When we think of illustrated books, our thoughts might naturally go to children’s books. Those were the first books most of us remember being read from, then as the first books we learned to read. The most enchanting of these include the classic The Tale of Pete Rabbit (1902, Beatrix Potter), Madeline (1939, Ludwig Bemelmans), and Polar Express (1985, Chris Van Allsburg). In contemporary adult literature, the mention of illustrated books conjures up such graphic novels as Jimmy Corrigan, The Smartest Boy on Earth by Chris Ware, Maus by Art Spiegelman and The Sandman (series) by Neil Gaiman.

There is, however, a wide range of novels that, while note dependent on illustration, are greatly enhanced by the excellent images added to the text. Here are some that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike, worth finding in the editions that haven’t exorcised the illustrations:

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll (illustrated by John Tenniel)
Oliver Twist – Charles Dickens (illustrated by George Cruikshank)
Vanity Fair – William Thackeray (his own illustrations)
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – Mark Twain (illustrated by E.W. Kemble)

Lest you think all illustrated books are for children and limited to the 1800s-early 1900s, check out:

The Haunting of Hill House – Shirley Jackson – 1959
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell – Susanna Clarke (illustrated by Portia Rosenberg) – 2005
The Prague Cemetery – Umberto Eco (illustrations from various sources) – 2011

Illustrated non-fiction books of note that will stay with you long after reading:

Echoes of Earth – L. Sue Baugh and Lynn Martinelli – 2012
The Survival Girls – Ming Holden (illustrated by Jody Joldersma) – 2013

Based on my 2015 visit to Book Expo America, illustrated children’s books are alive and well. I hope authors, editors and publishers of adult literature, especially of fiction, consider more illustrations to enhance their tales. As you can see, it’s not just child’s play.