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NPR Books Summer Poll: Kids' Books

Welcome to story hour: 100 favorite books for young readers.

Petra Mayer

It's been such a strange, lost summer. Camps and schools and activities have shut down during the pandemic, leaving kids and caregivers stuck at home and climbing the walls — and sometimes the garden fences.

With that in mind, we decided that this year's summer reader poll should be all about keeping kids occupied. We asked you to tell us about your favorite kids' books, from board books for babies to great read-alouds to early chapter books and even a few books for older readers. And thousands of you answered.

As with all our summer polls, this one isn't a straight-up popularity contest. (Otherwise it would have been nothing but 100 Mo Willems books — and we love Mo Willems , but that wouldn't have been the most useful list.) Rather, it's a curated list built from your recommendations and picks from our expert panel of judges — a fantastic group of authors, librarians, publishers and all-around book nerds . And instead of a ranked list, it's grouped into categories that we hope will help you find just the right books for the kids in your life.

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Now, we understand that half the fun of a list is arguing about what didn't make it on — and our judges had to make some hard choices. But there was one easy decision: A few years ago, we did a summer list based on All Things Considered 's Backseat Book Club of great reads for kids from 9 to 14 . This year's list is focused on younger readers, but we did include a few books for older kids. So if something appeared on the Backseat 100, we didn't include it here. That means no Charlotte's Web , no Matilda and no Little House books (though we've got some wonderful suggestions for Little House fans, like Linda Sue Park's Prairie Lotus ).

We want this list to be a tool for discovery, which means we had to walk a delicate path when it comes to books that are undeniable classics — we knew all hell would rain down on us if we left out Where the Wild Things Are or The Very Hungry Caterpillar . But we decided you probably didn't need our help to discover Dr. Seuss, Richard Scarry or The Little Engine that Could , so those didn't make it onto the list.

And as always, we had to decide which work to pick from creators who were nominated multiple times. Readers may remember the Nora Roberts Rule , which came about during 2015's romance poll: No one gets on the list twice UNLESS they're as titanic a figure in their field as Roberts is in romance; we included her in that list under both her own name and her pen name, J.D. Robb.

NPR Books Summer Poll 2020: Kids' Books

Summer reader poll 2020: meet our esteemed panelists.

This year brought an interesting twist. Since many books on the list have both authors and illustrators, we eventually decided that authors could appear only once, but we didn't mind seeing illustrators again. (Hello, Christian Robinson and Vashti Harrison!) And generally, when someone appeared more than once in the nominations, we went with whichever title was more popular with voters (so Kevin Henkes' Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse beat out Kitten's First Full Moon ).

You'll also see there's a section of books for older readers. We wanted to recognize that a lot of kids read ahead of their age groups — and also, there have been so many great books that came out since we put together the Backseat 100 list in 2013 that it seemed a shame not to include a few of them here.

We hope you and the kids in your life will have as much fun poring through this list as we had putting it together! We had a blast recalling old favorites and discovering new classics (and a shoutout to our gracious judges, who let me sneak in one of my all-time childhood faves, Paul Goble's gorgeous The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses ).

To make things easier, we've split up the list into categories: Picture Perfect , Baby's Bookshelf , Conversation Starters , Family Life , Animal (and Monster) Friends , Folktales and Fairy Tales , Fun to Read Out Loud , Nonfiction , Early Chapter Books , and Older Readers . Happy reading!

Picture Perfect

The snowy day.

by Ezra Jack Keats

One morning, a little boy in Brooklyn wakes up to a changed world — sparkling with fresh snowfall. And though it's never directly mentioned in the text, young Peter is Black, one of the first non-caricatured Black people to star in a major children's book. Author and illustrator Ezra Jack Keats was white, but his sensitive depiction of a child's first experience with snow won the Caldecott Medal and was embraced by parents and children of all colors. (For ages 0 to 2)

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Where the Wild Things Are

by Maurice Sendak

Readers nominated so many Maurice Sendak books, it was hard to pick just one. Well, no, actually — despite a moment of competition from In the Night Kitchen , we knew we had to go with this classic tale of Max, his wolf suit, the wild rumpus, and of course ... the dinner that was still warm when he got home. (For ages 4 to 8)

The Old Truck

by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey

Jerome Pumphrey was driving through central Texas to visit his brother Jarrett, and along the way he kept seeing old trucks sitting out in the fields. He began to wonder what stories those old trucks could tell — the result, created by both brothers together, is this story, illustrated by hundreds of hand-carved stamps, of a farm family and their beloved pickup. (For ages 3 to 5)

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut

by Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James

We couldn't put Hair Love on the list (you'll find it a little further down) and leave out this tribute to the magic of the barbershop. "You came in as a lump of clay, a blank canvas, a slab of marble," author Derrick Barnes writes. "But when my man is done with you, they'll want to post you up in a museum!" Gordon C. James' lively paintings of smiling boys showing off their fresh cuts will put a smile on your face, too. (For ages 3 to 8)

Julián Is A Mermaid

by Jessica Love

Julián is riding the subway with his abuela when he sees them: three mermaids, with fabulous hair and fishtail dresses. And Julián loves mermaids. So much that he makes his own costume at home, with a yellow curtain for a tail and a potted fern for a crown. This is a gorgeous tale of creativity and acceptance, rounded out with misty, jeweled gouache illustrations. (For ages 4 to 8)

Miss Rumphius

by Barbara Cooney

Miss Rumphius dreams of living by the sea, traveling the world, and making it a more beautiful place — and she does it on her own terms, living alone with her cat and sowing lupine seeds along the coast of Maine despite the local kids who call her "That Crazy Old Lady." (She was based on a real person — Maine resident Hilda Hamlin, who was known as the "Lupine Lady" for her habit of scattering seeds.) (For ages 5 to 8)

The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses

by Paul Goble

Everywhere you look in The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses, there's a tiny, precise and lovely detail — a plant, a bird, a lizard, a pebble, a shell and of course the magnificent horses. This story of a Plains Indian girl who runs away with a band of wild horses, and eventually becomes one of them, won the Caldecott in 1978, and for good reason. (For ages 5 to 8)

Hello Lighthouse

by Sophie Blackall

Waves roll by, seasons come and go, keepers tend to their duties, and through it all, the lighthouse stands tall, sending its beam out into the darkness, bidding hello to all the ships at sea. Caldecott winner Sophie Blackall does a gorgeous job showing the timeless nature of lighthouse life — and the change that's coming. (For ages 4 to 8)

by Faith Ringgold

Artist Faith Ringgold's tale of young Cassie Louise Lightfoot who flies far above the "tar beach" of her apartment building roof is — along with The Undefeated — one of the most beautiful books on this list. Lifted up by the stars, Cassie flies over the city, claiming its beauty for her own and imagining a better life for her family. As a bonus, you can see Ringgold reading the book here . (For ages 5 to 8)

The Undefeated

by Kwame Alexander and Kadir Nelson

One of the most — if not the most — beautiful books on this list. Kadir Nelson's glowing, photorealistic paintings pair with Kwame Alexander's powerful words (with nods to Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks and more) for a tribute to decades of Black brilliance, pain and perseverance. "This is one of those texts that really spoke to me; it was beautifully written and I felt it was a really great pairing of words and pictures of an author and an artist," Nelson told NPR . (For ages 6 to 9)

by Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers

This poem by Walter Dean Myers — a revered elder of children's literature — celebrates Harlem, where he grew up, full of "colors loud enough to be heard" and songs first heard in the villages of "Ghana/Mali/Senegal." His son Christopher's bold illustrations, part paint and part collage, don't talk down to kids, instead pulling them into a vibrant city. (For ages 9 and up)

Baby's Bookshelf

Antiracist baby.

by Ibram X. Kendi and Ashley Lukashevsky

Ibram X. Kendi wanted to have a tool to teach his young daughter about racism, so he adapted the ideas in his book How to Be an Antiracist into this brightly colored guide. In nine steps, Kendi (and illustrator Ashley Lukashevsky) offers parents a way to open their eyes, and their children's eyes, to the realities of racism. (For ages 0 to 3)

Goodnight Moon

by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd

Margaret Wise Brown's hushed, incantatory bedtime poetry — set against Clement Hurd's bright blocks of green, blue, red and yellow — has sent generations of children off to sleep. Don't you wish you had a great green room and a red balloon? And two little kittens and a pair of mittens? (For ages 0 to 4)

Freight Train

by Donald Crews

Red caboose at the back, and forward through the rainbow to the black tender and engine, Donald Crews' simple, powerful freight train chugs its way through towns and tunnels, days and nights. Kids will love exploring the blocky, brightly colored train cars and seeing what's inside. Here comes the train! (For ages 0 to 4)

Good Dog, Carl (series)

by Alexandra Day

Little Madeleine has a pretty great babysitter: A big friendly Rottweiler named Carl. Together, they go to the store and to the zoo, to costume parties and daycare classes — in richly illustrated, mostly wordless books that let readers form their own ideas about what's happening on each page. (For ages 1 to 4)

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

by Eric Carle

In the light of the moon, a little egg lay on a leaf — and it hatched into a hungry caterpillar who munched his way right off the page and into the hearts of kids everywhere. Eric Carle's charming story and luminous, stained-glass illustrations make The Very Hungry Caterpillar a classic for the ages (and a good advertisement for the benefits of snacking). (For ages 2 to 5)

But Not the Hippopotamus

by Sandra Boynton

All the other animals are having fun! They cavort in the bog, they try on hats, they sip juice at a cute cafe ... but not the hippopotamus, who's always in the background looking on sadly. But luckily, by the end of Sandra Boynton's cheerful tale, the hippo gathers her courage and joins in the party. (For ages 2 to 5)

Brown Baby Lullaby

by Tameka Fryer Brown and A.G. Ford

Tameka Fryer Brown's lilting, musical rhymes and A.G. Ford's glowing art follow one very active baby through a very busy day of zooming around the house, getting kisses, napping, playing in the grass, getting a bath and finally going to bed as the sun sets. (For ages 2 to 6)

Go, Dog. Go!

by P. D. Eastman

Big dogs, little dogs, red dogs, blue dogs, dogs on cars and scooters — kids will love learning colors and emotions and ideas with P.D. Eastman's zippy dogs. And hopefully they'll learn some manners, too; the answer to "Do you like my hat?" should generally be "Yes!" (For ages 3 to 7)

The Napping House

by Audrey Wood and Don Wood

It's a soft gray rainy day and everyone's asleep in the Napping House — but unfortunately, they're all trying to pile into the same bed, with predictably unfortunate (but funny) results. This is a book that'll put any kid to sleep — and we mean that in the best possible way. (For ages 4 to 7)

Conversation Starters

Last stop on market street.

by Matt De La Pena and Christian Robinson

CJ is full of questions: Why do we have to take the bus when my friend has a car? Why is it raining? Why can't that man see? Luckily, his nana is always ready with an answer that helps CJ find beauty wherever he looks."You can feel like you have been slighted if you are growing up without, if you have less money, or you can see the beauty in that," author Matt de la Peña told NPR in 2016 . "And I feel like the most important thing that's ever happened to me is growing up without money." (For ages 3 to 5)

by Kyo MacLear and Rashin Kheiriyeh

For the family in Story Boat , "here" is home — but "here" keeps changing as they travel onward to an unknown destination. Illustrator Rashin Kheiriyeh, whose family fled Iran after war broke out in 1980, told NPR that when she first read the manuscript, "I thought, oh, that's me." Her bold, carefully color-coded illustrations balance a serious situation with the whimsy of children spinning tales out of the few belongings they've brought with them. (For ages 3 to 7)

by Yuyi Morales

Yuyi Morales was born in Mexico; she came to America with her baby boy in 1999, and she builds that experience into a poetic, visually stunning tribute to the immigrant experience — to walking the streets of a new place, getting lost and learning a new life and language, and to the dreams, hopes and talents immigrants bring to this country. (For ages 4 to 8)

Jabari Jumps

by Gaia Cornwall

Not a lot of brand-new books make it into these lists, but our judges felt that Gaia Cornwall's sweet, engaging story of a little boy conquering his fear of the high jump would stand the test of time. If you've ever stood at the edge of that board looking down at the deep end, Jabari Jumps is the book for you. (For ages 4 to 8)

The Rabbit Listened

by Cori Doerrfeld

Ever have a friend who's sad, and you just don't know what to say or how to help them? The Rabbit Listened is the book for you — with simple text and illustrations so cute you'll want to hug yourself, it tells the story of Taylor, who's sad that his tower of blocks fell down, and all the animals who really aren't helping until the rabbit comes along. (For ages 3 to 5)

by Lupita Nyong'o and Vashti Harrison

"Dear Lord," Sulwe prays, "Why do I look like midnight when my mother looks like dawn?" She tries makeup, eating only light-colored foods, and in one painful scene, using an eraser to rub away her darkness. But a magical flight through the night sky helps her learn to love that darkness. Actor and author Lupita Nyong'o told NPR she based the book on her own experiences of colorism as a child, "And so that's why I wrote this — to hopefully bring it to the fore and people can address it." (For ages 4 to 8)

I Am Enough

by Grace Byers and Keturah A. Bobo

"I'm not meant to be like you; you're not meant to be like me," writes actor and author Grace Byers. "Sometimes we will get along, and sometimes we will disagree." But as kids will learn from I Am Enough , like the sun, we're all here to shine. (For ages 4 to 8)

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse

by Kevin Henkes

Lilly loves everything, especially her purple plastic purse full of treasures. She even loves her teacher Mr. Slinger — but when the wondrous purse and its contents keep interrupting his lessons, he confiscates it, leading Lilly to attempt revenge. Luckily, her favorite teacher understands her emotions. (For ages 4 to 8)

The Proudest Blue

by Ibtihaj Muhammad, S. K. Ali and Hatem Aly

Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad was bullied as a child for wearing a hijab. She decided to turn that experience into this lovely tale of two sisters, Faizah and Asiya, who confront a playground bully threatening to yank Asiya's blue hijab off her head. Muhammad told NPR she hopes little girls wearing hijabs will "see themselves in this work." (For ages 4 to 8)

Each Kindness

by Jacqueline Woodson

So many great Jacqueline Woodson books, so little space! We settle on Each Kindness, gorgeously illustrated by E.B. Lewis. Maya is the new girl at school, with ragged clothes and the wrong shoes for winter. No one wants to play with her — not even Chloe, who sits next to her, and eventually has to deal with the results of her unkindness. (For ages 5 to 8)

Wherever I Go

by Mary Wagley Copp and Munir D. Mohammed

Abia is the queen of the Shimelba refugee camp — because she's been there the longest of any of her friends, and she rules her domain with love and an acacia-twig crown. Wherever I Go is a heartfelt portrait of life in a refugee family, and a meditation on the idea of home. Is the camp home? What about the "forever home" Abia's Papa dreams of? And will she still be a queen when she gets there? (For ages 6 to 9)

by Kelly Yang

10-year-old Mia Tang mans the desk at her family's motel — and helps keep its biggest secret: Her parents hide immigrants, letting them stay for free in empty rooms. And she wants to be a writer, but English isn't her first language. Writer Kelly Yang based this powerful story on her own experience, and the stories of the immigrants who stayed at her family's motels. (For ages 8 to 12)

Family Life

Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

by Judith Viorst and Ray Cruz

When Alexander wakes up with gum in his hair, he knows nothing good is coming. And he's right — there's no toy in his cereal, his teacher doesn't like his drawing and there's kissing on TV. A great read for anyone who's ever been down in the dumps. Even grown-ups can take solace in Alexander's troubles — poll judge Juanita Giles says it was the book she chose to read at her mother's bedside on her last day. (For ages 2 to 4)

by Kevin Noble Maillard and Juana Martinez-Neal

Author Kevin Noble Maillard — who's part of the Seminole Nation — told NPR he had a hard time finding books about Native Americans that weren't about historical figures like Sacagawea or Pocahontas. "Nothing about people alive that were wearing sneakers, that were eating candy, or making cakes with their grandma." So he created this ode to a favorite food that brings Native families together. (For ages 3 to 6)

A Chair for My Mother

by Vera B. Williams

Rosa's mom works in a diner — and so does Rosa, sometimes, peeling onions, washing salt shakers and saving her pennies to buy her mom a comfortable chair because all their furniture was lost in a fire that turned their apartment to "charcoal and ashes." And bit by bit, with hard work and cooperation, Rosa and her mom find the perfect chair. (For ages 4 to 8)

My Papi Has a Motorcycle

by Isabel Quintero and Zeke Peña

Daisy Ramona waits every day for her Papi to come home from work — because then she gets to ride around their city on the back of his motorcycle. Writer Isabel Quintero told NPR the story is a loving tribute to her own father, and her childhood in Corona, Calif. "It is very specific, but it's also a story that especially Latinx kids in other parts of the country can enjoy or relate to." Zeke Peña's warm, bustling illustrations bring those childhood memories to life. (For ages 4 to 8)

