Read all of Slate’s stories about the 25 Greatest Picture Books of the Past 25 Years. On Oct. 8, 2010, the New York Times ran a story on its front page: “Picture Books No Longer a Staple for Children.

Keats once said, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” Some would say the same about a picture book. Many teachers and librarians believe that picture books aren’t just for the wee ones, and they are ...