April 20, 2026

Hidden Gem Picture Books

I'm gonna guess your bookshelf is missing these.

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These are the books featured in this post — tap any cover to find it on Amazon.

Cover of The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles

The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles

by Michelle Cuevas

A message in a bottle holds the promise of surprise and wonder, as told in this enthralling picture book by Caldecott Medalist Erin E. Stead The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles, who lives alone atop a hill, has a job of the utmost importance. It is his task to open any bottles found at sea and make sure that the messages are delivered. He loves his job, though he has always wished that, someday, one of the letters would be addressed to him. One day he opens a party invitation—but there’s no name attached. As he devotes himself to the mystery of the intended recipient, he ends up finding something even more special: the possibility of new friends.

Cover of The Great Zapfino

The Great Zapfino

by Mac Barnett

From two bestselling and beloved creators comes a sweet and inspiring picture book about a runaway circus performer who learns to face his fears and follow his heart. When The Great Zapfino climbs to the top of the circus platform, all eyes are on him, waiting for his incredible leap. But Zapfino is afraid of heights! He can’t take the pressure and flees, boards a plane, and runs away to start a new life. In the city, Zapfino starts work as an elevator operator in a tall building but soon learns you can never really outrun your fears. When disaster strikes, can Zapfino find the strength to be great?

Cover of Cinder Edna

Cinder Edna

by Ellen Jackson

Cinder Edna has better things to do than sit in the ashes and feel sorry for herself. Can a girl who prefers loafers to glass slippers live happily every after?

Cover of The Little Old Man Who Could Not Read

The Little Old Man Who Could Not Read

by Irma Simonton Black

An old toymaker never wanted to learn to read until his wife went away on a visit and he had to do the shopping by himself.

Cover of Town Is by the Sea

Town Is by the Sea

by Joanne Schwartz

Winner of CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal Winner of the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award A young boy wakes up to the sound of the sea, visits his grandfather’s grave after lunch and comes home to a simple family dinner with his family, but all the while his mind strays to his father digging for coal deep down under the sea. Stunning illustrations by Sydney Smith, the award-winning illustrator of Sidewalk Flowers, show the striking contrast between a sparkling seaside day and the darkness underground where the miners dig. With curriculum connections to communities and the history of mining, this beautifully understated and haunting story brings a piece of Canadian history to life. The ever-present ocean and inevitable pattern of life in a Cape Breton mining town will enthrall children and move adult readers.

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