This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is Top Ten Books in [x] Genre. I realize that the picture book isn’t a genre (it’s a format), but I don’t care. That’s what I’m doing anyway.

1. Jimmy’s Boa Bounces Back by Trinka Hakes Noble, illustrated by Steven Kellogg – This story is so wacky. I love it. My first grade teacher gave it to me because I was her favorite.

2. Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale by John Steptoe – This story is delightful, and I love the daughters’ names. In fact, the illustrations are so badass, the book has been used to teach perspective in photography classes.

3. I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by David Catrow – “I like myself, I’m glad I’m me. There’s no one else I’d rather be.”

4. The Great Big Elephant and the Very Small Elephant by Barbara Seuling – You know, it makes so much sense that friendship stories are my favorite. ❤

5. Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel – Another friendship book! Naturally. My favorite bit is when Toad helps Frog with his depression.

6. The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone, illustrated by Michael J. Smollin – Spoiler alert: it’s Grover.

7. Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff – “All my friends are dead.” (Okay, that’s not from the book, but still.)

8. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats – There is nothing as sad as a snowball that doesn’t last.

9. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak – “I’ll eat you up, I love you so.”

10. Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel, illustrated by Blair Lent – “Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo!”