Drawn Together

by Minh Lê and Dan Santat

As a child, Minh Lê loved his grandparents but didn't really know what to say to them. He works through that awkwardness in Drawn Together , about a boy and his grandfather who learn to connect through their mutual love of art. "And then their relationship kind of takes off from there," Lê told NPR . (For ages 4 to 8)

Meet Yasmin! (series)

by Saadia Faruqi and Hatem Aly

Yasmin is a spunky second-grader who tries out all kinds of occupations — superhero, writer, chef, zookeeper — whether or not she actually knows what's involved. But she always has fun, thanks to her quick thinking and support from her big Pakistani American family. (For ages 5 to 8)

by Matthew A. Cherry and Vashti Harrison

Based on the Oscar-winning short film, this lovely story of a dad learning to do his daughter's hair, which "kinks, coils and curves every which way," will leave you sniffling fondly. Creator Matthew Cherry told NPR he was inspired by friends of his who are young fathers, and "they're all willing to do whatever it takes for their young girls." (For ages 4 to 8)

A Different Pond

by Bao Phi and Thi Bui

Hours before the sun came up, Bao Phi's father would wake him — quietly — for a fishing trip. Not for fun, but to feed their family. And as they fished, Bao's father would tell him stories about another pond back in their homeland of Vietnam. Thi Bui's gorgeous, quiet illustrations are perfect for this lovely story of the bond between father and son. (For ages 6 to 8)

The Boxcar Children (series)

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

No one knows what to do with orphaned siblings Henry, Violet, Jessie and Bennie — and they don't want to live with the grandfather they've never met. So they set up house in an abandoned boxcar and try to make it on their own. But that's just the first of more than 150 Boxcar Children adventures — eventually reconciled with their grandfather (who turns out to be both rich and quite nice), they end up as amateur sleuths in the tradition of the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. (For ages 7 to 10)

Animal (and Monster) Friends

by Janell Cannon

Fact: Bats are adorable, and few bats are more adorable than Stellaluna, the little one who gets lost when an owl dives at her mother and ends up trying to fit in with a nest full of baby birds. Janell Cannon's glowing illustrations, paired with a couple of pages of fun facts about bats, make this a great book for budding naturalists (or anyone who understands that yes, bats are adorable). (For ages 0 to 3)

Corduroy , by Don Freeman Viking Books for Young Readers hide caption

by Don Freeman

Corduroy the bear sits on a shelf in a department store, longing for a friend — but little Lisa's mother refuses to buy him. He's missing a button after all. Corduroy's after-hours search for his missing button leads to escalating mischief and a story that's great for anyone who's ever wondered whether toys come to life when you aren't looking. (For ages 2 to 5)

The Story of Ferdinand

by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson

Peaceful Ferdinand just wants to be left alone, to sit under his cork tree sniffing the flowers — and when he ends up in the bullring, his refusal to fight (the flowers in the lady spectators' hair are so much more interesting) confounds the bullfighters. A classic tale of pacifism and being true to yourself. (For ages 3 to 5)

A Sick Day for Amos McGee

by Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead

Amos McGee is a zookeeper, and a kind and punctual fellow. He's always on the same bus every morning, and he always has time to visit his animal friends. But one day, he wakes up with a cold and decides to stay in bed, so his worried animal friends jump on the bus to visit him. A lovely, gentle story about what friends can do for each other. (For ages 3 to 6)

Mother Bruce (series)

by Ryan T. Higgins

Oh, no! Bruce, the grumpy, solitary bear, loves to eat eggs — except these eggs happen to be full of goslings, and Bruce finds himself with a feathery family he doesn't know what to do with. And it's not just geese — mice, possums, foxes and more all pile into Bruce's den. (For age 3 to 5)

The Monster at the End of this Book

by Jon Stone

Don't turn the page! Don't you know there's a monster at the end of this book? "Lovable, furry old Grover" does his best to keep kids from turning the pages — but all his efforts can't prevent readers from discovering who the monster actually is. Oh no! So embarrassing! (For ages 3 to 7)

Blueberries for Sal

by Robert McCloskey

You guys voted in a lot of Robert McCloskey books! But the judges felt Blueberries for Sal was the most compelling read. Sal and her mother head to Blueberry Hill to pick berries for canning; meanwhile a mother bear and her cub are fattening themselves for winter on the other side of the hill, and mix-ups ensue. First published in 1948, this tale of two mothers, two children and a bucket of blueberries is still charming young readers. (For ages 3 to 7)

Bowwow Powwow

by Brenda J. Child and Jonathan Thunder

Windy Girl loves the stories her uncle tells about long-ago powwows. And she loves the real-life powwows she goes to with her uncle and her dog, Itchy Boy. One night, lulled to sleep by drums, she dreams of an all-dog powwow, with all kinds of breeds dancing drumming, even selling Indian fast food to the attendees. It's a joyous, funny book that gives young readers a look at an important tradition. (For ages 3 to 7)

Catwings (series)

by Ursula K. Le Guin and S. D. Schindler

Putting together these lists is as much of a discovery experience as reading them is, and I'm especially glad to have discovered Catwings , Ursula K. LeGuin's tale of four tabby kittens inexplicably born with wings. Thelma, Jane, Harriet and Roger use their wings to fly far away from the dangerous alley where they were born, but they find country life has its own challenges. Steven D. Schindler's soft-edged illustrations will make you believe winged kittens might actually exist. (For ages 4 and up)

Elephant & Piggie (series)

by Mo Willems

Readers voted in just about everything Mo Willems has ever written, but sadly, with only 100 slots on the list, we could only keep one (although we cheated a little by picking a series). Elephant and Piggie are funny, adorable cartoon animals, but they have to work through the same serious issues — sharing, patience, new friendships, sadness — that all kids face as they grow up. (For ages 4 to 8)

Henry and Mudge (series)

by Cynthia Rylant and Suçie Stevenson

Lonely little Henry has no brothers and sisters. He doesn't like the street he lives on, and then his parents get him Mudge, a dog who's considerably bigger than he is. It's pretty great to have a giant dog because then when you walk to school, you can think about ice cream and rain instead of tornadoes or ghosts. (For ages 5 to 7)

Mercy Watson (series)

by Kate DiCamillo and Chris Van Dusen

Kate DiCamillo is another author who showed up all over the original list of nominations, but our judges thought this series about a terrific, radiant little pig — who likes buttered toast, car rides and solving the occasional mystery — was the pick of the litter. Chris Van Dusen's lively, sweet-natured illustrations helped seal the deal. (For ages 5 to 8)

Dog Man (series)

by Dav Pilkey

You can't have a kids' books list without Dav Pilkey. So here comes Dog Man: Half dog, half cop, this gruff crime fighter is here to sniff out wrongdoing, especially when it involves his nemesis Petey the Cat, who cooks up crimes in his secret cat lab. (For ages 7 and up)

Folktales And Fairy Tales

Strega nona.

by Tomie dePaola

Strega Nona should have known better than to leave Big Anthony alone with her magic pasta pot! He's only supposed to look after her house and garden — but one day when she's away, he decides to make the pot produce dinner for the whole town. You can pretty much guess what happens after that. A terrible pasta flood might be scary, but Tomie dePaola's velvety illustrations reassure little readers that everything will be alright in the end, if a little sticky. (For ages 2 to 5)

by Jan Brett

Jan Brett's luminous art brings this Ukrainian folktale about a careless boy and a snow-white mitten to life. Nicki demands mittens knitted from wool as white as the snow — which his grandmother knows is impractical, but she humors him. When he drops one in the snow, a host of animals come to investigate, even a bear. (For ages 3 to 5)

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith

Little kids are goofy and frequently gross, we all know that — so Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith's gleefully surreal inversion of familiar fairy tales is perfect for little readers. (And you don't actually have to be a little kid to laugh your ... hiney ... off at just the table of contents, even before you get to stories like "Little Red Running Shorts" and "Cinderumpelstiltsin.") (For ages 3 to 7)

A Big Mooncake for Little Star

by Grace Lin

Any kid who has looked up at the moon and wondered why it changes shape will love the story of Little Star — who bakes a mooncake with her mother, and then can't resist a nibble ... and then another nibble ... and then another nibble. You'll want a mooncake of your own (and a set of sparkly, starry pajamas, too). (For ages 4 to 8)

Beautiful Blackbird

by Ashley Bryan

Long ago, the birds of Africa were all the colors of the rainbow — but none of them had any black, because Blackbird had it all. So they asked Blackbird to give them some of his beautiful color. Ashley Bryan's paper-cut illustrations, reminiscent of Henri Matisse, bring this story of envy, beauty and acceptance to gorgeous life. (For ages 3 to 8)

by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen

Annabel finds what looks like an ordinary box full of ordinary yarn — but it's enough to clothe, brighten and bind together a whole town in colorful knitted cozies. And when a sinister archduke tries to grab the box for himself, he learns that crime doesn't pay. A lovely story about a girl who has the power to change the world around her. (For ages 4 to 8)

The Princess in Black (series)

by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale and Leuyen Pham

A princess? A superhero? Why not both?! Princess Magnolia — inspired by author Shannon Hale's daughter, who insisted that princesses couldn't wear black — can have scones with duchesses AND fight monsters, or a mysterious stinky cloud, or a sea monster (some princesses just can't catch a break, even on the beach). (For ages 5 to 8)

The People Could Fly

by Virginia Hamilton, Leo Dillon and Diane Dillon

Virginia Hamilton — herself descended from enslaved people who escaped via the Underground Railroad — retells Black folktales like "He Lion, Bruh Bear and Bruh Rabbit" and "How Nehemiah Got Free" in a simple, powerful style. Put that together with Leo and Diane Dillon's luscious illustrations and you have an almost perfect story-hour read. (For ages 8 and up)

A Wish in the Dark

by Christina Soontornvat

A fantastical, Thai-inspired twist on Les Misérables. In the city of Chattana, all the light was created by one man, the Governor. To Pong, born in prison, those lights mean freedom, but when he escapes he discovers that freedom is only for the wealthy. Nok, the prison warden's daughter, is determined to recapture Pong — but her quest leads her to some uncomfortable revelations. (For ages 8 to 12)

My Father's Dragon

by Ruth Stiles Gannett and Ruth Chrisman Gannett

Childhood surrealism at its best. If you like The Phantom Tollbooth , try this story about a little boy named Elmer Elevator (the narrator's father as a child) who befriends a talking alley cat that sets him on his way to a grand adventure on a wild island — past muddy rivers, fierce tigers and fashionable lions — to rescue a yellow-and-blue-striped dragon. (For ages 8 to 12)

Fun To Read Out Loud

Chicka chicka boom boom (chicka chicka series).

by Bill Martin Jr., John Archambault and Lois Ehlert

"A told B and B told C, I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree." A read-aloud classic, this rollicking alphabet rhyme has all the letters racing one another up a coconut tree. "Chicka Chicka boom boom! Will there be enough room?" We defy you to read this to a kid and not end up dancing. (For ages 1 to 4)

A Is for Activist

by Innosanto Nagara

Innosanto Nagara's ABCs of activism simplifies ideas about environmentalism, feminism, civil rights and democracy for the littlest readers. Bold, bright illustrations and lively rhymes make this a solid read-aloud choice, too. (Oh, and there's a cat hiding on every page, too — can you find it?) (For ages 3 to 7)

The Gruffalo

by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

There's no such thing as a Gruffalo! Or is there? A savvy mouse avoids the clutches of a fox by invoking the terrible Gruffalo — setting off an increasingly ridiculous (and delightful) chain of events, all told in rhyming couplets that are all kinds of fun to read aloud. (For ages 3 to 5)

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

by Virginia Lee Burton

Who doesn't love a big chunk of heavy machinery? First published in 1939, Virginia Lee Burton's tale of Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel, Mary Anne, has inspired decades of sandbox excavation projects — and, memorably, it also prompted Ramona Quimby to wonder out loud whether Mike ever had time to go to the bathroom. (For ages 4 to 7)

Bark, George

by Jules Feiffer

George is a little dog who just can't bark. He can meow and oink and quack — but barking? Nope. When his frustrated mother takes George to the vet, the answer to his problem turns out to be quite the surprise. Jules Feiffer's illustrations are minimalist but incredibly expressive — plus, it's just fun to yell MOO and OINK and QUACK QUACK! (For ages 4 to 8)

Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads

by Bob Shea and Lane Smith

Drywater Gulch has a toad problem — specifically the unmannerly Toad brothers, who will steal your gold and insult your chili. But then hope arrives — sloooowly on tortoise-back — in the form of 7-year-old Kid Sheriff Ryan, who may not know about toads specifically, but he does know about dinosaurs. And that might just be enough. (For ages 4 to 8)

Ada Twist, Scientist (series)

by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts

Young Ada is insatiably curious: "She started with Why ? And then What? How? and When? By bedtime she came back to Why? once again." From why roses have thorns to why noses have hair — and what's that stink in the house? — Ada Twist considers all the things. From the team that created Iggy Peck, Architect and Rosie Revere, Engineer . (For ages 5 to 7)

The Book With No Pictures

by B. J. Novak

Yup, it really doesn't have any pictures. But, as author B.J. Novak points out, "Here is how books work: Everything the words say, the person reading the book has to say." And we bet the kids in your life will love making you say things like "BLORK" or "My only friend in the whole wide world is a hippo named BOO BOO BUTT" or "BADOONGYFACE!!!!" (For ages 5 to 8)

Where the Sidewalk Ends

by Shel Silverstein

How many of you, reading this page, still have chunks of Where the Sidewalk Ends memorized? Do you think of Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout when you have to take the garbage out? Do you pause in the produce aisle and think about one real peach? And if you don't, why not? (For ages 6 to 8)

Hidden Figures

by Margot Lee Shetterly and Laura Freeman

Margot Lee Shetterly adapts her groundbreaking book about Black female mathematicians at NASA for young readers, with sharp-edged, jewel-toned illustrations by Laura Freeman. A great pick for any budding mathematician or astronaut — and for any parent needing to teach their kids at home. (For ages 4 to 8)

The Oldest Student

by Rita Lorraine Hubbard and Oge Mora

Mary Walker's life stretched all the way from the Civil War to the civil rights movement. She was born into slavery in 1848, freed at 15, worked all kinds of jobs to support her family and then outlived them all — and in 1963, she enrolled in a literacy class where she learned to read and write. Oge Mora's painterly illustrations are a beautiful complement to this story about how you're never too old to learn. (For ages 4 to 8)

by Patricia Hruby Powell and Christian Robinson

This gorgeous book will introduce kids to the glory of Josephine Baker — not just her fabulous dance routines, but her life of activism and service, including speaking alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963. Patricia Hruby Powell's jazz-inflected words and Christian Robinson's bright, exciting pictures make this book a treat for readers and listeners. (For ages 7 to 10)

Early Chapter Books

Frog and toad (series).

by Arnold Lobel

Amphibians, sport coats and lasting friendship. Over the course of four books, Frog and Toad go swimming and sledding, search for lost buttons, bake cookies, grow gardens and generally have fun together all year round. If only adult friendships were as simple and solid as Frog and Toad's! (For ages 4 to 8)

Little Bear (series)

by Else Holmelund Minarik and Maurice Sendak

Else Holmelund Minarik wrote this tale of a Bear and his Mother for her own daughter, to read in the mornings before school — longhand, as she wrote all her manuscripts, because she never learned to type. Together with Maurice Sendak's delightfully shaggy illustrations, Minarik's gentle words are perfect for the littlest readers. (For ages 4 to 8)

Anna Hibiscus (series)

by Atinuke and Lauren Tobia

Anna Hibiscus lives in "Africa, amazing Africa," in a compound with her large and loving family. Nigerian storyteller Atinuke spins a wonderful saga of modern West African family life — follow along with Anna as she learns about the world outside her walls, faces stage fright and even snow for the first time. (For ages 4 to 10)

Juana & Lucas (series)

by Juana Medina

Juana lives in Bogotá, Colombia, and she loves drawing, her dog Lucas and Brussels sprouts. (Did you know they're called repollitas in Spanish?) This is a lively, loving tour of Juana's world, liberally sprinkled with Spanish words to learn as you go — meanwhile, Juana has to practice her English, and she's really not happy about that. (For ages 5 to 8)

Dory Fantasmagory (series)

by Abby Hanlon

Dory is the youngest in her family, with a yen for attention and an overactive imagination — and did we mention her nemesis, Mrs. Gobble Cracker? Young readers will love following along with Dory as she battles everything from monsters around the house to pirates to more mundane concerns like making and keeping friends. (For ages 6 to 8)

