Gallery: The Art of the Picture Book Barcode

A creative barcode on the back of a picture book is like when you have one pump of peanut butter sauce in your Oreo blizzard. It doesn’t have to be there, but things a just a little bit better when it is.

I was recently given the challenge of whipping up a gallery of examples, so let’s take a look at a few, shall we?

(Do you know of a creative barcode I should add to this gallery? Take a picture and email it (along with the title) to me: scopenotes (at) gmail (dot) com)

Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld

The Shivers in the Fridge by Fran Manushkin; illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

The Shivers in the Fridge (case cover) by Fran Manushkin; illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker; illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka; illustrated by Lane Smith; designed by Molly Leach (submitted by Monica)

This is a Moose by Richard Morris and Tom Lichtenheld

Circus 1,2,3 by Guido van Genechten (submitted by Paula)

Supersister by Beth Cadena; illustrated by Frank Dormer

Boy + Bot by Ame Dyckman; illustrated by Dan Yaccarino (submitted by Carter)

Duck! Rabbit! By Amy Krouse Rosenthal; illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld (submitted by Naseem)

Me and My Dragon by David Biedrzycki

Tales from Outer Suburbia (Canadian Edition) by Shaun Tan (submitted by Nancy)

Rainbow Chameleon by Yusuke Yonezu (submitted by Vina)

Meerkat Mail by Emily Gravett

From When Blue Met Egg by Lindsay Ward

Parrots Over Puerto Rico by By Susan L. Roth, Cindy Trumbore; illustrated by Susan L. Roth

Froodle by Antoinette Portis

Tools Rule by Aaron Meshon

A Trip to the Bottom of the World with Mouse by Frank Viva

Special Delivery by Philip C. Stead; illustrated by Matthew Cordell

Roberto: The Insect Architect by Nina Laden

Ike’s Incredible Ink by Brianne Farley

Vegetables in Underwear by Jared Chapman

The World According to Musk Ox by Erin Cabatingan; illustrated by Matthew Myers

Marlene, Marlene, Queen of Mean by Jane Lynch and Lara Embry; illustrated by A.E. Mikesell

I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry

I’m the Best Artist in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry (submitted by Paula)

Hermelin the Detective by Mini Grey

Go! Go! Go! Stop! by Charise Mericle Harper

Hearts by Thereza Rowe

Waterloo and Trafalgar by Oliver Tallec

Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty; illustrated by David Roberts

Giddy-Up Daddy by Troy Cummings

Sergio Scores! by Edel Rodriguez

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