Having grown up loving picture books, it saddens me that parents are so quickly turning their children away from them in favor of chapter books. Many picture books are quite sophisticated in their humor and wordplay. I have several favorites that are written on upper elementary level.  Patricia Polacco books come to mind. Picture books are by no means “baby” books, and they deserve to be read and enjoyed by older children. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/08/us/08picture.html?_r=1&hpw