Junie B. Jones (series)

by Barbara Park

Junie B. Jones is almost 6 years old! And she's really excited about everything, especially spaghetti and meatballs. The B stands for Beatrice, by the way. This series made the American Library Association's list of 100 top banned or challenged books from 2000 to 2009; apparently, some grown-ups thought sassy, mouthy Junie wasn't a good role model. We disagree. (For ages 6 to 9)

Ivy + Bean (series)

by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall

Ivy is quiet; Bean is loud and goofy. Ivy wants to be a witch, Bean wants to play games. Naturally, they're going to end up being best friends and getting into all kinds of scrapes together since their approach to pretty much everything — from discovering dinosaurs to starting their own summer camp — is "Why not?" (For ages 6 to 10)

Clementine (series)

by Sara Pennypacker and Marla Frazee

Spunky, redheaded third-grader Clementine starts this series by having a seriously bad week (how many times is she going to get sent to the principal?), but we promise things will get better. Fans of Ramona Quimby will get a kick out of Clementine, her brother Spinach (that's not really his name) and her sort-of-snooty best friend Margaret. (For ages 6 to 10)

Older Readers

Ways to make sunshine.

by Renée Watson and Nina Mata

Ryan Hart wants to see the good in everybody — even when she gets teased for having a boy's name. She has a lot to deal with — her dad's been laid off and the family has to move to a smaller house. But when Ryan runs into problems, she's always looking for ways to make sunshine. (For ages 7 to 10)

by David Walliams

A delightfully gruesome tale in the Roald Dahl vein. Sheila lives with her father and unpleasant stepmother; she's bullied by a classmate and sneered at by her teacher. Her only friend is a rat she names Armitage, after the brand of toilet in her apartment — but could scary Burt, who sells burgers from a food truck outside her school, be making his burgers out of ground-up rat? (For ages 8 and up)

The Trumpet of the Swan

by E. B. White and Fred Marcellino

This book is responsible for my attempt, at age 7, to have a conversation with the swans at the National Zoo by standing outside their enclosure yelling "Ko-hooo!" E.B. White wrote a full shelf of children's classics, but this story about a mute trumpeter swan — who woos his lady love with an actual trumpet — should get more attention than it does. (For ages 8 to 12)

From the Desk of Zoe Washington

by Janae Marks

On her 12th birthday, Zoe Washington gets a letter from the father she's never met, who's in prison for a crime he says he didn't commit. Is he innocent? Zoe decides to find out — but it's hard to keep her investigation secret from the rest of the family AND stay on top of things at her bakery internship so she can achieve her dream of competing on a TV baking show. (For ages 8 to 12)

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale Of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, And A Very Interesting Boy

by Jeanne Birdsall

Fans of Ballet Shoes and the Green Knowe books will love this tale of four sisters who go to spend their summer vacation in a cottage on the grounds of a grand mansion. Each sister has a unique, winning personality; young readers will finish the first book and want to spend more time with them. Luckily, there are four more Penderwicks books. (For ages 8 to 12)

by Jerry Craft

Fans of Raina Telgemeier will love Jerry Craft's sympathetic graphic novel about seventh-grader Jordan, who's trying to fit in at the fancy new private school where he's one of the few kids of color in his grade. And all he really wants to do is draw comics — so how can he stay true to himself and his neighborhood, and still figure out his new school? (For ages 8 to 12)

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

Roz the robot wakes up on a remote island — how did she get there? Who knows! All she knows is that she has to survive. And surviving involves making friends with otters and baby geese, climbing cliffs and avoiding storms — until Roz finally remembers who she is and why she's on the island. (For ages 8 to 12)

Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat (series)

by Johnny Marciano, Emily Chenoweth and Robb Mommaerts

Lots of people think their cats are aliens — but Klawde really is one. Once the High Commander of the planet Lyttyrboks, he's lost his throne and been exiled to earth, so he has something in common with Raj Banerjee, who's been exiled to rural Oregon because of his mom's new job. The chapters switch back and forth between Raj and Klawde, whose narration of his new life has the hilariously overamped hysteria of the best B-movies. (For ages 8 to 12)

by Maud Hart Lovelace and Lois Lenski

We always say that these polls don't produce ranked lists — and they truly don't — but I'd be remiss in not pointing out that Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy-Tacy books, about the enduring friendship between two young girls — got the most votes of any book on this list. The series grows up with its readers; at the beginning, Betsy and Tacy are small children; we see them through adventures fanciful and down-to-earth, and finally leave them as young married women. (For ages 8 to 12)

Ronia, the Robber's Daughter

by Astrid Lindgren

Sure, Pippi Longstocking is great — but have you met Ronia, the robber's daughter? Born in her father's castle in the middle of a thunderstorm, Ronia grows up compassionate and brave. She befriends Birk, the son of a rival robber, and when she brings him food during a harsh winter, her father disowns her; she ends up living an adventurous life in the woods with Birk. (Don't worry, everyone is reconciled in the end.) (For ages 8 to 12)

Encyclopedia Brown Boy Detective

by Donald J. Sobol

A classic! Leroy Brown (not the bad one) is a 10-year-old genius who solves mysteries for 25 cents a day (no case too small) — often for his police chief dad, and often involving his nemesis, the bully Bugs Meany — alongside his pal and partner Sally Kimball, who often solves the case by noticing things Encyclopedia doesn't. (For ages 8 to 12)

by Jen Wang

Quiet, studious Christine and lively, messy Moon are unlikely friends — but when Moon and her family move in next door, they form a close bond. Moon has a secret: She sees heavenly visions, hears voices that tell her she doesn't belong on earth. But those visions have a terrible earthly cause, and Christine has to find it in herself to be the friend Moon needs as she fights for her life. Jen Wang based this heartfelt story of friendship through adversity — which was a 2019 Book Concierge pick — on her own childhood. (For ages 8 to 12)

The Jumbies (series)

by Tracey Baptiste

Fair warning — Tracey Baptiste's Jumbies books, based on Caribbean folklore, are scary. REALLY scary. But Corinne La Mer isn't afraid of anything, especially jumbies, since everyone knows they're just made up, right? But then one night she sees yellow eyes shining in the forest ... and soon, she finds she has to use all her wiles to keep the jumbies away from her island. (For ages 9 to 12)

Wells & Wong mysteries (series)

by Robin Stevens

Best friends Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong do what any enterprising young women at boarding school would do: They form a detective agency — and quickly run up against their first real case when Hazel finds the body of their science teacher sprawled on the gymnasium floor. And that's just the beginning for this detective duo and their strangely murder-prone school. (For ages 10 and up)

Better Nate Than Ever (series)

by Tim Federle

The budding drama club kids in your life will love this trilogy about a small-town boy with big Broadway dreams. Nate Foster longs to get away from Jankburg, Pa., to star in a Broadway show (or even just see one). And then something amazing happens: There's an open casting call for a Broadway musical based on E.T. He just has to get there. (For ages 10 and up)

Prairie Lotus

by Linda Sue Park

We did not include the Little House books on this list — they're already part of the Ultimate Backseat Bookshelf . But readers wanting a frontier tale will find a friend in Hanna, a mixed-race girl growing up in the Dakota territory in 1880. Author Linda Sue Park made the parallels between Hanna and Laura Ingalls deliberate — as she writes in her author's note, she loved the Little House books as a child, but she knew Ma and Pa Ingalls wouldn't have let Laura "become friends with someone like me ... someone who wasn't white." (For ages 10 to 12)

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30 Best Children's Books To Read With Your Kids In 2024

Books that educate, enlighten, and enliven reading with your children.

Taylor Beal has spent more than ten years working as a reading specialist, school administrator, and English teacher in education. She also has experience with students of all ages, from elementary to high school. In addition to masters in ... more

Wedetso Chirhah holds a masters degree in English Literature from Mangalore University and has over 13 years of experience in content. He has written content for more than 15 B2B websites and edited s... more

Poulami is an associate editor at MomJunction. She did her MA in English from Miranda House, University of Delhi and has qualified UGC-NET. She also holds a PG diploma in Editing and Publishing from J... more

Praven is an English literature expert. He did his bachelors in English from Delhi University and masters in English from Manipur University. Besides, he holds a certificate in multimedia design and c... more

Image: MomJunction Design Team

Keep your child engaged for hours with our list of the best storybooks for kids. If your child often complains about being bored or is attached to their phones or tabs all day, an interesting storybook can be a good way to keep them entertained. These stories offer moral values and other good lessons that your child can learn from. Reading is a nurturing habit that will help your child develop intellectually and emotionally. It helps them develop literary proficiency and promotes imagination and storytelling.

However, make sure the books are age-appropriate and not too complicated so that your child doesn’t lose interest quickly. With multiple tried-and-tested options available, choose a book that suits your child’s interests. So, take a look at the best-selling options below and choose accordingly.

Best Illustrated Picture Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Best for lessons on friendship: charlotte's web, best children's rhyming story: the cat in the hat, best for bedtime reading: goodnight good dog, best for learning important values: charlie and the chocolate factory, best for learning about animals: the gruffalo, best for learning self-confidence: the ugly duckling, best for learning about simplicity: the story of ferdinand, best for encouraging curiosity: green eggs and ham, best for learning about obedience: the story about ping, 30 best children’s books to read with your kids, 1. best illustrated picture book: the very hungry caterpillar.

A newborn caterpillar is very hungry, and he eats cupcakes, lollipops and everything else, which gives him a stomach ache. He’s even snacking on the pages of the book too- leaving holes for kids to put in.

He is getting fatter and bigger and one day he is metamorphosed into a beautiful butterfly with wings of purple, green, yellow, cherry pie and orange colors.

The author introduces the concept of metamorphosis in a way kids can understand . It is a picture book with mesmerizing illustrations and bright, colorful collages which the kids will love. This review video showcasing a tester’s experience can tell you more about this book.

Age: 2+ Author: Eric Carle

2. Best For Lessons On Friendship: Charlotte’s Web

A little girl named Fern saves a pig by convincing her father not to kill him. The two become friends and Fren names him Wilbur. Wilbur is then moved to live in Fern’s uncle Zuckerman’s barn, and Fern visits Wilbur every day.

The days she doesn’t come Wilbur feels very lonely, as the other barn animals – the goats, sheep and also the rats do not want to make friends with him.

One day Wilbur finally finds a friend, a spider called Charlotte whose web is in one corner of the barn door. Soon, they learn that Wilbur will be killed for the next Christmas dinner.

But Charlotte hatches a plan which will make the Zuckermans want to have Wilbur with them forever.

This fiction book shares a story of friendship, love, and how we all should treat our friends. It’s timeless. You may watch this video to get more insight into the story.

Age: 5+ Author: E.B White

3. Best Children’s Rhyming Story: The Cat In The Hat

On a rainy day, two kids get bored as they have nothing to do sitting at home. Then, ‘The Cat in the Hat’ walks in and wreaks havoc. He’s stylish but shameless and troubles everyone with his misbehavior. He juggles others’ things and even invites his friends to litter the place more.

But, the boy finally takes a stand and orders the feline to “pack up” and leave. That is when the cat is in remorse; his whiskers and bow tie droop. Here is the video review of the book by a little bookworm.

Kids will especially love the words that rhyme so well in the well-crafted story of this best-selling book.

Age: 4+ Author: Dr. Seuss

4. Best For Bedtime Reading: Goodnight, Good Dog

It’s the story of a dog, who is not ready to sleep at night yet. But he understands night time as he sees the night lamp and hears the hum of the refrigerator. But he’s thinking about his playing in the fields and the things he heard in the day and all his interactions.

He takes a slow walk through the house and the soothing signs of night and sleep finally lull him, and he sleeps looking forward to the next day.

The interactive book beautifully portrays how a little kid refuses to sleep at night and wants to postpone it as much as possible. Also, it is available in hardcover, board book, and Kindle versions.

Age: 4+ Author: Mary Lyn Ray

5. Best For Learning Important Values: Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

Charlie Bucket, a good, kind and honest kid, is very poor and was starving to death when he wins a lottery to visit the mysterious chocolate factory of Willy Wonka, along with a lifetime supply of candies.

Only five children have won the tickets, but the other four kids are not as good as Charlie, and inside the factory, they get their comeuppance.

Augustus Gloop is a greedy boy who falls in the chocolate river; Violet Beauregarde is a chewing gum addict and is blown up into a giant blueberry when she tries to grab a stick of chewing gum. Veruca Salt is named a “bad nut” by Willy Wonka’s working squirrels and is thrown in the garbage. And Mike Teavee, a television addict, receives his deserved punishment.

It’s laughable when the kids behave terribly and when they receive punishment. Only Charlie, our hero and the good boy, is waiting to get the most beautiful surprise of his life.

The best-selling book explains the negative things through a subtle and sweet storyline so that the kids can relate to it.

Age: 6+ Author: Roald Dahl

6. Best For Learning About Animals: The Gruffalo

The Gruffalo is a rhyming story about a mouse and a monster he crafts out of his imagination. The mouse goes for a walk in a dangerous forest full of predators who are about to kill him.

But, the mouse is composed and smart and makes up stories of a fierce monster, Gruffalo, whom he is going to meet. The little mouse successfully escapes from a snake, an owl, and a fox. But, he ends up meeting the real Gruffalo he’s talking about.

But parents, don’t worry- as the Gruffalo turns out to be silly and your kids will want to read more and more.

The book has beautiful illustrations of the playful animals and the forest.

Age: 3+ Author: Julia Donaldson

7. Best For Learning Self-Confidence: The Ugly Duckling

The Ugly Duckling is a classic time-tested story of transformation that no one sees coming but is inevitable to happen. A tiny duckling is born and looks ugly. He is ostracized by the other ducks and geese.

He tries to look for new shelters and gets them too, but he never finds peace.

One day, to his and others’ surprise, he transforms into a beautiful swan and joins a flock of swans swimming in the lake.

It teaches a necessary life lesson to children that looks are not everything and can also help improve their literary proficiency.

Age: 6+ Author: Hans Christian Andersen

8. Best For Learning About Simplicity: The Story Of Ferdinand

A young bull, Ferdinand, does not butt his head with the young bulls and instead prefers to sit under a cork tree smelling flowers. He grows up to be a large and robust bull.

The men from Madrid come to the pasture one day to pick up one for a bullfight. Ferdinand accidentally sits on a bumblebee and gets stung and runs ferociously. The men rename him “Ferdinand the Fierce” as they think he’s mad and ferocious, and he’s taken away to Madrid.

All the ladies of Madrid come to see him fight, but Ferdinand is mesmerized by the flowers on the ladies’ head and lies down. Everyone is upset, except him. And he’s returned to his pasture where he peacefully smells flowers.

The story talks about the subtleness in life, however big we might become.

Age: 3+ Author: Munro Leaf

9. Best For Encouraging Curiosity: Green Eggs And Ham

A character called “Sam-I-am” annoys an anonymous character to eat a plate of green eggs and ham. But the character won’t eat, no matter what! He keeps saying, “I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-am.”

But Sam-I-am keeps following him, and the unnamed character keeps refusing. Sam-I-am pesters him at eight different locations — inside a house, car, box, boat et al., when finally the character gives in, eats them and surprisingly loves them; he says, “I do so like green eggs and ham.”

This best-selling book is perfect for your kids to interest them in trying new or exotic things that they think they don’t like.

10. Best For Learning About Obedience: The Story About Ping

Ping was a little duck who lived on a beautiful riverboat on the Yangtze River. He loved his large family and his master. The last duck in line to board the riverboat at night was considered irresponsible, and Ping didn’t want to be one, because that duck would get a loud whack.

When Ping figured out that he’s going to be the last in line tonight, what did he do? He sets out on his adventurous journey on the Yangtze and finds a fascinating world of life, down the river to encounter not-so pleasing experiences.

It is an excellent book to teach children the importance of a family, friends, and obedience.

Age: 5+ Author: Marjorie Flack

11. Best For Loving The Family: The Jungle Book

This is a classic comprising short stories. It revolves around Mowgli, who is a man-cub, lost from his human parents and raised by a family of wolves who protect him with all their might, although many animals see him as a human, and therefore a threat. Mowgli is none of the sorts and loves his Jungle family.

There are animal characters, all personified, Baloo the Bear, Bagheera, the panther, and the most significant threat for all, Shere Khan, the tiger, who is always lurking around, waiting to hunt and kill.

The book is all about loving the family and being faithful to them, which will make your child’s sleepy time more gentle.

Age: 8+ Author: Rudyard Kipling

12. Best For Taking Challenges: Winnie The Pooh

Winnie the Pooh is a good bear, who loves honey and lives in the forestland of Hundred Acre Wood. His friends are a tiger Tigger, a sad gray donkey Eeyore, a fearful pig Piglet, a pompous bird Owl, and a restless Rabbit.

