All Time Top 5 Picture Books

Since trying to review some recent picture books I decided that I should weigh these up against a barometer of some classics that, even as I age, I won't forget. Feeling like John Cusack, in no particular order:

Chloe and Maude by Sandra Boynton - Cats with attitude. This classic is out of print so I'll be stealing my childhood edition of this when the provident man arrives. Sophia's don't hike. 

Cuddly Dudley by Jez Alborough- Long before the name was associated with the unpleasantly rotund character of latent yore - Dudley was a penguin who did not want to be cuddled but his huddling waddling cuddling brothers and sisters were not willing to take no for an answer. 

The Megamogs by Peter Haswell- Unbeatable drawings, style and story. This book was an inspiration; the name of our first cat, (Kevin, RIP) amongst other games such as disco bedtime were based on the nocturnal behaviours of these jazzy cats. Definitely a book that stays with you as I can still vividly remember some of the pages in intricate detail. 

Ned and the Joybaloo by Hiawyn Oram, illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura - This is one of the best imagined and orchestrated books of my memory. Although the message and lesson of this book are sappy, the heart that is evoked throughout the story mean that morals diffuse effortlessly from the page and don't ever seem preachy. 

Rag Doll Press by E J Taylor - I can't remember exactly why I loved these stories so much. Something to do with how it was a reward to have them read to me at all - they are quite long - is probably a part of the reason. I’d like to pin some of my current publishing aspirations onto these characters too; Biscuits, Button and Pickles, this one’s for you. I remember sibling rivalry, detailed drawings and a somewhat unpredictable plot. 

There is an unintentional progression in this list of reading difficulty of these books. All of them are highly illustrated but each probably indicative of a specific year of my childhood, which I think speaks volumes about how these texts have made a lasting impression.

Would any of these make your Top 5?