Arnold Lobel wrote this book that several generations of my family have loved:

Giant John is well meaning, but he causes more than a few problems for his less height endowed friends.

This is one of the few books that made my list that we don't actually own. My mom may still have her old copy, but we just check this one out from the library when we need to laugh over John's antics again.

I remember asking for it repeatedly. And I remember staring at the illustrations before I could read the book myself. Something about the balance between simplicity and complexity really appealed to my picture book loving heart.

Arnold Lobel is probably known more for his Frog and Toad series (we do own a few of these):

 The Frog and Toad Treasury is a great way to pick up a lot of these at once.

Owl at Home is another great title for young readers that we have in our house.

He's also well known as an illustrator for other children's authors (we'll see him again before this series is over!).

More about Lobel:

• Arnold Lobel biography at Parents' Choice
• Arnold Lobel from Books in the Classroom.

Do you have a favorite from Arnold Lobel?