Pooh is a sweet bear with little brain and he’s always in trouble. But the storybook reveals how kind and brave he is when it comes to his friends — he restores the missing tail of Eeyore and sets off on an adventure with Christopher Robin to save Piglet who’s lost in the floods.

The book inspires children to take up challenges and be there for their friends.

Age: 4+ Author: A.A Milne

13. Best For Children’S Curiosity: The Snowy Day

A poor young boy wakes up one morning to a world laid with freshly fallen snow, and he goes exploring.

This book captures the beauty of children’s curiosity about a new world and their evergreen optimism.

For children, possibilities are endless, and those are beautifully captured in the book’s illustrations.

Age: 2+ Author: Ezra Jack Keats

14. Best For Simple Living: When I Was Young In The Mountains

This book tells the amazing story of Cynthia’s childhood memories in the Appalachian Mountains where she lived with her grandparents. She talks of her grandfather who was a coal miner and came home all covered in dust, except for his lips.

With those lips, he kissed her forehead every day. She describes her anecdotes of getting tummy aches from overeating fried okra and her trips to the outdoor toilet in the night. She would swim in the swimming hole where sometimes she would encounter snakes. She tells how she pumped water from the wells and carried it back to the house for a bath.

If you, as a parent, grew up in the mountains or want to teach the abundant joy of simple living, here’s a perfect book for your kid .

Age: 4+ Author: Cynthia Rylant

15. Best Value Of Sharing: The Rainbow Fish

Rainbow Fish is a shiny fish with beautiful scales of multiple colors. One day a small fish asks him if he can have one of his silver scales, but he refuses rudely; this makes the small fish upset, and he doesn’t want to play with Rainbow again.

Now his only friend is the Starfish who tells him to go to the wise Octopus for some advice. The Octopus surprisingly knew he’d be coming, as the waves told her his story.

The Octopus advises him to share his beauty- the scales with each of his close friends. She tells him that he may no longer be the most beautiful fish, but he will discover how happy he would be.

Soon other fish ask him for scales, and he gives them all one each. The rainbow fish is now left with just one scale, but happier than ever.

This is a wonderful story to teach the value of sharing to children.

Age: 3+ Author: Marcus Pfister

16. Best Imaginary Adventure: The BFG

One night a little girl called Sophie, who lives in an orphanage, couldn’t sleep and looked out of her window. She sees a giant walking down and blowing something into the windows of every house. As he sees Sophie, he grabs and takes her away to his desert cave.

The giant explains that he was blowing dreams through those windows to enter the minds of kids. But the other giants who live in the desert are ferocious and bigger, and they want to eat children.

Now that they are friends, Sophie hatches a safety plan to rescue the children from being eaten, as the giants are headed to England. Her planning involves dreams, the BFG (Big Friendly Giant), and the Queen of England to stop the nightmare forever.

This lovely story takes children on an imaginary adventure.

17. Best Mesmerizing Rhymes: We’re Going On A Bear Hunt

Five kids along with their dog set out for a bear hunt. As they keep going, they face new obstacles: first the long, flowy grass, then a broad river, a mud land, a thick forest, and a terrific snowstorm before they enter a cave: the cave of the bear.

They all get panicked, and run home, again through all the obstacles while the bear follows them. They reach home, lock the door to the bear and hide under the duvet. They say, “We’re not going on a bear hunt again.”

Celebrating 25 years of love, this book has left an everlasting mark on children with its illustrations and mesmerizing rhymes.

Age: 2+ Author: Michael Rosen

18. The Adventures Of Pinocchio

The story starts in Italy where a carpenter Master Antonio finds a pinewood block which he plans to carve as the leg for his table. When he starts, the leg shouts out. Seeing a talking log, he gives it to his neighbor, a puppeteer, named Geppetto who’s very poor.

Geppetto carves the wood into a boy and calls him Pinocchio, and a fairy puts life into the puppet. Once Geppetto teaches the puppet to walk, he runs out of the door and into the town. Soon, he gets into trouble like a real boy and remembers the broken promises and the way he treated Geppetto. He understands that to become real; he has to think of others and open up his heart.

The lovely story carries the message of being truthful and honest.

Age: 6+ Author: Carlo Collodi

19. Best For Skill-Building: The Gingerbread Man

The American fairy tale speaks of a little old woman, who bakes gingerbread for her family. But just as her gingerbreads are baked, she opens the oven to take them out, and one of them runs away.

This gingerbread man is then chased by the little old man, followed by a cow, a pig, a horse and at last, finds himself in front of a river. The Gingerbread man cannot swim the river, as he will melt.

A sly fox tells him to jump over his tail, and he’ll help him cross the river. He foolishly does as the fox says. In the end, the fox eats the gingerbread.

This wonderful story teaches about the price one pays when someone acts without thinking. This tale now comes out in a happy, lovable version with a funny twist.

Age: 3+ Author: Catherine McCafferty

20. Best Innocent Tale: The Velveteen Rabbit

A stuffed toy rabbit, sewn from velveteen, is gifted to a little boy as a Christmas present. The boy plays with the other toys that are modern and forgets the velveteen rabbit. All the other toys snub the old-fashioned rabbit, but the wisest toy in the nursery, the Skin Horse, tells him that when given a lot of love from children, a toy magically gets transformed into a real one.

One day the boy loses one of his toys and sleeps with the rabbit. They become close again, and the rabbit is happy. But one day the boy gets scarlet fever, and the doctor advises to disinfect his room. He is taken away to the seaside, while his toys and books are going to be burnt.

The rabbit is put into a sack and left in the garden. As he sadly thinks of his life and the boy’s, a drop of tear falls on the ground. From the teardrop, emerges a flower and the flower turns into a fairy. She calls herself the Nursery Magic Fairy and tells the rabbit that he has become real as the little boy truly loves him.

She takes him away to the forest, and he’s turned into a real rabbit. On the next spring, the rabbit peeps to take a look at the boy, and the boy sees him too. The boy thinks of a resemblance between the rabbit and his velveteen rabbit, and smiles.

It is an innocent tale about the bond between a little boy and his toy.

Age: 4+ Author: Margery Williams

21. Best Moral Story: The Tortoise And The Hare

This Aesop’s fable is an all-time favorite of kids, and a cherished moral tale. This is a tale about a hare who taunts a slow tortoise all the time. One day, he challenges the tortoise into a race, and the hare laughs at the idea.

As the race begins, the tortoise moves forward slowly, while the hare runs fast ahead. Seeing his opponent coming slowly, the hare settles for a small nap. What happens when he wakes up? He wakes up to find his opponent crossing the winning race line slowly, but steadily.

The story explains the importance of stability over speed.

Age: 3+ Author: Janet Stevens

22. Best Unabridged: Just So Stories

Rudyard Kipling used to tell these bedtime stories to his daughter “just so,” or she would complain every night.

In this series of stories, it shows how any animal got its particular traits; such as, the Whale has a throat that’s tiny because he swallowed a mariner. The camel got a hump because a djinn punished him for his refusal to work longer. An Ethiopian painted himself black, so he painted a leopard’s spots too.

These charming and fascinating stories for kids showcase the author’s literary expertise, making this classic a must-read.

Age: 6+ Author: Rudyard Kipling

23. Best Interactive Tale: Where The Wild Things Are

Max is a wild and naughty child who is sent to bed without his dinner because he threatened to eat up his mother. He thought he’d show everyone how able he is when it comes to swallowing up mom.

In his mind, a forest starts growing, and he boards a ship which takes him far across oceans to the home where the wild things are. They snarl at him with their claws and roll their eyes to eat up Max. Does it make our Max afraid? No, never!

Max befriends the monsters, and they announce him as the wildest of them all. Soon, Max is bored of all the fun and his adventure; he sails back home. When he returns what does he find? His supper in his room served hot by mom.

Shouldn’t kids be reminded of their mom’s importance occasionally? They should be through such stories in this interactive book.

Age: 2+ Author: Maurice Sendak

24. Best For Child Imagination: Blueberries For Sal

Sal, a little girl, is taken to the Blueberry Hill by her mother to pick blueberries. A cub and his mother bear have also come to eat berries before the winter starts.

While Little Sal is told by her mother to collect as many berries as she can to store up for the winter, Mrs. Bear teaches the cub to eat as many as possible to store up far during winter. The family pictures differ but are substantially similar when both the bear cub and little Sal get lost and exchange their mothers.

Both the mothers realize after some minutes that their kids have gotten mixed up. In the end, they are united with their right mothers and set back home.

The story unleashes the child’s imagination.

Age: 4+ Author: Robert McCloskey

25. Best Learning About Trees: The Giving Tree

The book tells the tale of an apple tree who loves a boy. She keeps giving her everything he ever needed or demanded, and the boy takes them all, be it her branches for playing, her trunk for climbing or her apples for eating.

When he grows up, he visits less and demands materialistic things – money from the apples, a house from her branches and a boat from her wood. The tree gives them happily while the boy seeks more and more, until one day nothing is left of the tree but the stump. That too the man uses as a stool to sit upon. Even then, she is happy.

The story talks of the benefits we get from trees and the man’s unending greed in the form of its beautiful illustrations.

Age: 6+ Author: Shel Silverstein

26. Best For Imagnation: Harold And The Purple Crayon

A little boy called Harold loves his purple crayon and keeps it always. One moonlit night, he decides to go for a walk but sees there’s no moon. So he draws a half moon and a path so that he doesn’t get lost. He draws an apple tree, and also a dragon for guarding it… he keeps drawing situations as per his imagination.

He draws a window around the moon, his bed, a cover, and curls up to sleep. Having done so, he drops the chalk and sleeps.

Read this story to your toddler during their sleepy time and let them have a sound sleep all night.

Age: 2+ Author: Crockett Johnson

27. Best For Love: Make Way For Ducklings

The eight Mallard ducklings are going to meet their father, while Mrs. Mallard is helping them to cross the busy and dangerous Boston roads safely. They honk “Quack, Quack” on seeing the cars; tension is built up to see if they will be able to reach safely.

In this story, family, love, care, and survival are conveyed to kids.

Age: 2+ Author: Robert McCloskey

28. Best For Learning Humbleness: Olivia, The Spy

A little pig Olivia messes up too many things after claiming she knows how to do everything. While making a smoothie, she splatters the blueberries for she doesn’t know how to use the blender. She claims to do laundry, but throws her red socks and turns her family’s white shirts red.

Then she eavesdrops on her mom talking to her aunt, crying where Olivia could be sent until some “sense” dawns upon her. She becomes curious and goes about investigating – hiding everywhere and listening to her mom speaking to her dad.

She hears the word “institution” and gets convinced that she’s going to prison. But it was just ballet, and Olivia does another mishap. She enters through the wrong door and lands onstage when the dance is ongoing.

It’s a funny story that depicts the harms of presumption and eavesdropping.

Age: 3+ Author: Ian Falconer

29. Corduroy

A teddy bear displayed in a department store is named Corduroy. One little girl arrives with her mother, loves Corduroy and wants to get him. The mother, however, refuses because a button is missing in his overalls.

Corduroy tries to find the missing button by himself but with no luck. He loses hope. Next day, Lisa comes back to the store with the money she saved in her piggy bank and buys Corduroy. She sews him a button at home. They hug each other, like friends who always wanted each other.

The story reflects the love children have for teddy bears and is quite relatable.

Age: 5+ Author: Don Freeman

30. Best For Nurturing: Miss Rumphius

Miss Rumphius is the story of a lady Alice Rumphius, who yearned to travel and transform the world to be more beautiful. Miss Rumphius beautifies the world for the better by spreading the tiniest seeds of lupine flowers everywhere.

The coast of Maine is now filled with blossoms and Miss Rumphius is also known as the Lupine Lady.

The story conveys the message of the importance of nurturing and keeping the world beautiful.

Age: 5+ Author: Barbara Cooney

How To Choose The Right Children’s Books To Read With Your Kids?

Consider the following factors when choosing the best children’s books.

• Engaging : Choose books with engaging storylines and exciting characters that motivate your child to continue reading and inspire them to think creatively and develop their skills.

Taylor Beal , an experienced English teacher and reading specialist, says, “Ask your child what they’re picturing in their mind as you’re reading a book to them. This method can help them make connections from the book to the fantasy worlds they are reading about and has proven to increase reading retention and comprehension.”

• Illustration : Select books with bright illustrations to draw the child in. Beautiful pictures combined with a fun story can help your child understand the story easily while having fun.
• Age : Check the recommended age range to ensure the book is appropriate for your child. The right book should have suitable language and content that can challenge your child’s vocabulary and imagination and nurture them. If the book is very complex, the child may lose interest.
• Reviews: Check the reviews left by other parents to determine if a book is suitable for your child.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When should children start reading chapter books?

You may introduce chapter books to children at the age of seven. These books are generally written for children aged seven to ten years. The books are short and introduce children to prose. They also contain vibrant illustrations to attract their attention.

2. At what age should children start reading books?

Children usually start exploring books independently at the age of three. So, this is a good age to give them their first book and let them start reading ( 1 ).

3. What are the benefits of reading books for children?

Reading age-appropriate books can help children with vocabulary, language skills, healthy behaviors, emotions, empathy, imagination, creativity, and self-confidence ( 2 ).

It is good to introduce the concept of reading to children when they are young as it becomes easier to develop the habit of reading regularly. Books teach children various values, and thus, knowledge gained from reading can’t be compared to what is learned in schools. Our list of the best storybooks for kids includes stories with diverse themes such as playful animals, tales from the past, and life lessons. Therefore, keep your child engaged and bond with them over new stories and characters.

Why Trust MomJunction?

Wedetso Chirhah writes extensively on books, kids, and more and has experience editing school books for children. He brings you this list of the best books to help you teach your child about responsibility, love, friendship, and compassion towards animals. Most of these books are easy to read and make great options for reading before bed.

The Bottom Line

It is good to introduce the concept of reading to children when they are young as it becomes easier to develop the habit of reading regularly. Books teach children various values; thus, knowledge gained from reading can’t be compared to what is learned in schools. Our list of the best storybooks for kids includes books with engaging illustrations and colorful collages like The Very Hungry Caterpillar , life lesson-teaching tales like Charlotte’s Web , and engaging books with playful animal protagonists like The Cat In The Hat . Therefore, keep your child engaged and bond with them over new stories and characters.

Infographic: How To Choose The Right Children’s Books?

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

• Reading Milestones https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/milestones.html
• Children’s literature to promote students’ global development and wellbeing https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7036210/

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30 Best Story Books For Kids

by mumslittleexplorers · February 8, 2023

Looking for children’s story books? Here we have put together a list of 30 of the best story books for kids that your children are sure to fall in love with. These fun children’s books make great bedtime stories for kids too!

Reading Children’s Story Books

Reading story books is one of the best things you can do with your kids, whether it be kids story books or even kids magazines . Finding the right books is so important. There is such a huge range of children’s story books that it is easy to feel overwhelmed.

Here we have put together a huge list of the best story books for kids. It includes the most popular kids story books of today along with some of the classics that never get old.

Make sure to check out our other lists too:

• Best board books for babies and toddlers
• Best book sets for kids of all ages

30 Story Books for Kids

Our favourite story books for kids from toddlers to pre-schoolers.

1. We’re Going On A Bear Hunt

Author: Michael Rosen

To kick of our list of the top story books for kids we start with a classic. The story follows a group of brothers and sisters as they traverse the landscape in search of a bear.

There are obstacles in their way and they need to overcome them but what happens when they stumble upon the exact thing they’re looking for?

Find it online: Amazon AU — Amazon US

2. The Snowy Day

Author: Ezra Keats

Originally written in 1962, The Snowy Day hasn’t lost its appeal over the years. This is a wonderful story book for kids about the innocence and wonder of young children. The book tells the tale of a little boy called Peter who experiences snow for the very first time.

3. Goodnight Tiger

Author: Timothy Knapman

A great bedtime story for kids, Goodnight Tiger starts as the tale of a little girl trying to sleep. It quickly turns into her trying to help her animal friends sleep though. This is an adorable, easy to follow picture book for kids that is paired with some great brightly coloured illustrations.

4. Claris: The Chicest Mouse In Paris

Author: Megan Hess

A fun rhyming tale and dreamy illustrations make the Claris series an absolute must story book for kids and youngsters. This series tells the tale of quite possibly the chicest mouse in the world. Claris is brave, stylish and about to follow her dream of moving to Paris but she must use all of her talents to overcome some obstacles when she gets there.

5. Wombat Stew

Author: K Vaughan, Marcia

An Australian classic if ever there was one. Wombat Stew has been loved by generations and the quirky little rhyme is easy to remember for even really young kids. This story of the wily fox and much loved wombat is an absolute must in any Australian house with little ones.

