picture book

American  

noun

1. a book consisting mainly or entirely of pictures, especially one for children who have not yet learned to read.

---

Etymology

Origin of picture book

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

Home from their adventures—and with the picture book right side up again—the four children curl up by the fireplace with steaming mugs of hot cocoa.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

The picture book will be published by Puffin, and is due to be released in September 2026.

From BBC • Jan. 22, 2026

It is based on the picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, who wrote and illustrated The Gruffalo.

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2025

Technically, Melania was supposed to be reading a picture book to children at the hospital.

From Salon • Dec. 11, 2025

Mrs. Murphy gestures toward the rose velvet sofa and he sits down heavily, like an elephant I once saw in a picture book, his large stomach protruding from rounded thighs.

From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline