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I think it's amazing that an individual can write their own story & illustrate it. Author-illustrators have to do a lot of work to publish a book. Here are some of my favorites or classic author-illustrators with at least one example of a book they've produced. I respect people who can craft their own story entirely on their own; I wish I could do the same with my children's books! Instead, I've found some pretty talented women to help me out on the illustrations in my books & I think you will all thank me for that! ;)


1. Bill Peet wrote & illustrated Big Bad Bruce, The Caboose who Got Loose, Cowardly Clyde, Farewell to Shady Glade, Smokey & many more!
www.amazon.com/Big-Bad-Bruce-Bill-Peet/dp/0395329221/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=bill+peet&qid=1582752049&sr=8-10
2. Graeme Base wrote & illustrated Little Elephants, The Water Hole, & Animalia
www.amazon.com/Animalia-Picture-Puffins-Graeme-1996-10-01/dp/B01FKUQX4Q/ref=sr_1_26?keywords=Graeme+Base&qid=1582752262&sr=8-26
3. Brian Floca wrote & illustrated Moonshot, Lightship, Locomotive (which won the Caldecott medal award) & The Racecar Alphabet.
www.amazon.com/Locomotive-Caldecott-Medal-Brian-Floca/dp/1416994157/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=brian+floca&qid=1582756761&sr=8-3
4. Penny Dale wrote Dinosaur Rocket & Dinosaur Pirates.
www.amazon.com/Dinosaur-Rocket-Penny-Dales-Dinosaurs/dp/085763397X/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Dinosaur+Rocket&qid=1582752370&sr=8-2
5. Lisa Stubbs wrote Lily and Bear.
www.amazon.com/Lily-Bear-Lisa-Stubbs/dp/1481444166/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=lily+and+bear&qid=1582752444&sr=8-1
6. Don Freeman wrote & illustrated the beloved Courduroy series.
www.amazon.com/Corduroy-Don-Freeman/dp/0451470796/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=courduroiy&qid=1582752533&sr=8-1-spell
7. Ezra Jack Keats wrote the Snowy Day.
www.amazon.com/Snowy-Day-Ezra-Jack-Keats/dp/0140501827/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1DY7QPI0XIM4U&keywords=the+snowy+day&qid=1582754739&sprefix=the+snowy%2Caps%2C274&sr=8-1
8. Joseph Kuefler wrote & illustrated The Digger & the Flower & Rulers of the Playground.
www.amazon.com/Digger-Flower-Joseph-Kuefler/dp/0062424335/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=joseph+kuefler+books&qid=1582752607&sr=8-4
9. Marianne Richmond wrote & illustrated Be Brave Little One & In My Heart.
www.amazon.com/Brave-Little-One-Marianne-Richmond/dp/1492658812/ref=sr_1_1?crid=12BTSE6YXP4Z5&keywords=be+brave+little+one&qid=1582758079&sprefix=be+brave+litt%2Caps%2C205&sr=8-1
10. Bruce Degen wrote & illustrated Jamberry.
www.amazon.com/Jamberry-Bruce-Degen/dp/0694006513/ref=sr_1_2?crid=322LFMIPOK7XK&keywords=bruce+degen+books&qid=1582757824&sprefix=bruce+degan+b%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-2
11. Daniel San Souci who wrote & illustrated by North Country Night.
www.amazon.com/North-Country-Night-Daniel-Souci/dp/0440410290/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=North+Country+Night&qid=1582758656&sr=8-1
12. Eric Carle wrote & illustrated the Very Hungry Caterpillar & the Very Busy Spider.
www.amazon.com/Very-Hungry-Caterpillar-Eric-Carle/dp/0399208534/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1582758443&sr=8-3

13. Chris Gall wrote & illustrated Dinotrux.
https://www.amazon.com/Dinotrux-Chris-Gall/dp/0316405841/ref=sr_1_37?dchild=1&keywords=dinotrux&qid=1584581699&sr=8-37
14. Melanie Watts wrote & drew the Scaredy Squirrel series.

​15. Lane Smith wrote & illustrated Grandpa Green (which won a Caldecott award.)


​16. Maurice Sendak wrote & illustrated the beloved Where the Wild Things Are.
https://www.amazon.com/Where-Wild-Things-Maurice-Sendak/dp/0060254920/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1586539674&sr=8-1

I have a toddler son who LOVES anything and everything that moves & beeps or honks; this list of 15 picture books is dedicated to him, since these are the books he has exclusively requested at bedtime for about a year now. Think airplanes, trains, cars...VROOM! (Not included but coming soon will be a list of all our favorite construction books.)
I grouped the books below by trains, cars & trucks, & airplanes. Enjoy!