6. Possum Magic

Author: Mem Fox

Another classic Australian story, not only featuring adorable possums but also full of quintessential Aussie food and locations. Take a trip around Australia with Grandma Poss as she tries to break her magic spell and make Little Hush visible again.

Find online: Amazon AU — Amazon US

7. Monkey Puzzle

Author: Julia Donaldson

Little Monkey has lost his mummy and butterfly wants to help but it doesn’t quite end up being so simple. Monkey puzzle is a heartwarming story that parents will love reading with their kids about Little monkey’s journey through the rainforest to find his way back to mum.

8. The Tiger Who came To Tea

Author: Judith Kerr

Published over 50 years ago, this classic children’s story book has been loved by millions around the world. Sophie has an unexpected guest at tea time who proceeds to eat and drink everything he can find in the house. It’s a beautiful story that has truly stood the test of time.

Everybody has a special talent, some are just slightly harder to find. Read the story of Zog the clumsy dragon as he tries to earn himself a gold star. If you have girls, the sequel “Zog and The Flying Doctors” is another great read to show that girls can be anything they want to be!

10. Room On The Broom

Another Julia Donaldson classic story book for kids that is full of beautiful illustrations, fun characters and an entertaining rhyming story that little ones will love. Follow the witch and her trusty cat as they fly around on her magic broomstick and discover some new friends along the way.

11. The Day The Crayons Quit

Author: Drew Daywalt

This is a truly quirky and creative little story book for kids about a boy, called Duncan, who goes to use his crayons, only to find that they have all quit! Each crayon has its own reason for leaving but how will Duncan resolve things? This book is funny, clever and has great illustrations as well. 

12. The Snail And The Whale

Yet another beautifully illustrated and wonderfully told story from Julia Donaldson. Follow the snail as he befriends a whale and takes a trip around the world. Along the way, he’ll find that even small things can make a huge difference. It’s a great story about not being afraid to follow your dreams.

13. Hairy Maclary From Donaldson’s Dairy

Author: Lynly Dodd

Hairy Maclary is a wonderful series and where better to start than the very beginning?! Full of wonderful characters that are sure to amuse youngsters. These rhyming stories are a joy to read for kids and adults alike.

14. Welcome To Country

Author: Aunty Joy Murphy

A wonderful Welcome To Country from a respected elder that is also beautifully illustrated by a talented indigenous artist. This book would make a wonderful addition to any young readers library, not just as a bedtime read but also as a way to help little ones respect Australian culture.

15. The Gruffalo

Probably the most well known of all Julia Donaldson’s story books for kids, The Gruffalo is loved by kids the world over. Follow the mouse into the deep dark wood and enjoy discovering how he outwits everyone along the way.

16. Thelma The Unicorn

Author: Aaron Blabey

Thelma dreams of being someone else but, when her dream finally comes true, it’s not quite what she imagined it would be. This isn’t just a funny and enjoyable read for little ones, it can also be a gentle way to encourage self acceptance in little ones. Plus the illustrations are great!

17. The Wonderful Things You Will Be

Author: Emily Winfield Martin

A heartwarming kids story book for any parent to read to their little one as a positive story of encouragement and love. Teach children to wonder at all the possibilities that face them with this adorable picture book coupled with whimsical illustrations.

18. The Invisible String

Author: Patrice Karst

A reassuring and beautiful kids story book about how we are connected to the people we love. The Invisible String isn’t just a wonderful story for little ones but it’s also a great tool for parents if they have a child who struggles with separation anxiety. The book has been updated with new illustrations that are colourful and sure to be a hit.

19. Luna Lucy

Author: Lisa Van Der Wielen

A great kids story about Lucy and her dog Neptune who love to look up at the night sky and wonder about all the things it holds. But, one day the moon is not there and she calls for her dad who explains to her about the phases of the moon. Not just a lovely story but also an easy way to teach little ones something new.

20. Pig The Pug

A funny story about a pug dog who is cranky, selfish and greedy. He doesn’t want to share his toys with his friend but soon something leads him to have a change of heart. Kids will love this humorous tale with great illustrations and simple wording.

21. Where The Wild Things Are

Author: Maurice Sendak

A classic story book for kids that many will remember from their own childhood! This is a tale about a boy who acts “wild” and upon being sent to bed early, goes on an adventure to find where the wild ones live. It’s a much loved tale that is brilliantly illustrated and easy to follow.

22. The Very Cranky Bear

Author: Nick Bland

A wonderful story about four animal friends who try to escape the rain and inadvertently end up disturbing a very cranky bear. This rhyming tale follows along as they try to placate the bear. But who will save the day? It might not be who you think!

23. If I Had A Unicorn

Author: Gabby Dawnay

This book is part of the “If I Had….” series and is sure to be a winner with any unicorn enthusiasts. The story follows a little girl who imagines what life would be like with a unicorn for a pet and all the fun things they would do. It’s sure to get a few laughs from kids and parents alike.

24. The Deep

Author: Tim Winton

Whether you’re just looking for a great story or a book to help your little one be more confident in the water, Tim Winton’s The Deep is sure to deliver. It’s a tale about a little girl who is afraid of the deep and what lies under the surface. One day she makes some new friends though and suddenly it doesn’t seem so scary all of a sudden.

25. Mr Huff

Author: Anna Walker

An inspiring story about how we all have good and bad days and a great way to explain mental health to kids in a simplistic way. Mr Huff takes a very adult topic and dilutes it down in an easy to digest way for kids to make a wonderful tale of Bill turning his day around.

26. Grinny Granny Donkey

Author: Craig Smith

A great kids story to share a few laughs with your little ones or a cute book for grandparents to read to the kids. Grinny Granny Donkey is a funny character who is always losing her false teeth and gives great hugs!

27. Macca The Alpaca

Author: Matt Cosgrove

The Macca the Alpaca set is actually a collection of four story books for kids, each as funny and enjoyable as the next. They teach lessons such as the importance of being kind and looking for alternatives but more than that, they are just great stories that kids will love!

28. The Wonky Donkey

Part song, part rhyme, part story book – kids will love turning the page to discover the next funny thing about the donkey in this hilarious book. Written in a way that’s sure to make you stumble over your words, little ones are bound to be in fits of giggles by the end.

29. Back To Sleep

Author: Zoe Foster Blake

A funny bedtime story for kids that flips the usual tale on its head. Finn just wants to go to bed but his parents can’t fall asleep and keep disturbing him for drinks of water, in need of reassurance and more. Follow along as Finn helps one parent just to be woken a few minutes later by the other. The book is relatable for just about any family and kids and adults are both sure to have a giggle at this silly story.

30. Who Sank The Boat

Author: Pamela Allen

This kids story book has been around for generations and still brings plenty of joy to little books. Read along and try to figure out which of the animals sunk the boat and ruined a perfectly good day. Was it the cow? The donkey? The sheep with her knitting? Surely it couldn’t have been the tiny mouse?

More Children’s Books

Hopefully this list of popular story books for kids has given you some ideas for family reading and bedtime stories. Make sure to check out our other lists of books and other educational resources too:

• Best Magazine subscriptions for kids
• Popular nursery rhymes
• Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes
• Tongue Twisters for kids

Follow Mum’s Little Explorers on  Facebook  for more inspiration!

*This post may contain amazon affiliate links at no cost to you. See our sidebar for more details

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Blog – Posted on Friday, May 22

100 classic children's books to spark young imaginations.

They say childhood unfolds mostly inside our heads, forever remembered as a unique and formative time. And if that’s true, wouldn’t we want every child’s imagination to be a space populated by friendly animals, formidable warriors, and the sheer sense of possibility?

Reading the books on this list isn’t just a ticket to a universe of boundless potential; it is also a way to connect little readers to enduring characters and magical stories that have touched generations. Share these tales with the children in your life, and you may even find yourself a little nostalgic for your own childhood!

Without further ado, here’s our definitive list of timeless favorites and incredible reads that are guaranteed to spark young readers’ imaginations.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the number of great children's books to read, you can also take our 30-second quiz below to narrow it down quickly and get a personalized children's book recommendation 😉

Which children's book should you read next?

Discover the perfect children's book. Takes 30 seconds!

Picture Books

1. guess how much i love you by sam mcbratney and anita jeram.

Starting us off on a sweet note is a little tale that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. Even without directly saying that the two Nutbrown Hares in the story are father and son, Guess How Much I Love You beautifully demonstrates familial love through its tender dialogue and lively illustrations. Not to mention that Little Nutbrown Hare’s creative ways of expressing his affection are sure to resonate with every imaginative child! 

2. Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees

Gerald the Giraffe is impressively tall, but that comes at a cost: his gangly form stands in the way of his dancing along with the other animals. To help prove the title Giraffes Can’t Dance wrong, a friendly cricket appears just as Gerald is about to give up and imparts this nugget of wisdom: “Sometimes when you’re different, you just need a different song.” As young readers watch Gerald embrace his unique melody, they’re reminded in this children's book about diversity that they, too, can chase even the wildest dreams. 

3. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Sendak’s unusual drawing style may have been ill-received in his early career, but it later became lauded for its ability to capture the untamed wanderings of young minds. And nowhere is this more potent than in his best-known book: after Max has been sent to his bedroom without dinner due to his “wild” behavior, Where the Wild Things Are takes him on an adventure in his own room. But while Max can sail down the river and into the mysterious jungle of his mind as much as he likes to, he never loses complete sight of home. When he needs something imagination can’t provide — like a hot supper waiting for him outside his door — his parents will always be there for him. 

4. If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff

Other than offering adorable (yet realistically messy) illustrations of what it's like to have kids around, If You Give a Pig a Pancake also carries an important message: it’s never too early to get children thinking from a different perspective. As Pig’s demands leap from pancakes to bubble baths, this domestic adventure shows children how silly and ridiculous their random requests might appear to those who look after them. 

5. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd

Goodnight Moon features a soothing bedtime ritual of a young bunny who wishes goodnight to the world. From the bears in the picture frame to the comb on the nightstand, every inanimate object comes to life just so they can send the bunny into slumber. This cozy little picture book is the perfect bedtime story to carry children into their dreams. 

6. Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold

Upon Tar Beach ’s pages of colorful and childlike illustrations float the youthful hopes and dreams of a young girl. From her family’s humble abode — whose rooftop she optimistically calls “tar beach” — she dreams of flying over the glimmering New York skyline and cherishing all the good things the city has to offer. Ringgold balances the nuances of a struggling home life with the irresistible ideas of gliding through the night sky, drawing children into the storyworld and nudging them to think deeper about their own world at the same time. 

7. The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr

This whimsical tale of a tiger who crashes little Sophie’s tea party has been adapted for the theater and for the television screen time and again. The narrative itself is simple: a friendly but hungry tiger rings Sophie’s doorbell just as she and her mother are about to settle down for afternoon tea. They decide to welcome him in, and watch in wonder as he happily enjoys their snacks. It’s a strange setup for adults, but for children, this odd little tale is exactly what their wild imaginations crave. 

8. No Matter What by Debi Gliori

Get ready for another story about parents’ unconditional love for their children. In the snuggly setting of their home, Small comes up with all sorts of scenarios in which Large, his parent, might not love him anymore. He sees himself turn into a ginormous bug, a crocodile, a grizzly bear — but like the title No Matter What sums up, Large will love him regardless of what he becomes. 

9. Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas

Wilfrid Gordon lives by an old people’s home, and he forges a particularly close friendship with Nancy, who’s losing her memory. In discovering the many forms that memories can take for each person, Wilfrid gathers up an array of his own mementos — things in which he found happiness and sadness — to help Nancy recover some of her memories. Adorably told and dreamily illustrated, as if the whole book itself is a flashback, Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge captures the fresh mindset of youth, and inspires children and adults to think beyond themselves. 

10. Elmer by David McKee

Elmer is a patchwork elephant whose personality is as vibrant as his skin. While his personality and physical differences often make him the life of the party, Elmer wonders what it’s like to be like the rest of his herd for once. As he figures out a way to tone down his colors, Elmer realizes the importance of his individuality, thereby reminding young readers that they don’t have to change for anyone. 

11. Five Minutes’ Peace by Jill Murphy

Meet another elephant family in Five Minutes’ Peace . Mrs. Large tells her elephant children to take care of themselves so that she can have just five minutes to herself. Turns out, in a house with three elephant children, just five peaceful minutes is a tall order. This perfect portrayal of the continuous buzz of a young family will leave kids giggling at the spitting image (so to speak) of themselves on the pages. 

12. Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers

Not every book to spark imagination has to be other-worldly, as Oliver’s Jeffers’ Here We Are would show you. Jeffers gives an all-round review of what children will encounter on this planet as they mature — going from demonstrating Earth’s place in space to sketching human’s place in nature. He shows them that life is wondrous enough as is, and as they grow up, it’s important to continue approaching the world with care and kindness. There’s a reminder that even adults can benefit from!

13. Zog by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheppler

Zog the dragon has the aspiration that all parents wish their children had: he wants to be the best student at his school. Unfortunately, he’s not blessed with natural grace, and he clumsily stumbles around class trying to earn a star from his teacher. Zog is funny, endearing, and highly imaginative, and makes striving to be a good student an entertaining journey (contrary to popular belief). 

14. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

The collage illustration style of this title alone makes it a classic. The jagged pieces of colored paper come together to tell the story of a caterpillar’s metamorphosis. As our caterpillar crawls through the holes in the book, he grows larger and eventually cocoons himself in preparation for his transformation. For many children throughout generations, The Very Hungry Caterpillar has been, and continues to be, how they start to learn about nature and its miraculous processes. 

15. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

Did you grow up in a household that had drawings on the wall? Many parents try to keep this from happening, but most children feel the opposite, so the story of Harold and the Purple Crayon will resonate with us all in different ways. Harold might only have one color at his disposal, but that doesn’t mean that his doodles are limited: he can go on walks in the moonlight and meet dragons and hungry moose. To Harold, there’s nothing from his imagination that he can’t bring to life. 

16. Olivia by Ian Falconer

Who says children’s books can’t be minimalist? Olivia traces the wandering thoughts of Olivia, the household name for young porcine characters before Peppa Pig came along, through simplistic pictures mainly in black-and-white. Those simple design choices act as the perfect background for Olivia’s interests — from fashion to painting — to pop out and draw the readers’ eyes. 

17. Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman and Caroline Binch

Grace is indeed amazing — she’s unafraid to transform herself into just about any character in her favorite stories, from Joan of Arc to Aladdin. But when a school audition comes for the role of Peter Pan and Grace nominates herself, her friends discourage her from going after the part. Luckily, the story’s far from over: Amazing Grace goes on to encourage children to dream far and wide, reshaping themselves without worrying about what other people think. 

18. Clifford, the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell

Emily Elizabeth has a big red dog called Clifford. Beyond having a coat of fur that can be seen from miles away, Clifford is also gigantic . It might seem odd at first, but through the animated drawings of this picture book , Bridwell shows that Clifford is just like any other pet — a loyal, trustworthy, and perhaps a little mischievous friend who will always have their child’s back. 

19. Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff

Speaking of giant friends, Danny has a friend so large he struggles to go outside and play. Danny and the Dinosaur follows the two characters’ day out after their chance encounter at the museum (and isn’t that every child’s dream?). Danny shows the Dinosaur his world, and the Dinosaur tries to help people out as much as possible. The 1950s style is gloriously nostalgic, and the story itself never ceases to entertain. 

20. The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds 

We often think of creativity as some sort of innate ability, rather than something that we work toward. The Dot turns this notion upside down by telling the story of young Vashti’s artistic journey. She begins having little faith in her abilities, but her teacher encourages her to just start somewhere, even with only a dot. When Vashti sees this dot framed on the wall of her teacher’s office, it lights a fire within her and she begins to strive for something better. Eventually, Vashti becomes a great artist and even inspires others who initially doubted their abilities. 

21. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn, Ruth E. Harper, and Nancy M. Leak

Even the most outgoing boys and girls have days where they just want to stay home with their parents rather than go to school. They’ll see themselves in Chester, a little raccoon who’s reluctant to leave home. When he confesses this to his mother, she kisses his hand and tells him that whenever he misses home, Chester can raise his hand to his cheek and feel the love she has for him lingering there. The Kissing Hand helps us remember that sometimes, all we need for our minds to conjure are realistic and comforting images of home.

22. The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak

Defying all expectations you might have made based on its name, The Book With No Pictures is absolutely the volume to pick up if you want to grab children’s attention. In place of lively images is the conversational tone and hilarious text, which offers kooky directions — one of which requires the reader to state that he’s a robot monkey who taught himself how to read. With or without pictures, there's no book that better embodies an active imagination than this one.

