When you look at books for kids, you can’t help but be amazed at the artistry that goes into every page. Some incredible talent is working in the field of children’s book illustration. Here is a selection of the most visually stunning illustrated children’s books of all time.

The Polar Express
Made into a major motion picture, the incredibly realistic art in Chris Van Allsburg’s modern holiday classic bewitches the eye, hiding incredible amounts of detail and expression on every page.

Where The Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak’s classic is drawn in a style that manages to be both expressive and incredibly detailed. Every element of Max’s nighttime wanderings is rendered perfectly. Truly a monumental achievement.

Over and Over
Written by Charlotte Zolotow, it’s the astounding illustrations by storybook master Garth Williams that really sell this simple, charming story of a young girl learning about the passage of the seasons.

Anansi The Spider
Gerald McDermott’s brightly-colored, geometric illustrations are a perfect complement to this West African folktale. They’re deceptively blocky at first, but soon you realize the incredible care that went into creating them.

Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs
This timeless classic by Ron and Judi Barrett is jam-packed with detail and tons of funny sight gags that go perfectly with the surreal story of a town where food falls from the sky.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Tim Pierce