- A quick disclaimer: I am not sponsored by Amazon, but all the book links below are on Amazon.com simply because my server kept crashing with Barnes & Noble and Target. That being said, I'm sure you could find quite a few of these books at those stores.
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1. The Little Engine that Could
by: Watty Piper
www.amazon.com/Little-Engine-Could-Original-Classic/dp/0448405202/ref=sr_1_1?crid=11FSPYHBEQUGT&keywords=the+little+engine+that+could&qid=1581556298&s=books&sprefix=the+little+engine%2Cstripbooks%2C212&sr=1-1

2. How to Train a Train
by: Jason Carter Eaton
www.amazon.com/How-Train-Jason-Carter-Eaton/dp/0763663077/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=how+to+train+your+train&qid=1581558294&sr=8-2
​3. Trucker & Train
by: Hannah Stark
www.amazon.com/Trucker-Train-Hannah-Stark/dp/0544801814/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=trucker+and+train&qid=1581572432&sr=8-1
4. Steam Train, Dream Train
by: Sherri Duskey Rinker
(This cute one comes with sound book options also. See the link below! We also like Steam Train Dream Train COLORS.)
www.amazon.com/Steam-Train-Dream-Sound-Book/dp/1452128251/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1J4YPOCS8ECSW&keywords=steam+train+dream+train&qid=1581572615&sprefix=steam+train+dream%2Caps%2C-1&sr=8-6
5. Trains Run!
by: George Ella & Benn Lyon
www.amazon.com/Trains-Run-George-Ella-Lyon/dp/1481482025/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=trains+run&qid=1581572673&sr=8-1
6. If I Built a Car
by: Chris Van Dusen
www.amazon.com/Built-Car-Chris-Van-Dusen/dp/0142408255/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=If+I+built+a+car&qid=1581572815&sr=8-1
7. Little Blue Truck (the entire series is great! We love Little Blue Truck Leads the Way & the seasonal ones too!!)
by: Alice Schertle
www.amazon.com/Built-Car-Chris-Van-Dusen/dp/0142408255/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=If+I+built+a+car&qid=1581572815&sr=8-1
8. Little Fire Truck
by: Margery Cuyler
www.amazon.com/Little-Fire-Truck-Vehicles/dp/1627798056/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Little+fire+truck&qid=1581573140&s=books&sr=1-1
9. How to Track a Truck
by: Jason Carter Eaton
www.amazon.com/Track-Truck-Jason-Carter-Eaton/dp/0763680656/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp?cv_ct_cx=how+to+track+your+truck&keywords=how+to+track+your+truck&pd_rd_i=0763680656&pd_rd_r=b505170d-76bf-4a5e-aed5-1904c2fa4a2f&pd_rd_w=ITk8p&pd_rd_wg=OBLTo&pf_rd_p=a6d018ad-f20b-46c9-8920-433972c7d9b7&pf_rd_r=Q13K2AYGW6YBGNJB8EBA&psc=1&qid=1583283999&s=books
10. “and the cars go...”
by: William Bee
www.amazon.com/Cars-Go-William-Bee/dp/0763665800/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=and+the+cars+go&qid=1583278484&s=books&sr=1-1
11.Vroom!
by: Barbara McClintock
www.amazon.com/Vroom-Barbara-McClintock/dp/162672217X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=vroom&qid=1581573376&s=books&sr=1-1
12.Elbow Grease
by: John Cena
www.amazon.com/Elbow-Grease-John-Cena/dp/1524773506/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=elbow+grease&qid=1581573423&s=books&sr=1-2

13. If I Built a Car
by: Chris Van Duesen 
www.amazon.com/Built-Car-Chris-Van-Dusen/dp/0142408255/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=if+I+built+a+car&qid=1583278559&s=books&sr=1-1
14. Violet the Pilot
by: Steve Breen
(I love that the protagonist of this story is a girl & she's very innovative in creating her own airplane & wanting to race it against other pilots as a young girl. She ends up doing something more important with her aircraft on the day of the race, however.)
www.amazon.com/Violet-Pilot-Steve-Breen/dp/0425288196/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=violet+the+pilot&qid=1581573484&s=books&sr=1-1
15.Little Smokey
by: Robert Neubecker
www.amazon.com/Little-Smokey-Robert-Neubecker/dp/1984851047/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=little+smokey&qid=1581548366&s=books&sr=1-1
16.Planes Fly
by: George Lyon
www.amazon.com/Planes-Fly-George-Ella-Lyon/dp/1442450258/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=planes+fly&qid=1581573513&s=books&sr=1-1
17.The Airport Book
by; Lisa Brown
www.amazon.com/Airport-Book-Lisa-Brown/dp/1626720916/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+airport+book&qid=1581573541&s=books&sr=1-1

