Best Picture Books for Storytelling: 5 Compared

The best picture books for storytelling work two ways: some are stories to read aloud, others teach how stories get told in pictures. We compared five books by fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Picture This by Bang	9.7/10	Buy
2	Aaron Slater, Illustrator by Beaty	9.7/10	Buy
3	Children's Picturebooks by Salisbury	9.6/10	Buy
4	How to Be a Children's Book Illustrator	9.6/10	Buy
5	Design Is Storytelling by Lupton	9.5/10	Buy

1

Picture This by Bang

Molly Bang·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Molly Bang's 12 principles of how pictures tell stories, for readers 12 and up.

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Pros

• Reading age 12 years and up, grade level 7 and up
• 12 principles of visual perception, per the listing
• 152 pages, revised and expanded 2016 edition

Cons

• Ages 12 and up, not for small children
• Art theory, not a storybook
• Dense ideas for casual readers

2

Aaron Slater, Illustrator by Beaty

Andrea Beaty·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A dyslexia-friendly picture book about a boy who tells stories through art, for ages 4 to 7.

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Pros

• Reading age 4 to 7 years, marked as from customers, and grade level Kindergarten to 2
• Dyslexia-friendly font, per the listing
• Book 5 of 7 in the Questioneers picture books

Cons

• 40 pages, a single story
• Part of a series, best with the others
• 2021 edition

3

Children's Picturebooks by Salisbury

Martin Salisbury·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 200-page craft guide with 15 illustrator case studies, for aspiring picture book makers.

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Pros

• 15 new case studies from well-known illustrators, per the listing
• 200 pages, 2nd edition from Laurence King Publishing
• Covers the publishing process end to end

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated
• For makers, not for reading aloud
• 2020 edition

4

How to Be a Children's Book Illustrator

3dtotal Publishing·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 232-page guide to visual narrative techniques, for illustrators learning the craft.

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Pros

• 232 pages from 3DTotal Publishing, 2021
• Covers composition, color and symbolism for narrative
• Multiple illustrators share techniques

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated
• For illustrators, not young readers
• Gift format, premium price point implied

5

Design Is Storytelling by Lupton

Ellen Lupton·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 159-page playbook on narrative in design, for designers who tell stories visually.

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Pros

• 159 pages from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
• Dozens of tools for narrative arcs, per the listing
• 1st edition, 2017

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated
• Design-focused, not children's books
• 2017 edition

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More picks to compare

• Pancakes for BreakfastFor wordless storytelling, ages 4 to 8, 32 pages.Check on Amazon
• FrankencrayonFor funny storytelling, ages 4 to 8, 40 pages.Check on Amazon
• I Am a StoryFor storytelling through history, ages 4 to 8, 40 pages.Check on Amazon
• Usha and the Big DiggerFor math storytelling, ages 2 to 6, 32 pages.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 19 October 2026. Two of the five state a reading age or grade level.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. Aaron Slater, Illustrator states a reading age of 4 to 7 years, marked as from customers, with grade level Kindergarten to 2; Picture This states 12 years and up with grade level 7 and up. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best picture books for storytelling

Story to read or craft to learn

Aaron Slater is a storybook about storytelling, made for reading aloud to ages 4 to 7. The other four are guides: Bang on how pictures work, Salisbury and 3dtotal on making picture books, Lupton on narrative in design. Pick the shelf that matches the reader. For read-aloud picks, see picture books for kindergarten read-aloud.

Match the reading age

Aaron Slater states ages 4 to 7; Picture This states 12 and up. The craft guides state no age, which means they suit teens and adults learning the trade. Buying for a classroom? Browse picture books for teachers.

Wordless counts too

Pancakes for Breakfast in the more options tells its story with no words at all, which makes it a strong storytelling prompt for young readers. Wordless books let the child narrate, which is storytelling practice in itself.

Before you buy

• Check the age: Aaron Slater is 4 to 7, Picture This is 12 and up.
• Series readers: Aaron Slater is Book 5 of 7 in the Questioneers picture books.
• Craft guides assume an adult or teen reader; they are not read-aloud books.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which book is best for reading aloud?

Aaron Slater, Illustrator: a 40-page storybook with a dyslexia-friendly font, for ages 4 to 7.

Which book teaches visual storytelling?

Picture This by Molly Bang covers 12 principles of how pictures work, for ages 12 and up; the Salisbury and 3dtotal guides cover the craft.

Is there a wordless option?

Pancakes for Breakfast in the more options is a wordless picture book classic, 32 pages for ages 4 to 8.

Still deciding? Our top pickPicture This by Bang

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Related lists

See every picture books list and all kids and teens books lists.

More lists: children’s fantasy picture books, picture books for teaching vocabulary.