5 Beautifully Illustrated Children's Books We Love

Discover this list of essential picture books to inspire your creative projects and ignite kids' imaginations

We all remember our favorite childhood book. Maybe it was the first one you ever learned to read or the one that was given to you as a gift from a special family member. Maybe it was the one that kept you up late into the night, even though you knew it was way past bedtime...

Young imaginations are so vivid that the characters turn into real friends, inviting us into their world and allowing us to play our own part in their adventures.

The beautiful illustrations, heartwarming storylines, and lovable characters in picture books have the power to create deep and lasting connections. Read them again as an adult, and you’ll find yourself filled with that same sense of comfort, warmth, and familiarity you enjoyed when you were young.

But children’s books are more than a trip down memory lane. They can also be a fantastic point of inspiration, and creatives from artists to writers frequently turn to them for new ideas.

One such person is freelance illustrator and Domestika teacher Kate Sutton (@suttonkate). She has over fifteen years of experience working on projects such as editorial pieces for The Sunday Times Magazine and Lonely Planet magazine, with clients including Waitrose, The Wall Street Journal, and Chronicle Books.

A major source of visual inspiration for Kate is children's books, and over the years, she has built up a large collection which has helped her to shape and build her own unique illustration style.

Here, she shares with us her top five reads for creative inspiration.

Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins

Rosie’s Walk tells the story of Rosie the hen as she takes a seemingly innocent stroll around the farm. But watch out—there’s a very sneaky fox hot on her heels! Will she make it back safely in time for dinner?

“This book is a classic from my childhood. I love the use of color and patterns... and it’s got a bit of a retro feel to it,” explains Kate. It stands as a true testimony to the storytelling ability of late illustrator-author Pat Hutchins, who is able to weave a compelling narrative in just thirty-two words.

Rabbit and the Motorbike by Kate Hoefler and Sarah Jacoby

The mark of a good children’s story is one that is able to teach us something about ourselves, the world around us, and our capabilities. Rabbit and the Motorbike is a beautifully gentle and moving tale about bravery, loss, and facing our fears, told alongside evocative illustrations by Sarah Jacoby.

Rabbit is a shy creature, living a peaceful life in a wheat field. His friend Dog visits him often, bringing him exciting tales of adventure on his motorbike. When Dog unexpectedly dies and leaves his motorbike to Rabbit, he must decide if he has the courage to go out and discover the world for himself.

Triangle by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen

"Jon Klassen’s works are some of my favorites," says Kate. "Such a simple but funny story," one example is Triangle: Cheeky Triangle is all set to play a sneaky trick on his friend, Square. Or so he thinks...

The combination of wit, humor, and surrealism in this story by Mac Barnett and award-winning illustrator Klassen will leave young readers guessing who's really playing tricks on who.

We Found A Hat by Jon Klassen

Another tale from the mind of Jon Klassen, who's both the author and illustrator in this slyly funny children’s story told in three parts.

A book about sharing and kindness, two turtle friends stumble across a hat in the middle of the desert. But with only one hat, and two turtles, they face an unexpected predicament—which one gets to keep it?

Moomin: The Complete Tove Jansson Comic Strip, Vol. 1 by Tove Jansson

“One of my favorite author-illustrators is Tove Jansson who created the Moomins books,” says Kate. The use of a limited color palette, inspiration from nature, and even the style of handwriting are all things she cites as major influences in her own work.

Jansson began creating the magical world of the Moomins after the Second World War in 1945. Little did she know that her nine books, five picture books, and comic strip would turn her into one of the most revered children’s authors of the 20th century. Today, the Moomins are loved the world over, with numerous television series, films, and even a theme park made in their honor.

If you’d like to improve your drawing skills, find fun ways to document your life, and discover new, creative ways to express your ideas, check out Kate’s Domestika course, Illustrated Life Journal: A Daily Mindful Practice.

You may also like:

- Illustrated Life Journal: A Daily Mindful Practice, a course by Kate Sutton
- What Is an Illustrated Life Journal and How to Start One?
- 12 Online Courses For Creating Books for Children and Young People
- Children’s Illustration Tutorial: Character Design Tips
- Introduction to Children’s Illustration, a course by Adolfo Serra