Here's the first of the three-post series about our favorite children's books of 2011. Apparently, we had a soft spot for pet-themed picture books this year.

Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray
Back to School Tortoise by Lucy M. George
A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka
Be Quiet, Mike! by Leslie Patricelli
Big Bouffant by Kate Hosford
Bugs by the Numbers by Sharon Werner
The Busy Life of Ernestine Buckmeister by Linda Ravin Lodding
Caveman: A B.C. Story by Janee Trasler
Cows to the Rescue by John Himmelman
Dinosaur Vs the Library by Bob Shea
Dog in Boots by Greg Gormley
Five Little Monkeys Reading in Bed by Eileen Christelow
Gilbert Goldfish Wants a Pet by Kelly DiPucchio
Good Night, World by Willa Perlman
Grandpa Green by Lane Smith
Hooray for Amanda & Her Alligator by Mo Willems
I Broke My Trunk! by Mo Willems (an Elephant & Piggie book)
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
If Beaver Had a Fever by Helen Ketteman
If You're Hoppy by April Pulley Sayre
I'm a Shark! by Bob Shea
Is Everyone Ready for Fun? by Jan Thomas
Itsy Mitsy Runs Away by Elanna Allen
Leap Back Home to Me by Lauren Thompson
The Little White Owl by Tracey Corduroy
Llama Llama Home with Mama by Anna Dewdney
Love Waves by Rosemary Wells
Mr. Duck Means Business by Tammi Sauer
My Dad, My Hero by Ethan Long
Not Inside This House! by Kevin Lewis
A Pet for Petunia by Paul Schmid
Piggies in the Kitchen by Michelle Meadows
Pirate Boy by Eve Bunting
Press Here by Herve Tullet
Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg
Rah, Rah, Radishes! A Vegetable Chant by April Pulley Sayre
RRRalph by Lois Ehlert
Say Hello to Zorro! by Carter Goodrich
Sneezy the Snowman by Maureen Wright
Socksquatch by Frank W. Dormer
Teach Your Buffalo to Play Drums by Audrey Vernick
Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin, Jr.
Where's Walrus? by Stephen Savage
Wiener Wolf by Jeff Crosby
You Will Be My Friend! by Peter Brown
You're Finally Here! by Melanie Watt