Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s
Most Wonderful, Whimsical Children’s Books
by Devon A. Corneal
It’s hard not to use up all the adjectives when trying to describe what makes Amy Krause Rosenthal’s books so special. Whimsical, touching, witty, funny, gentle, kind, naughty, clever, off-beat, unexpected, evocative, inspiring, charming, curious, unique, darling, meaningful, observant, memorable, poignant, gorgeous, joyous … the list goes on and on.
Although we lost this prolific author too soon, her books continue to resonate with kids and parents alike. If you haven’t yet found yourself lost in the world of talking utensils, mischievous children, and unusual punctuation marks, we’ve compiled a list of what we consider the essential Amy Krouse Rosenthal for your reading pleasure. We hope you love them as much as we do.
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Spoon
Buy from:We all get jealous, right? Spoon is no exception. He’s a little envious of Knife’s sharp edges and Fork’s pointy tines. Thankfully, his fellow cutlery soon helps Spoon appreciate why he’s special too.
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Chopsticks
Buy from:Learning to do things on your own and together is one of the great rewards of truly great friendships, as this pair of chopsticks is about to learn.
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Don’t Blink!
Buy from:Pick up this brand-new book for the little readers in your house who may have trouble falling asleep and see if it makes bedtime a lot easier and a lot more fun. (Spoiler: It will!)
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Little Pea
Buy from:Perfect for picky eaters and the grown-ups who love them, get ready to meet Little Pea, a finicky eater who will do anything to get his dessert.
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Bedtime for Mommy
Buy from:Ever imagine what would happen if the kids got to put the grown-ups to bed? Well now’s your chance to find out.
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One of Those Days
Buy from:Sometimes, life is just hard. But even the worst days end and a new, fresh day is coming tomorrow. An entirely relatable yet reliably optimistic perspective — per Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s signature style.
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Little Oink
Buy from:Pigs are supposed to be dirty, right? Not Little Oink. Introduce him to your messy toddler and see if they aren’t inspired to start cleaning up after themselves. (A parent can dream, right?)
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Yes Day!
Buy from:I did this once with my son, and let me tell you, it’s harder than it seems. But also infinitely more rewarding. Try saying yes to your child for an entire day — you may be surprised at how much fun you both have.
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On the Spot: Countless Funny Stories
Buy from:Imagine a mash-up of Choose Your Own Adventure, Mad Libs, and a sticker book, and you have On the Spot — part rhyming story, part activity book, and part storytelling. Great for car rides or anytime you need to keep your child entertained for an hour, you’ll be amazed by what they create.
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It’s Not Fair!
Buy from:Life isn’t perfect, and more often than not, you don’t win the game, or your parents yell at you for no reason, or you don’t want to eat broccoli for dinner. Guess what? We all feel that way sometimes.
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Plant a Kiss
Buy from:We tell our kids to always be kind, and this story shows them how simple acts of kindness and love can spread and spread.
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I Wish You More
Buy from:This book captures perfectly the hopes of every parent wishing their child a life filled with joy and rich experiences, or as the authors put it, a life of “more umbrella than rain.”
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Holy Cow, I Sure Do Love You!: A Little Book That's Oddly Moo-ving
Buy from:Sometimes telling people we love them is complicated. Sometimes, with the help of a spotted cow, it’s very, very easy.
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Dear Girl,
Buy from:If you know a girl and you want her to grow up to love herself and know her own worth and be brave and bold and kind at the same time, then this book is for the two of you.
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The OK Book
Buy from:Sometimes when you try new things, you aren’t great at them. Sometimes, you’re just okay. But when you’re being brave or enjoying what you do, being ok is also kind of awesome.
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That’s Me Loving You
Buy from:That’s Me Loving You reminds kids that even if their parent isn’t near, their parent’s love is with them wherever they go. A simple yet sweet message for kids as they begin to explore the world. (The board book version is a great gift for new parents too.)
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Wumbers
Buy from:Usually math and reading are taught separately, but ever wonder what would happen if you put them together? I think you’d get Wumbers, a fanciful combination of letters and numbers that creates something brand-new and unforgettable.
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I Scream! Ice Cream!: A Book of Wordles
Buy from:Words are funny things, especially when they have different meanings but sound the same. Get ready to laugh and look at words in a whole new way.
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Al Pha’s Bet
Buy from:Keeping all the letters of the alphabet in order can be hard, but this pun-packed story will help kids remember which letter goes where.
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Exclamation Mark
Buy from:Punctuation can be a drag. So can being different. Unless you learn to appreciate how each one makes our lives unique.
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The Wonder Book
Buy from:If you love Shel Silverstein and his prolific imagination, you’ll definitely want to get The Wonder Book. It’s filled with the same unbridled joy and inquisitiveness that made Where the Sidewalk Ends a classic.
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Uni the Unicorn
Buy from:A unicorn believes in her heart that little girls exist, no matter what the other unicorns say. Meanwhile, a little girl believes in her heart that unicorns exist too. When the two dreamers find each other, a lovely friendship blooms. (Next, check out the sequel: Uni the Unicorn and the Dream Come True.)
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This Plus That: Life’s Little Equations
Buy from:Equations are an essential part of math. But when you add new things to a regular old mathematical concept, you discover life’s little equations, which are a whole lot of interesting.
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Duck! Rabbit!
Buy from:Take a classic optical illusion and put it in Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s hands and you have something utterly new and unforgettable.
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What are your favorite picture books by Amy Krouse Rosenthal? Let us know in the comments below!