The Book Chook's Top Children's Picture Books 2014

Children's Book Review by Susan Stephenson, www.thebookchook.com On Sudden Hill is a children's picture book, written by Linda Sarah, illustrated by Benji Davies, and published by Simon and Schuster, 2014. Birt and Etho are best friends, they play on Sudden Hill, making marvellous contraptions out of cardboard boxes. Read more of this review at The Book Chook.

• The Storm Whale* is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Benji Davies, and published by Simon and Schuster, 2013. This is a gentle story in a beautiful children’s picture book. Each time I look at it, I find something new to value. I know librarians and teachers will appreciate what The Storm Whale offers as a resource to support studies of the environment and the family. Kids will adore the illustrations and the story. Read more and find activities to accompany the book at The Book Chook.

Published by First Second books, and edited by Chris Duffy, Nursery Rhyme Comics features the work of 50 cartoonists and illustrators. Read more at The Book Chook.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt is a children's picture book, written by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, and published by Walker Books, 1993. From the publisher: Go on a bear hunt and do the actions with this award-winning picture book classic. Read more at The Book Chook.

I'm a Dirty Dinosaur, a children's picture book, written by Janeen Brian, illustrated by Ann James and published by Penguin Books Australia, 2013 is a rollicking good read. Read more, and find activities, at The Book Chook.

Written by Anna Branford and illustrated by Linda Catchlove, Lilli-Pilli's Sister is a beautiful children's picture book published by Walker Books Australia (2014). Read more at The Book Chook.

Silver Buttons is an unusual children's picture book by Bob Graham, published by Walker Books (2013.) It has excellent accompanying Classroom Ideas available at Walker Books website. From the publisher: *At 9.59 on Thursday morning, Jodie draws a duck. * Read more at The Book Chook.

What a joy it is to receive a book written by Glenda Millard! I've read and loved Isabella's Garden and For All Creatures but now recently published children's picture book The Duck and the Darklings has become my new favourite. Why? Read more at The Book Chook.

Shh! We Have a Plan is a children's picture book created by author/illustrator, Chris Haughton, and published by Walker Books, 2014. From the publisher: From award-winning illustrator Chris Haughton, one of the most exciting new voices in children's literature, comes a brand new picture book about a beautiful bird, an unquenchable desire and plans gone awry... Read more at The Book Chook.

When I was a teen, I discovered that I loved naive art. To this day I am unsure why. I love the simple, whimsical view of life such illustrations depict, the way they offer a child-like perspective on what they portray. The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau Read more at The Book Chook.

If you're looking for a special gift for a new baby, one for the lucky parents to share with their little one, take a look at Kissed by the Moon, by Alison Lester, published by Viking (Penguin) (2013.) Read more at The Book Chook.

Too Many Elephants in this House was written by Ursula Dubosarsky, illustrated by Andrew Joyner and published by Penguin Group Australia, 2012. It has the distinction of being chosen as the book to be shared across Australia for for National Simultaneous Storytime 2014. Read more at The Book Chook.

Lucas and Jack is a children's picture book written by Ellie Royce, illustrated by Andrew McLean, and published by Working Title Press, 2014. From the publisher: Every week Lucas's mum visits Great Grandpop at the nursing home. And every week Lucas waits for her outside. Read more at The Book Chook.