23. The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

Any list of classic children’s books that doesn’t mention Dr. Seuss is incomplete. So many of his books have become indelible parts of kids’ childhood, and The Cat in the Hat is possibly the most notable among them. If you haven’t already, follow Sally and Conrad’s home adventure with a mysterious and mischievous Cat in his big red-and-white hat! It’s the classic story of children wreaking havoc while their parents are away, before scrambling to fix everything just in time to innocently welcome them back. 

24. Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy by Lynley Dodd

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy has everything you need in a children’s book: spirited illustrations of fuzzy, lovable pets and fun-to-read rhythmic verses. Turning the usual stereotype on its head, the story features a gang of dogs running away from a rugged cat. The story may be simple, but Dodd’s strength lies in the vivacious word pictures that she paints. 

25. Love You Forever by Robert Munsch and Sheila McGraw

Get ready to be dazzled by the intricate drawings and heartwarming story of Love You Forever , which follows the life of a mother and her son who grows up from being a baby to becoming a father himself. Through every stage of his life, whether or not she approves of what he does, at the end of the day, she’ll always hold him and remind him that she loves him. The tearjerker lines come at the end of the book where the mother grows old: now, her son holds her instead. 

26. The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas and Helen Oxenbury

We’ve all heard of the Big Bad Wolf, but have you read The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig ? Beyond inverting the roles of the characters, this charming retelling of the well-known tale also changes up the houses they build — the Wolves, with the help of various other animals, end up surviving the Pig’s wrath by building a den out of flowers. The fragrant blooms remind the Pig of a powerful lesson: that life is about enjoying little pleasant things, rather than sabotaging others.

27. Corduroy by Don Freeman 

Corduroy is about the titular teddy bear in a department store. A young girl’s mother refuses to let her buy Corduroy and bring him home because they don’t have the money — and, more importantly, because he’s missing a button on his overalls. So Corduroy decides to find the missing button himself. In the night, he roams the department store, ducking the security guard in the hopes of one day getting a friend and a home. Little does he know, a happy ending is in store: the girl is coming back for him whether he has that button or not. 

28. Winnie and Wilbur series by Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul

Since the publication of the first title in 1987, Winnie and Wilbur has been entertaining children endlessly with its silly stories and vibrant illustrations. Winnie is a witch in the most stereotypical sense of the word: pointy-nosed, wiry-haired, and she wears a pointed cap. But far from being evil, Winnie’s whimsical nature takes her on an array of misadventures with Wilbur, her loyal pet cat. 

29. The Story of Babar by Jean de Brunhoff

Babar is another little elephant children can’t help but love. The Story of Babar is, however, more somber than the other adorable animal tales we’ve seen so far. After his mother is killed by hunters, Babar flees to the city to start a new life. But even amidst the urban glamor, Babar misses his home and family in the jungle. When he decides to return, he receives a heartwarming surprise that the kingdom of his childhood still waits for him. 

30. Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle and Jill McElmurry

What starts out as a simple introduction to life along a country track full of animals turns into much more: a story about kindness and teamwork. The titular character of Little Blue Truck sees a dump truck who got stuck in the mud and tries to help him, although his solo efforts only get them deeper into the muck. Thankfully, Blue has made plenty of friends on his way on the track, and they rally together to help the vehicles roll out of the mud. 

31. A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon

Worried about your children succumbing to peer pressure? Hopefully A Bad Case of Stripes will deter them. Meet Camilla Cream: a young girl who likes lima beans, but won’t eat them because her friends don’t like them. Yet as soon as she begins abstaining from lima beans, she begins to experience inexplicable symptoms — her skin develops multi-colored stripes, and then her body starts taking strange shapes. No doctor can diagnose or cure her, until an old lady gives her the miracle solution: some lima beans to eat. 

32. Eloise by Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight

Eloise lives in The Plaza Hotel in New York, but the fancy city setting doesn’t stop her from messing around. She seems to make her own rules as she goes around discovering the hidden corners of the Plaza, leaving her nanny trailing behind and trying to maintain order. Eloise might give children some dangerous ideas to wreak havoc in their own homes, but can also keep them seated for a while as they are drawn into her story and immerse themselves in her practical jokes. 

33. The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

Even though the first edition was printed over a century ago, The Tale of Peter Rabbit remains a staple of children’s literature. This bestseller features the cutest, most endearing bunny you’ve ever seen — the hungry Peter Rabbit. Despite the warning from his mother, Peter enters the vegetable garden of Mr. McGregor to nibble on his goodies. Trouble comes when Peter overeats and is caught red-handed by the angry farmer, whom he now has to evade in order to return to his family.

34. Tuesday by David Wiesner 

Tuesday is an almost entirely wordless picture book about a regular Tuesday — that is, if your regular Tuesdays involve following a group of frogs flying around town on magical lily pads. This playful and atmospheric book takes children on an expedition to explore the nocturnal world, and leaves their imagination roaming by hinting at what’s to come next Tuesday night…

35. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig

William Steig’s Sylvester and the Magic Pebble tells the heartwarming tale of Sylvester, a young donkey with a great fondness for pebbles. One day, Sylvester finds a magic pebble which grants him any wish. Before he can make it home, though, a scary lion appears and shocks Sylvester into making an ill-advised wish. Now a modern classic, the sweet donkey’s emotional story reminds young readers of the importance of family and gratitude.

36. Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say 

Allen Say’s Grandfather’s Journey chronicles his grandfather’s lifelong journey, crossing the globe from Japan to California, in breath-taking watercolor paintings that will stay in children’s minds long after they close this book. It’s a well-crafted, thoughtful exploration of the experience and legacy of migration.

37. Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China by Ed Young

Lon Po Po tells the Chinese variant of the famous Little Red Riding Hood fairytale. In misty, haunting illustrations, readers are introduced to three fearless young girls who unwittingly let a wolf into their home, thinking that their grandmother has returned. In the face of danger, the girls band together in a dark twist that is guaranteed to surprise Western readers. 

38. Tomie dePaola’s Mother Goose by Tomie dePaola

A staple volume on any childhood shelf, Tomie dePaola’s Mother Goose is a collection of well-loved nursery rhymes. Featuring warm and colorful drawings of famous characters like Humpty Dumpty and Little Miss Muffet, this book promises plenty of joy for preschoolers — they won’t realize it now, but these sweet rhymes will linger in the back of their minds for many years to come.

39. The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton

The protagonist of this wholesome book is a little house that finds itself gradually surrounded by an ever-expanding city. While it remains unchanged, the house witnesses the appearan ce of cars, apartment blocks, and subways — all of which are fascinating, until the house finds itself longing for good old birdsong. First published in 1942, The Little House has been accompanying generation after generation as they grow up and experience changes in cities and in the countryside for themselves. 

40. The Three Questions by Jon J. Muth

The Three Questions by Jon J. Muth is based on a story by Leo Tolstoy — and, as this fact would suggest, it asks some pretty philosophical questions by picture book standards. But that’s not to say this beautifully illustrated book is in any way inaccessible. Muth’s young protagonist, Nikolai, learns a lot about living in the present, and readers of any age can glean a bit of wisdom from his wanderings.

41. Millions of Cats by Wanda Gág

Wanda Gág’s Millions of Cats is a classic, if ever there was one. Published in 1928, this is the oldest American picture book still in print, and it isn’t hard to see why! The tale focuses on an old and very lonely couple who decides to adopt a cat, but they soon find themselves spoiled for choice — there are hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats to choose from! 

For elementary readers

42. the lorax by dr. seuss.

Famous as Dr. Seuss’s favorite out of all his works , The Lorax is sadly even more relevant in the present day than it was at the time of its publicat ion in 1971. This colorful, unconventional book addresses the dangers of environmental destruction and warns against greed and consumerism in ways that simultaneously engage and inform children. 

43. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein

With A Light in the Attic , a collection of playful poetic shenanigans, Shel Silverstein will entertain y oung readers until the end of time. Whimsical and utterly wacky in the best possible way, this little book of rhymes will have children laughing in heartbeat. And topping it off are the cute illustrations!

44. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile by Bernard Waber

Lyle is a happy New Yorker. He loves construction cranes, ice rinks, shopping malls, and especially the Victorian house on East 88th Street in which he lives with the Primm family. Lyle also happens to be a crocodile, a fact that his neighbor , Mr. Grumps, and his cat Loretta have trouble accepting. But Mr. Grumps and Loretta are wrong to judge others without knowing them, and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile does a wonderful job of sending young readers this message. 

45. A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond and Peggy Fortnum

If you were to find a bear wearing a sign saying, “Please look after this bear” in London’s Paddington station, what would you do? Mr. and Mrs. Brown decide to do exactly what the sign says — they take the bear home and name him Paddington. So begin the adventures of A Bear Called Paddington , prompted by the mishaps and misunderstandings of his new life in Notting Hill.

46. Miss Nelson is Missing! by Harry Allard and James Marshall

A quirky classic published in 1977, Miss Nelson is Missing! is an amusing story featuring a very naught y class whose teacher, Miss Nelson, one day disappears . The children are now faced with the horrible substitute Miss Viola Swamp, who, among other abominable things, cancels story hour! Outraged and over-burdened with homework, the class of Room 207 sets out to find Miss Nelson, going as far as consulting the police in their desperate attempt to regain what they always had but never appreciated.

47. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s The Little Prince is an enigmatic little book for children and adults alike. The titular little prince leaves his tiny planet, on which rests his beloved rose, and journeys to several other planets, eventuall y reaching Earth. Somber, polite, and inquisitive, the prince’s curious travels and remarks make for a heartwarming and poignant tale.

48. Raggedy Ann Stories by Johnny Gruelle

Raggedy Ann reached the American public as a real doll in 1915, then made her appearance in a book in 1918. Ann has now been a moral companion to young childr en for over a hundred years, helping as they learn about life as well as entertaining them. The sweet and wise Raggedy Ann Stories will likely be revisited many times by readers as they grow up.

49. Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne

Thi s silly old bear needs no introdu ction — Winnie-the-Pooh has captured the hearts of many generations, and continues to be loved. Pooh’s adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood are hilarious, sweet, and thought-provoking. For all his silliness, Pooh gives young children a masterclass in friendship with his loyalty, kindness, and optimism. And besides, is it really possible not to empathize with a bear who’s always wondering what it will eat next?

50. Ramona series by Beverly Cleary

Few characters in children’s books have a personality as strong as Ramona Quimby’s, the star of Beverly Cleary’s Ramona series. Fearless, stubborn, intelligent, and creati ve, Ramona’s boundless energy radiates from the pages. Her antics as sh e progresses from kindergarten to elementary school promise a kind of entertainment that never gets old, as demonstrated by the undying popularity of the series.

51. Fairy Tales from Around the World by Andrew Lang and H.J. Ford

Once u pon a time, Scotsman Andrew Lan g compiled folk fairytales from around the world, edited them to make sure they were suitable for young audiences, and then published them as twelve canonical ‘fairy books.’ Fairy Tales from Around the World is a selection of these tales, lavishly illustrated and brimming with magic. We’ve all read the Western classics — now why not discover something new?

52. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White and Garth Williams

E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web is a tender tale of friendship and cooperation. It takes as protagonists Wilbur, a young piglet, and Charlotte, a spider, who live in the same barn. The two develop a strong bond as Wilbur’s life comes under threat and Charlotte tries to prevent this by making the farmers see his value. A heart-rending story that doesn’t shy away f rom the difficult concepts of loss and death, Charlotte’s Web will have a special place in lit tle readers’ hearts long after their first read.  

53. Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie

If, in the darkness of a London night, you’ve glimpsed the little figures of children gliding through the air, above countless chimneys an d through the starry night, it’s likely you’ve witnessed Peter Pan, Wendy, and her two brothers on their way to Neverland. If not, you can still join these innocent and free-spirited children on their marvelous adventures with mermaids, pirates, and fairies in Peter Pan the novel, a timeless classic about childhood mischief and innocence.

54. Mary Poppins series by P. L. Travers

P. L. Travers’s Mary Poppins series — another famous classic set in the city of London — follows a nanny by the same name who possesses magical powers. Blown in by the East wind to No. 17 Cherry Tree Lane, Mary Poppins delights the five Banks children with several visits, all recounted in the series that inspired celebrated musical and movie adaptations.

55. Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne

In Mary Pope Osborne’s Magic Treehouse series, Jack and Annie travel through time and space on special missions. It all starts on a day just li ke any other, when the two stumble upon a treehouse. Some of the volumes in this series t arget more advanced readers, while others are written for younger children, so there’s a book for everyone, no matter their age!

56. My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett

You pro bably don’t need much convincing to pick up a book that features a dragon. And r ightly so, because Ruth Stiles Gannett’s My Father’s Dragon is a delightful story with fantastical elements to pull little readers right in. Elmer Elevator, the protagonist, is here to rescue the dragon — but first he must make his way past tigers, a rhino, and a lion, among other things.

57. A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle

“It was a dark and stormy night.” So begins Madeleine L’Engle’s mind-blowing A Wrinkle in Time , a sci-fi adventure for children that many writers credit as the initial inspiration for their writing careers. Siblings Meg and Charles embark on a perilous journey through the cosmos in a n attempt to find their lost scientist father; on the way, they grapple with questions as large as the universe itself.

58. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is a well-established classic that has been entertaining little readers with its nonsensical peculiarities since 1865. Dig into this wondrous novel and follow in Alice’s footsteps down a rabbit hole and away into a worl d of wonder, grinning Chesh ire cats, and “mad” tea parties.

59. Nicholas by René Goscinny

René Goscinny’s Nicholas (Le Petit Nicolas) is a hilarious fictional account of life as a child in 1950s France. Accompanied by illustrations from the creator of the famous comic Asté rix , the book details the many antics of the schoolyard and is populated by the distinct randomness of a mismatched set of classmates. These unruly children are sure to earn young children’s affection!

60. The Secret Seven series by Enid Blyton

The Secret Seven series follows a mystery-solving society of seven children: Janet, Jack, Peter, Colin, Barbara, Pam, and George. And let’s not forget their beloved and helpful Cocker Spaniel, Scamper! Privy to in-group passwords and exclusive treehouse meetings, the reader cannot help but relish the passionate secrecy the group maintains.

61. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

For over a hundred years, the story of orphan Mary Lennox and her new life with her uncle in his gloomy Yorkshire manor house has been enchanting little readers. Atmospheric and mysterious, Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden is a beautiful and magical novel ab out finding human connec tion where you least expect it.

62. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

No adult is beyond the scrutiny of this Swedish pig-tailed redhead. Pippi may possess superhuman strength — but it’s her bold and completely unapologetic attitude that make her stand out! Astrid Lindgre n’s beloved Pippi Longstocking has achieved iconic status and been translated into more than forty languages. It’s just one of those books everyone needs to read.

63. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

A moving Canadian classic, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables recounts the adventures of Anne, an orphan girl on Prince Edward Island. In this coming-of- age story, Anne makes a lot of mistakes but also does a lot of growing up, although she never loses her optimism and id ealism. For Anne, the world is a hopeful place, and it’s hard for this feeling not to rub off on her reader.

64. Matilda by Roald Dahl

We’ve all, at some point, stared hard at inanimate objects in an attempt to induce them to move, as did Matilda. A champion of nerds, Matilda is a voracious reader and mathematics whizz, who unfortunately attends a nightmare of an elementary school (with the exception of her sweet teacher, Miss Honey). Roald Dahl’s Matilda is a funny, deeply satisfying book that refuses to treat children as children, thereby providing a perspective that millions of readers appreciate.

65. D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire

Squabbling gods, vengeful goddesses, brave heroes, strange beasts — the magical, mythical world of ancient Greece has it all. D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths tells immersive stories that have endured since ancient times in a gorgeously illustrated tome following the adventures of deities and mortals alike.

66. The Secret Lake by Karen Inglis 

The Secret Lake follows siblings Stella and Tom, who are transported to their home as it was almost 100 years prior. What unfolds is a page-turning time-travel mystery that leaves readers wishing they could use time-warping themselves to read faster, desperate to know what happens next.

67. The Arrival by Shaun Tan 

The Arrival is a wordless graphic novel that requires no text to sweep you along on a father’s emigration journey. Each drawing is an exploration that evokes endless emotion; he struggles to adjust to his strange new home and feels sad and lost as an outsider. Eventually he begins to find solace in his adopted community, and the powerful images welcome us in along with him.

68. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

The Tale of Despereaux calls itself “the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread” — and it weaves a charming tale of how these unlikely things find themselves together. Little mouse Despereaux Tilling embarks on an epic adventure perfect for bedtime reading.

