When someone says “picture books,” do many noisy children come to mind, running around, waiting to be told a story with engaging words and pictures? Or even quiet ones who sit with a book, reading to themselves?  Or do you picture adults who happen to work in a library sharing the amusing books with each other because they couldn’t contain themselves and had to give their colleagues a giggle or three?

If you thought that last one, you are either very imaginative, or you know how crazy library types get.  Yes, we do like sharing the giggles, gaffaws, and belly laughs (sorry, no alliteration there) we get when we find a hilarious or inventive picture book.  Below are ones we (the Tech Services department anyway) have shared amongst ourselves.  Now we share them with you, or I do on their behalf as their grand leader, or at least their supervisor who doesn’t mind letting the world know that we do indeed read picture books.

Moo by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

A cow takes a joyride in the farmer’s convertible. There are ups, downs, and a twist ending.  Sure, it sounds simple, but you try being a cow in a stolen convertible.

Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian; illustrated by Tim Bowers

So, you’re a goldfish.  Well, not you, or maybe you.  Or maybe you’re just someone who’s had a good bit of change happen in a very short period of time.  You’ve possibly felt crowded, confused, and concerned.  Then you can relate to the goldfish in Memoirs of a Goldfish, which is told in a daily log fashion.

Ugly Fish by Kara LaReau and Scott Magoon

Admittedly those of us in the Tech Services department are still trying to find the moral, if there is one. There’s a fish in a tank, whose name is Ugly Fish.  Ugly Fish has a nasty habit – don’t want to say what as that’d be a little spoilery. Give it a read; let us know if you’ve got anything, or just have a laugh.  We did.

Be quiet! by Ryan T. Higgins

There’s this mouse.  We’ll call him “Rupert.” Actually Ryan T. Higgins already did.  All he wants is a little peace and quiet to enjoy being in his very own book.  His “friends” have other ideas.

Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins

What do you do when you’re a bear and some goslings decide you’re Mama?  You raise them begrudgingly, of course. Another funny one from Ryan T. Higgins.  Actually Bruce and his brood of geese have a few books; this is just where the fun starts.

I’m bored by Michael Ian Black; illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

The title says it all.  Or does it? Ask the little girl who thinks she’s bored, or the potato she tries to befriend.  It’s a thing.  If the author’s name seems familiar, you might have seen him on a few funny shows and movies. Or you might have seen that he’s written more than one children’s book.

Nelwyn