images.

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A lot of the books that I’m sharing are some of the most beloved in our home. And I’m a firm believer in keeping picture books for all ages. Even mom enjoys these for read aloud time!

Our current collection is in the hundreds that we’ve built slowly over the many years of raising my children. Since they are so numerous, I will break down future book lists by season or holiday in future posts.

A child’s intercourse must always be with good books, the best that we can find. We must put into their hands the sources which we must needs use for ourselves, the best books of the best writers. For the mind is capable of dealing with only one kind of food; it lives, grows and is nourished upon ideas only; mere information is to it as a meal of sawdust to the body”.

– Charlotte Mason

Favorite Picture Books

Madeline in London by Ludwig Bemelmans

Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel

The Story of Babar by Jean de Brunhoff

The Velenteen Rabbit by William Nicholson

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelman

Corduroy by Don Freeman

Hedgie’s Surprise by Jan Brett

The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion

Town Mouse Country Mouse by Jan Brett

Angus and the Ducks by Marjorie Flack

Little Bear by Else Minarik

Who Took the Farmer’s Hat by Joan Nodset

The Big Alfie and Annie Rose Storybook by Shirley Hughes

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton

Petunia by Roger Duvoisin

Chanticleer and the Fox by Barbara Cooney

The Knight and the Dragon by Tomie DePaola

One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey

The Three Little Pigs by Paul Galdone

Babar the King by Jean de Brunhoff

Story Collections

Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter by Betrix Potter

A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson & illustrated by Tasha Tudor

The Complete Brambly Hedge by Jill Barklem

James Herriot’s Treasury for Children by James Harriot

Fables by Arnold Lobel

Poetic Primers Set by B.B. Gallagher

Religious Picture Books

Robin Hood the Just, a Catholic Hero by Ellen Tomasjewski

A Child’s Christmas ABC Book by Paul Thigpen

Saint Philomena, Daughter of Light by Anna Kuck

The Parables of Jesus by Tomie DePaola

Book of Bible Stories by Tomie DePaola

Nature Picture Books

One Small Square Series by Donald Silver and Patricia Wynne

A Nest is Noisy by Dianna Hutts Aston

An Egg is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Aston

Crinkleroot Series by Jim Arnosky

A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston

A Butterfly is Patient by Dianna Hutts Aston

More nature study favorites can be found here.