18. Choo Choo
by: Virginia Lee Burton (same author of Mike Mulligan's Steam Shovel)
www.amazon.com/Choo-Virginia-Lee-Burton/dp/0395479428/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Choo+choo&qid=1582659947&sr=8-1 


**Bonus Book (mostly colorful pictures & less wordy): ABC's for Boys, by: Michael Kracht**

I firmly believe that when our kids are little, Valentines is more of a friendship day, or a day to show & share love from parent to child. So a lot of these books reflect that inclination. If you're interested in more adult-ish, romantic Valentines reads, than please join my online book club in reading Edenbrooke this month. :) 

BABY BOARD BOOKS: 
1. "Kiss it Better" by: Smriti Prasdam-Hatts
​www.amazon.com/Kiss-Better-padded-board-book/dp/1681194260/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=kiss+it+better&qid=1581027508&sr=8-4
2.  "With Love, from Me to You by: Manz Simon 
www.amazon.com/Love-You-Mary-Manz-Simon/dp/0310758157/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=with+love+from+me+to+you&qid=1581030238&sr=8-2
3. "Snuggle Puppy" by: Sandra Boynton (be prepared to sing a little ditty!) 
www.amazon.com/Snuggle-Puppy-Boynton-Board-Sandra/dp/0761130675/ref=sr_1_5?crid=233H52WJWJSUE&keywords=snuggle+puppy&qid=1581030274&sprefix=snuggke+puppy%2Caps%2C759&sr=8-5
4. "You are my Heart" by: Marianne Richmond
www.amazon.com/You-Are-Heart-Marianne-Richmond/dp/1492615412/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=you+are+my+heart&qid=1581030306&sr=8-2
5."How Many Do I Love You?" by: Cheri Love-Byrd
www.amazon.com/How-Many-Love-You-Valentine/dp/1680522744?ref_=ast_slp_dp

CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOKS: 
1."The Biggest Kiss" by: Joanna Walsh & Judi Abbot 
All about animals & kisses; adorable!
www.amazon.com/Biggest-Kiss-Joanna-Abbot-Walsh/dp/B00K0OTBL0/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1581026466&sr=8-1
2. "Love Is" by: Diane Adams
A story of a little duck & a little girl who finds him & who grow to care for each other. 
www.amazon.com/Love-Diane-Adams/dp/1452139970/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Love+is&qid=1581026500&sr=8-2
3. "I Love You, a Bushel & a Peck"  
(yes, the lyrics to the song from Guys & Dolls with adorable duck illustrations). My grandma always says this to us or writes it in our birthday cards, so this one is extra special to me.
www.amazon.com/I-Love-You-Bushel-Peck/dp/0064436020/ref=sr_1_13?crid=PTCERX064OWX&keywords=i+love+you+a+bushel+and+a+peck&qid=1581026750&sprefix=I+Love+you+a+Bu%2Caps%2C294&sr=8-13

4. "Plant a Kiss" by: Amy Rosenthal
Little Miss plants a seed or small act of love & is surprised by the grand result.  
www.amazon.com/Plant-Kiss-Board-Krouse-Rosenthal/dp/0062416529/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Plant+a+Kiss&qid=1581026814&sr=8-1
5. "Pete the Cat, Valentine's Day is Cool" by: James Dean

*Bonus book*: "Twosomes" is a book of love poems by Marilyn Singer 
"Splat the Cat" by: Rob Scotton

 
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1. Dino Basketball 
by: Lisa Wheeler
https://www.amazon.com/Dino-basketball-Dino-Sports-Lisa-Wheeler/dp/0761363939/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2BMV20MEIZHFR&keywords=dino+basketball&qid=1580745855&sprefix=dino+basket%2Caps%2C216&sr=8-1
2. Don't Ask a Dinosaur 
by: Deborah Bruss
3. Triceratops Stomp
by: Karen Parakau
www.amazon.com/gp/product/1772780790?pf_rd_p=ab873d20-a0ca-439b-ac45-cd78f07a84d8&pf_rd_r=GJR76RCTHRYEE4XWQ7A1
4.Down at the Dinowash Deluxe 
by: Tim Myers
https://www.amazon.com/Down-at-Dino-Wash-Deluxe/dp/1402777981/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?keywords=down+at+the+dinowash+deluxe&qid=1580751018&s=books&sr=1-1-fkmr0

​5.A Dinosaur Named After Me
​by: Bernard Most
www.amazon.com/Dinosaur-Named-After-Me/dp/0152234942/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=a+dinosaur+named+after+me&qid=1580750198&sr=8-1