69. Samantha: An American Girl series by Maxine Rose Schur

Samantha Harrington is an orphan who lives with her grandmother on a wealthy estate in 1904 New York, and her lonely life gains sudden excitement when the impoverished Nellie moves in next door. In the Samantha: An American Girl series , readers are transported to a bustling turn-of-the-century household, exploring complicated themes of class differences and gender inequality while pursuing Samantha and Nellie on their rebellious revels.

70. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

The Westing Game is as playfully inventive as its title might imply. Sixteen strangers are invited to the reading of Samuel W. Westing’s will and compete for the chance to inherit his fortune. Soon, the game is afoot — sending you to piece together a thrillingly plotted and knotted puzzle of wordplay, disguise, and intrigue. 

71. Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin

The Village of Clear Sky is a peculiar place with no moon, and young Rendi seems to be the only one to notice how strange it is. The arrival of an enigmatic storyteller soon sweeps him away with the power of her words, and Starry River of the Sky unfurls as an enchanting reimagining of Chinese folktales with vibrantly colored illustrations.

72. The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards

Written by Julie Andrews Edwards — yes, that Julie Andrews — The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles is a fantastical account of four travelers’ pursuit of the curious creature that is the whangdoodle. Professor Savant and three children, Lindy, Tom, and Ben, venture to Whangdoodleland and this new destination explodes with wonder and whimsy.

For middle-grade readers 

73. how to train your dragon by cressida cowell.

The fantasy series that inspired the hit movies, How to Train Your Dragon follows young Viking Hiccup and his dragon Toothless as Hiccup begins his quest to become a hero . These endearing misfits prove their mettle as they soar through the sky and carry us away.

74. Nobody’s Boy by Hector Malot

This largely overlooked French novel (originally titled Sans Famille ) takes its readers on a journey through France along with the orphaned Remi, who becomes a street entertainer. Hector Malot's Nobody’s Boy is a fascinating, carefully-paced journey to the past that offers meaningful lessons about family, resilience, and friendship.

75. Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg 

You’ll never look at board games the same way. Jumanji is a jungle adventure game where anything encountered in the game soon comes to life — including hungry jungle beasts. The story is accompanied by surrealist pencil drawings by Van Allsberg that leap off the page. As the game warns, "Do not begin unless you intend to finish" — but you will have no trouble getting through this thriller.

76. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine is the Cinderella retelling that we all need. Stubborn, intelligent, and driven, Ella proves to be a princess for our times as she defies the “gift” of obedience she’s been awarded. Ella Ench ant ed is more than a sweet tale — it has a serious point to make, and it’s no coincidence that this novel is a massive success with young readers.

77. Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis’s enduring Chronicles of Narnia series follows an array of protagonists who are magically transported to the fantastical realm of Narnia, where they encounter the strange creatures that live there and are called to adventure by the lion Aslan. These masterfully told stories capture the wonder of escaping to new worlds and stepping into fabulous histories.

78. The Witches by Roald Dahl

Imagine you're a young boy training your pet mice in a hotel ballroom, only to discover you're sharing the room with an annual conference of witches on the hunt for children. That’s exactly the position the protagonist of Roald Dahl’s dark tale The Witches finds himself in — but to find out how he gets out of it, if he does at all, you’ll have to read this topsy-turvy book!

79. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Everything about Milo’s life feels woefully dull. That is, until a tollbooth arrives in his room with no explanation. Driving through The Phantom Tollbooth , Milo finds himself in a strange place of loopy logic where language and arithmetic butt heads and he can’t seem to find Rhyme or Reason. Milo’s bizarre ride of wit and wordplay forever shatters any claim that life is boring.

80. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg

Claudia isn’t running away from home with her brother Jamie — she’s running to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. But they soon realize their hiding place is home to more than just paintings and statues. Featuring two young amateur sleuths who uncover all of kinds of secrets and mysteries, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler is a work of art in itself.

81. Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz

Doesn’t everyone, at some point or another, dream of being a teenage spy? Fourteen-year-old Alex Rider does not have much of a choice when he is recruited into espionage by M16. But over the course of the Alex Rider series , as he learns to vex villains and navigate webs of intrigue, Alex soon becomes one of Britain’s most brilliant secret agents. James Bond who?

82. The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini

Comprised of four novels set in the fictional kingdom of Alagaësia, The Inheritance Cycle is a saga of the teenage Eragon’s quest to depose the evil King Galbatorix. With the help of his dragon Saphira, Eragon blazes a fiery path to heroism. These novels may be hefty, but they’re still impossible to put down.

83. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

In Little Women , the four March sisters seem to live in their own little world. Alcott brings these characters to life in all their charisma and complexity, making us feel like part of the family (or at least wishing we were). The text richly evokes its Civil War-era setting and makes pointed commentary on the period’s society and politics. Still, its tale of sisterhood and female self-determination is timeless.

84. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Bilbo Baggin is a humble hobbit who just wants to stay safe and comfortable at home… but the wizard Gandalf has other plans. The Hobbit is a fantastical exploration as this reluctant hero is whisked away on a search for treasure. Bilbo strays far from home, and so does the reader who traverses this mythical landscape alongside him.

85. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

The Harry Potter series requires no introduction: the enormously popular saga of the Boy Who Lived is a household name and pure magic. Rowling’s wizarding world has cast a spell on readers of all ages still eagerly awaiting their Hogwarts acceptance letter and imagining what house they would be sorted into. The lengthy novels are jam-packed with unforgettable characters and magical mythology, and readers will fly through them faster than Harry’s Thunderbolt.

86. The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

The impeccably-named Bastian Balthazar Bux is bullied and neglected, leading him to seek solace in books. Soon, he escapes into the world of The Neverending Story , which draws him into the fabled realm of Fantasia. What unfolds is an entrancing metafictional fantasy about an ordinary boy on a soul-searching journey and the imaginative power of reading.

87. The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling 

Kipling’s collection of classic stories, The Jungle Book centers on the wild adventures of “man-cub” Mowgli who’s raised in the jungle by wolves. Filled with colorful animal characters like Baloo the bear, Shere Khan the tiger, and Bagheera the panther, the tales are an immersive exploration into the thrills and perils of the jungle and of growing up.

88. Redwall by Brian Jacques

The peaceful mice of Redwall are under siege from an army of rats — and they are willing to do anything to defend themselves and their friends. The series is filled with courageous creatures and inventive language, and the epic battles between good and evil erupt in excitement and bittersweet emotion with every clash of swords. 

89. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Journey down the Mississippi River along The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn , an unforgettable chronicle of boyhood adventure and self-discovery. The novel grapples with serious topics like the evils of slavery and what it means to be “civilized,” and its sharp ear for dialogue and richly wrought characters make Huck Finn’s voice one that you can’t get out of your head.

90. The Giver by Lois Lowry 

In the dystopian novel The Giver, 12-year-old Jonas lives in what he initially thinks to be a utopia: a community where Sameness prevails to eradicate difference and pain. Everything changes when he becomes the next Receiver of Memory, inheriting all of humanity’s emotion and history before Sameness came into effect. The Giver is a powerful account of the dangers of conformity and the imperative of seeing things differently.

91. Holes by Louis Sachar 

Stanley Yelnats IV is 14 and cursed. He’s been sent to the juvenile detention center Camp Green Lake in the middle of the Texas desert for a crime he didn’t commit, all because of his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing great-great-grandfather. Louis Sachar’s blisteringly funny Holes weaves together past and present, and Stanley and his fellow delinquents soon find themselves digging deep into hidden history and the secrets under the dried-up lake.

92. Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter

The name Pollyanna has become synonymous with enduring optimism, and this story of a young orphan who is sent to live with her spinster aunt is endlessly cheery and endearing. Pollyanna has an almost magical effect on everyone she encounters and charms us all with her bright outlook.

93. Seven Little Australians by Ethel Turner 

Set in 1880s Sydney, Seven Little Australians recounts the mischievous exploits of the seven Woolcot children. They constantly play pranks on their stern father and young stepmother, and you can always count on them to be up to no good.

94. Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene

The Nancy Drew character has evolved over the course of decades and a lengthy series of books and ghostwriters, but has always remained America’s most enterprising young sleuth. There’s always another mystery to get to the bottom of, and nobody is better at unravelling the intrigues of the everyday than Nancy Drew.

95. The Hardy Boys series by Franklin W. Dixon

Like their counterpart Nancy Drew, Frank and Joe are teenage amateur detectives able to outwit even the most conniving criminals, and discover the truth in cases that left adults stumped. At this point, there are hundreds of The Hardy Boys mysteries to choose from, so there will never be a shortage of small-town intrigue.

96. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Nobody “Bod” Owens is just like the rest of us. Except he lives in a graveyard. And was raised by ghosts. Equal parts haunting and hilarious, Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book is an eerie exploration of mystery, murder, phantoms, and family.

97. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Munchkins, witches, flying monkeys, magic slippers: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has it all. Dorothy’s path along the yellow brick road to the Emerald City, accompanied by her much-loved companions the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion, is a timeless journey of friendship and finding yourself far from home. It is, as the title suggests, absolutely wonderful.

98. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

The Mysterious Benedict Society is formed by four gifted children who are enlisted on a mission to investigate L.I.V.E. (Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened). These whip-smart kids struggle to solve the puzzle of L.I.V.E.’s true intentions, and their unveiling of secrets and government conspiracies makes for an intense and intelligent thriller.

99. A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

Lemony Snicket’s thirteen-part A Series of Unfortunate Events tells the woeful saga of the three orphaned Baudelaire children, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, and Count Olaf’s evil machinations to get his hands on their family fortune. Each darkly comedic installment adds a new twist to the misery of the Baudelaires, and there’s nothing more unfortunate about the series than not reading it. 

100. The War of the Worlds by H G Wells

In The War of the Worlds , Martians crash-land in the English countryside. Soon enough, they start zapping people with heat rays and battling the British army, and the country descends into chaos. Wells’ science fiction masterpiece is an exhilarating clash of worlds as the human species fights for its survival.

Looking for more books to spark children’s curiosity? Check out our list of 60 Best Fantasy Books for Kids!

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13 Best Books About Names and Their Importance

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Learning and pronouncing a person’s name correctly is respectful and kind. These picture books about names share stories of hurt feelings, correcting when people don’t say your name right, learning the story behind your name, and feeling proud of your name.

My oldest daughter’s name is Annika. Yes, we thought a few people might say it wrong, but it’s been way more than a few. Most people say it wrong. (It rhymes with Monica. And Hannukah. It’s not that hard.) But my shy daughter eventually stopped correcting people, including teachers, even her high school advisor, because they would persist in saying it wrong. (Even her flatmates say her name incorrectly.) Now that she’s 21, she’s asked her friends to call her a new, easier name. Which is SO sad for my husband and me, but I do understand. She’s tired of the rudeness, disrespect, and hurt feelings.

Pronouncing names correctly is RESPECTFUL and KIND. It is the best thing you can do to show that you care for someone. Saying someone’s name correctly models to others (your kids, your students, other humans) how to be a decent human being. Not to mention, respect for a person’s name is essential to being a good friend.

When I was a teacher, I struggled with remembering names. Admittedly, I used name tags way longer than my co-workers. But I worked hard at it. Since it wasn’t a strength, I’d quiz myself at night to match names and faces. Why? Because knowing someone’s name (and saying it right) makes a student feel known, welcome, and valued. That should always be our goal as educators.

Please read these children’s books with your preschool and elementary-age kids and students. Teach the next generation how important names are! And how kindness means saying someone’s name correctly.

Best Books About Names

My Name is Saajin Singh by Kuljibder Kaur Brar, illustrated by Samrath Kaur When Saajin goes to school, his teacher says his name incorrectly and so do his classmates. At home, Saajin’s parents tell him that even grown-ups make mistakes. The next day, he tells the teacher the correct pronunciation of his name, and the teacher apologizes.

The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name by Sandhya Parappukkaran, illustrated by Michelle Pereira This is a good book about a boy with a long name. He learns to skateboard step by step and then teaches a new friend how to say his long name in the same way, syllable by syllable.

Kantiga Finds the Perfect Name written by Mabel Mnensa, illustrated by Chantelle Burgen Thorne NAME Kantiga, a South African girl, wants to change her name. When she tells her grandmother, her grandmother shares a folktale about a village ruler who walked to get water with two pots, one of which was cracked. When questioned about the waste of water, the village leader shows the path she’s walked from the well to her home that is filled with flowers and plants that grow new fruits and vegetables every day that her dripping pot watered. The water gains magical powers through the crack in the clay pot, called a Kantiga. After hearing the story about her name, Kantiga embraces her name.

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes Chrysanthemum LOVES her name! When she gets to school and her classmates make fun of her name. Poor Chrysanthemum feels wilted…until she meets her music teacher!

Alma and How She Got Her Name  by Juana Martinez-Neal Alma Sofia Esperanza Jose Pura Candela thinks her name is too long …until her father explains about each person she was named for — like Esperanza, Alma’s great-grandmother who hoped to travel. This helps Alma make a personal connection to each person she’s named for. With Esperanza, she says, “ The world is so big! I want to go see it, Daddy! ” Names are important. This story would be a wonderful way to talk with your child about not just your child’s name but the names in your family, too. Soft, muted colors give this story a nostalgic atmosphere.

My Name is Elizabeth  by Annika Dunklee, illustrated by Matthew Forsythe Elizabeth loves her name — “ I like that it’s nine letters long…And I like all the neat things my mouth does when I say it. ” But she doesn’t like when people call her Lizzy or Beth or Betsy. She’s had enough and announces to the world that her name is Elizabeth, “ But you may call me Elizabeth .” Blue and white backgrounds with white and orange characters give this book a unique retro feel. It’s a book for anyone who loves their given name — and doesn’t want to be called anything else.

Millions of Maxes  by Meg Wolitzer, illustrated by Micah Player What do you do when you find out other kids have YOUR same name? The one and only Max goes to the park where he discovers that he is NOT the only Max in the world. He befriends two other Maxes who, he realizes, are different than him. Together, they search for one of the Max’s pink pinecone and meet yet another Max — a dog Max. Later at bedtime, Max tells his parents his realizations that he’s not the only Max but that they’re all unique so it’s okay with him. Read this with children to introduce the idea of other people having the same name, I predict it will spark important conversations.

That’s Not My Name by Annosha Syed Mirha is so excited to go to her first day of school. When she gets there, the other kids say her name wrong which hurts her feelings. Her mom helps Mirha understand the importance and meaning of her name. This empowers MIrha to return to school and correct her classmates’ pronunciation.

My Name written by Supriya Kelkar, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat Filled with gorgeous illustrations and figurative language, a child reflects on their name that gives their classmates pronunciation troubles and mean giggles, a name that marks the child as being different. Then, the child’s family remind the child that their name also means giggles and love and spices and family, and much more. “ My name means I’m me. Your name means you’re you .”

My Name is Yoon  by Helen Recorvits, illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska Yoon loves writing her name in Korean, but her father insists she must write her name in English.  Yoon decides she isn’t sure about her name in English and wonders if another name would be better.

Thunder Boy  by Sherman Alexie, illustrated by Yuyi Morales Thunder Boy wants a name all his own, not just a smaller version of his dad’s name. So he begins brainstorming the best name, all the while figuring out who he is.  The story is humorous and playful while placing importance on knowing yourself.

“You’re Called What?” by Kes Gray, illustrated by Nikki Dyson And for something different, silly, and animal-related, this is a goofy book about unique animal names.

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Melissa Taylor, MA, is the creator of Imagination Soup. She's a mother, former teacher & literacy trainer, and freelance education writer. She writes Imagination Soup and freelances for publications online and in print, including Penguin Random House's Brightly website, USA Today Health, Adobe Education, Colorado Parent, and Parenting. She is passionate about matching kids with books that they'll love.

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Free Stories for Kids

Showing 21 - 30 of 50 Free Children's Books

021: DO YOU WONDER ABOUT RAIN, SNOW, SLEET AND HAIL?

Categories:  Age 4-7  /  Age 8-12

“What’s to wonder about water?”, you might ask. Professor Ture will tell you why.  Filled with compelling illustrations, this free children’s book takes a dive  into a whirlpool of knowledge about the ubiquitous water that we often take for granted.

022: I FOUND A FROG

Something magical was happening in the fish bowl  and he wasn’t  quite ready for what lay in store.  Read this captivating free illustrated book for kids that encourages them to explore and be awed by the many wonders of nature. 

023: A DOG ON A LOG

Categories:  Age 0-3  /  Age 4-7

Is there ever an ordinary day at the beach? Read what happens when a flea, a dog and a hog meet on a warm sunny day by the sea.  This Free Children’s Book is great read for children aged 3 to 8. 

024: ARE WE THERE YET?

