Ursula Nordstrom Would Never: No. 1

The picture books that would make Ursula Nordstrom scream (or write a particularly spicy editorial letter)

I read stacks and stacks of picture books every month, and I’m always on the hunt for books kids will actually like — or even better, the ones kids will love. Unfortunately, of those I read, only a handful emerge as real winners for kids (instead of their grown-ups).

I don’t talk publicly much about the duds — that’s not the social media energy I’m going for.

That said, a thoughtful discussion between die-hard kidlit nerds about some of the pitfalls of picture book publishing is an excellent thing. This series is a place for us to get into it.

Read on for some of the picture book duds from my recent reading and why they didn’t work for me (and might make Ursula Nordstrom scream if they made it across her desk — or make her write a rage-y letter).