Looking for a Free Bedtime story books? Jim and Jen are going to the zoo and the drive never seems to end. EVER! They just made a song for the road and the tune is growing on mom and dad.Let’s tap our feet and sing along..

025: DRAGONS

Dragons come in many shapes and sizes and speak different tongues. Some are mean, some are kind, some have legs while some don’t. No matter what they all have one thing in common..they grab eyes wherever they go.  Join our free children’s book giveaway to read more about these wonderful creatures.

026: THE HIKE

Mandy and grandpa went on a hike . But it was more than that. Together they explored the woods, learnt to be at peace with nature and talked their hearts out about things that mattered. It was a special bond between them and you’ve got to read this great free illustrated children’s book to experience it. Happy Exploring!!

027: PIRATES COVE

Sandy chances upon an old treasure map and as the events roll out one after another, he becomes richer both by pennies and by thoughts. Here’s a treasure hunt to embark upon  in this free children’s storybook. Sail Away Captain! The seven seas are yours.

028: THE WAY OF THE WOODS

Shh!  Did you hear that? The jungle’s saying a story and you cannot afford to miss it. A colorful narrative set in the woods..camouflaged as a free children’s dog story. Happy Reading!

029: JIMMY'S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Jimmy’s starting school and he doesn’t know what’s in store. One step at a time, slowly but surely, he made it to the school bus. And off he went! Just like that. The illustrations in the free bed time book for children evoke sweet memories of that very special first day at school.

030: BULLY BILL

He thought he was the Lord of the Farm. He thought he was Boss. But his vanity was short lived and soon he learnt a lesson he’ll never forget. Follow this funny and thoughtful story of a certain farm we chanced upon in this free bedtime storybook.

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We’re so glad you asked! Wonderbly is an online publisher that makes personalized books for kids and adults. Since 2013, our bestselling books have delighted over 8 million happy readers all over the world. Together, we can show people how truly extraordinary they are – one personalized book at a time.

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We have a humongous range of personalized books for everyone (kids and adults!) and they’re all super simple to create. Browse our collection of personalized books , and we’ll put your child right inside the story, making it their own forever more. All you need to do to create a one-in-a-million gift is add your child’s name, choose their character, and write your heartfelt dedication message. We’ll weave everything together into a unique custom book starring your child, print it on high-quality paper and deliver it straight to your front door! Looking for a personalized book for an adult? It works just the same! Add the details for your special someone and we’ll create an unforgettable gift – just for them.

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My wife got our 2-month-old daughter this book for her christening, and we couldn't be happier with it. We love the concept, writing, art and the Dabi puppet is the cherry on top of this spectacular package. I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to any parent looking to gift their child something special.

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The fact that my 13 year old's name was in the book and it had a message just for him, kept him grinning for a long time. One can safely assume that the younger kids will go ballistic about the idea (even the reluctant readers). The hand puppet of Dabi can help in a dramatised telling to the younger lot. My son is still not over the fact that the spine of the book has his name!

Adrian really enjoyed the beautiful illustrations and the rhyming stories. And Dabi, the puppet is too cute. Having Adrian's photo in the book was the icing on the cake.

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I ordered this Seek and Find book for my grown daughter. Seek and find books was something that we loved to do when she was a kid. We both loved the personalized finished product so much. It brought back great memories for ... more

Perfect gift for nephews!

I purchased two of these books for my nephews for Christmas and they loved it! My only complaint may be there weren't a lot of options for creating the avatars (ie the eyes had two only two shape options, I couldn't add a b... more

I ordered this for my son for Christmas, I thought the quality was great! It was well made and my sone loved it. We will get many years of use out of it.

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My son absolutely loved this. Came on time and great quality.

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My kids ( ages 5&9 ) love Where’s Waldo and Look and Find. This book was wonderful & very similar to the styles we love.

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Rowan's Bedtime Stories. I bought this for my Grandsons 1st Birthday. Using Namee to choose personalisation was very simple and the whole process from selection to delivery went very smoothly. I am delighted with this boo... more

Beautiful Book!

I recently purchased a personalized book to give my Granddaughter for Christmas. It is absolutely beautiful! I can't wait to give it to her. Don't hesitate on purchasing, you won't be disappointed!!!

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The books we bought for 4 of our grandchildren were fun, adventuresome and entertaining. The kids loved hearing their name so many times and the picture of them in the book. The only addition you need to do is be able to add a third child!

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Very pleased with the book, well made and lovely illustrations. Our Great Granddaughter will love it and cherish it for years to come. Thank you.

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I bought 4 of these for the grands and I am very pleased with the story and the way the characters are portrayed throughout. The bedtime book had several stories to choose from within one bedtime book. Very cute! I recomm... more

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We make personalized books for kids and we love it. In fact, a NAMEE book is the perfect gift for a growing boy or girl. It's also the best gift for parents looking to bond more with their child. We're honored so many children, moms, dads and families have fallen in love with creating custom books. Create your child or yourself as a character, pick your stories and even write a fully customizable dedication that will be printed in your children's book. From bedtime to birthdays and ABC's to emotions (and more), reading has never been more exciting than when children or family members see themselves illustrated! This may be the most special gift you ever give someone.

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Who are namee books for.

While our books are written for children, they're great gifts for parents, babysitters and family members too! Anyone you want your child to bond with, this is a gift for them as much as it is for your child. There's no age limit on enjoying these books. NAMEE personalized books are for kids ages up to 10 years old. They are perfect for beginners to mid-level readers. We even have a very young listeners who are still in mum's tummy. Every story is inspired from the imaginations of our own team's children. We do, of course, clean up the language, but we like to think our stories are written for kids, by kids.

What are NAMEE personalized books?

NAMEE personalized books are customisable books for kids, and the main character in every adventure is your child! You enter your child's name and customise their appearance, and they'll appear throughout the entire book, on every page. You can personalize gender, eyes, hair type, skin tone, freckles, glasses and more. Every NAMEE personalized book also allows you write a special message to your child. It is printed directly into the book and completely free to include.

Where are NAMEE books made?

Our books are made in the EU, in a publishing house that has over 30 years of experience in printing books. If you want to find out more about our printing partners, please contact us at  [email protected] .

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The process is very simple and we'll guide you through every step on the website. If you're still curious, here's the order you'll do things...

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Feel free to contact us via email or phone: Email:  [email protected] Phone:  +1(929) 999-5617 Our customer support team is available via phone and email Monday through Friday.

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Personalized Kids Story Books, Inspire them today!

Fully personalized kids books with their name, character personalization and the name of the person giving them the special keepsake book. Story Bug custom books are made & shipped from the USA fast!

Fully personalized kids books with their name, character personalization and the name of the person giving them the special keepsake book.

Story Bug custom books are made & shipped from the USA fast!

Personalized Monster Truck Children's Story Book

Rev up your child's imagination with the 'Personalized Monster Truck Children's Story Book,' where they become the hero behind the wheel of a monst...

Little Princess Personalized Story Book for Girls

Transform your little girl into royalty with the 'Little Princess Personalized Story Book for Girls,' where her name is the key to turning her into...

Magical Zoo Tour Personalized Story Book

Experience the Adventure at the Zoo with our Personalized Storybook for Children: A Magical Tour full of Adorable Animals! It's a fun and unique w...

Magical Unicorn Personalized Story Book

Join the magical adventure in a personalized children's storybook where your child becomes the hero alongside Sparkles, a dazzling unicorn with a s...

Super Hero Personalized Story Book

Empower the little superhero in your life with the 'Super Hero Personalized Story Book,' a thrilling adventure that transforms them into the hero...

Nursery Rhymes Personalized Story Book For Baby

Dive into a world of whimsy and wonder with the 'Nursery Rhymes Personalized Story Book for Baby,' where the timeless charm of classic nursery rh...

My Dad is My World

Dive into the heart of familial love with 'My Dad is My World Personalized Story Book,' a touching narrative that celebrates the unique bond betw...

Personalized Birthday Story Book

Looking for that special gift or birthday present? They will love the personalized birthday book.  For 2 - 10 years old.

The Special Name Personalized Story Book

Discover the magic of 'Special Name,' a personalized storybook that celebrates the thought and love you put into choosing your child's unique nam...

First Easter Personalized Children's Book

Add your little one's name and personalize the avatar to this my First Easter tale! Relive the magic of their first egg hunt and witness the joy in...

Magical Easter Personalized Children's Book

Customize this Easter story with your loved one's name and character features! Follow them on an exciting adventure as they explore Cottontail Cott...

The Little Digger Personalized Story Book

Bring your child's imagination to life with 'The Little Digger Personalized Story Book,' where they become the main character in a captivating ta...

Magical Underwater Adventure Personalized Childrens Storybook

Looking for the perfect gift for sea-loving kids? Check out our customized magical underwater adventure book! It's sure to make a splash with its ...

The Great Car Race Personalized Story Book

The personalized car race storybook is a feel-good story about your child being the fastest racing car and winning the race.

Santa Express Personalized Story Book

The personalized Santa Express book takes your child on a magical train ride to the North Pole.  They visit the Elf kingdom, Toy Workshop and hel...

First Christmas Personalized Story Book

Immerse your little one in the joy of their first Christmas with the 'First Christmas Personalized Story Book,' where the magic of the holiday se...

Dinosaur Personalized Story Book

Step into a world of prehistoric play with a dinosaur costume for your child to become a dinosaur, roaring and stomping around the house. This im...

Space Tour Personalized Story Book

Embark on a cosmic journey filled with wonder, perseverance, and self-confidence. This personalized storybook is perfect for two young explorers!

Classic Nursery Rhymes Personalized Story Book

Step into a world where classic nursery rhymes are beautifully reimagined with your child at the center of every story in the 'Classic Nursery Rh...

Welcome to the World Personalized Baby Girl Book

Cherish the moment your baby girl entered the world with the 'Welcome to the World Personalized Baby Girl Book,' a bespoke keepsake that captures...

Welcome to the World Personalized Baby Book

Introduce your new-born to the joy of reading with 'Welcome to the World Personalized Baby Book,' a special storybook that places your little one...

It's Bedtime Personalized Baby Book

Craft a soothing bedtime routine with 'It's Bedtime' Personalized Baby Book, designed to guide your little adventurers into dreamland with stor...

Personalized The Night Before Christmas Story Book

Experience the enchantment of the holiday season with a personalized 'Night Before Christmas' book, where your child's name is woven into the hear...

Letter to Santa Personalized Story Book

The personalized letter to Santa book takes your child on a magical, enchanting journey to discover Santa and the magic of Christmas. Hard Cover ...

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Personalised Nursery Rhymes Book

My Magic Name Book

A Special Christening Gift

Goodnight Bedtime Story Book

Where's Name Book

Welcome To The World Book

Nursery Rhymes & Lullabies Book

Personalised children's books are our passion. We love writing them, illustrating them, and above all we love reading your reviews letting us know how much you like giving them away as gifts to friends and family. Read More

Our Spectacular Personalised Nursery Rhymes & Poems Book

Extra rhyming verses have been created adding your child's name.

Each Book is packed full of Beautiful Personalised Illustrations.

Our Magical 'My Magic Name' Personalised Story Book

A unique story based on the letters from a child's name.

Shorter names have extra stories so every book is packed full of magic.

Our Personalised Christening or Baptism Gift Book of Blessings

A very special keepsake for a child's christening or baptism Day.

A Personalised book about everyday moments that make life so special.

Our Personalised Goodnight Sweet Dreams Bedtime Story Book

A book especially made for a child's bedtime.

Help a child settle down to sleep with a goodnight story book

Where Are You, Search And Find Personalised Book For Kids

A spectacular search and find book Starring Them!

Add their name, Skin Tone and they'll be transported inside the book.

Welcome To The World Personalised Book for New Parents

A heart-warming book especially made for new parents & Baby.

Discover what this magical world has in store!

A Special Customised First Birthday Gift Book For Baby

A personalised book of traditional nursery rhymes

Help send them off to sleep with this wonderful keepsake.

Our Fabulous Custom Lullabies and Nursery Rhymes Book

Personalised Lullabies and Classic Nursery Rhymes

Different Rhymes to our other book and with personalised lullabies.

Our Special Personalised Love You Lots Book for Children

Add 1-10 family members inside. They will feature within the rhymes.

Each rhyme describes why the child is so special. Clever illustrations.

Our Personalised Prayers and Blessings Book for Children

A very special book of daily blessings for children.

A personalised book of child friendly prayers that show why life is so special to us all.

Personalised Christening Keepsake Gift Book of Nursery Rhymes

30 traditional nursery rhymes with a matching hand-drawn illustration.

Customise with Child's Name, Christening Date and Personal Message

Personalised Christening or Baptism Book of Nursery Rhymes

Customise with Child's Name, Occasion Date and Personal Message

Customise with the Child's Name, Christening / Baptism Date and Personal Message

Our Personalised Christening / Baptism Gift Book of Nursery Rhymes

Customise with Child's Name, Christening / Baptism Date and Personal Message

Our Fabulous Personalised Christmas Story Book for Children

Every child's name creates an unique rhyming christmas story., even short names have extra stories so every book is packed full of magic., what others are saying, holly, bedfordshire.

"We purchased this book for my cousins little boys christening. They absolutely loved it. It's very well made, has beautiful illustrations and we could add a personal message inside the book, we added the date of the christening so it can be remembered for years to come. Would recommend the hardback as that's what we got and its looks amazing. A superb keepsake gift. Thanks"

Katie, Holloway

"I have bought this item for my husband for Valentine's Day to read to our son (something he loves doing each night) and I just know he's going to love it! The beginning of the book has a lovely personalised message for him too. Very happy and would most certainly recommend. Lovely gift for a birthday or christening. Very special item, very good service."

Mrs Jenkins, Carlisle

"I was over the moon to receive the personalised story book in super quick time and it's absolutely perfect. Lovely quality and the story created by my little boys name (each letter of the alphabet has its own mini story) is wonderful."

"A lovely, unique storybook with a very professional look; fantastic quality hardback cover, print and illustrations. Bought as a keepsake gift for a friend's newborn - they absolutely loved it (as did I!)."

Stella, Hertford

"Absolutely fabulous book - so beautifully made and I can't wait to give it to my niece who I know will totally LOVE it. I was in touch with the seller also and he was so incredibly helpful in getting it dispatched within a certain time frame. I cannot recommend this product highly enough. REALLY good value for money. Thank you so much!"

Carol, Devon

"First time i have ordered this book and it definitely wont be the last..what an amazing book It ticked all the boxes. Amazing illustrations and a great story. my nephew loved his gift..the quality is amazing!! The best personalised gift for children ive seen in a long time and definitely value for money... You will not be dissapointed!!"

Jilly, Florida

"Fantastic quality - I've bought 3 books, 1 for my granddaughter, and 2 for my grandson, they are beautiful and something personal to keep."

T.Phillips, USA

"The beautiful book got delivered to my niece over the weekend and she absolutely loves it! My sister, her mom was really touched by the book as well. I just want to say a big thank you for helping me give such a special gift, thank you! I am one very pleased customer!"

Mrs W, London

"Brilliant book, I gave it as a christening present and the parents loved it, a lovely keepsake for the future."

Peter T, Suffolk

"The book was far superior to what I had imagined. I expected a storybook with my granddaughter's name thrown in here and there, but it was much better than that. The letters of her name were cleverly crafted to be part of the story, all written in verse and set in bright, lively illustrations. It's something she will love now, and keep for years to come."

USEFUL INFO

Who are my magic name.

My Magic Name are a family run business that make unique personalised children's books. We believe our books should be given as gifts that will become forever keepsakes for life. Each book is lovingly handmade and the highest quality of materials are used so each book can last a lifetime.

How can I make a personalised book?

It's easy. All you have to do is look at our collection of unique personalised children's books and select which one you want. Then add the child's name, a personal message if you want to, and depending on which book any other details that may be required, and that's it. We'll do our magic and transform all your details into the book for you. We'll then print your personalised gift and deliver it right to your front door!

Why are personalised books such great gifts

We believe children nowadays need a little helping hand to spark the imagination and to learn the love of reading. And what could be better than a book with their name on or even being part of the story or character within the book. Our books could help raise confident, creative, book loving kiddiwinks.

How much are personalised children's books

Our personalised children's book range from £21.95 to £28.99 and depend on which book and what format you select. We have a low cost paperback, deluxe hardback and a luxury cushioned cover option. Our hardback book is our most popular as it makes the perfect keepsake gift.

27 Adorable Books of Nursery Rhymes for Kids

N ursery rhymes songs and picture books help children playfully learn meter and rhyme, giving them a foundation in literacy, poetry , and storytelling from a young age.

What are the other benefits for kids?

In addition, nursery rhymes help develop language as a child’s ear attunes to the sounds in language. Not to mention, saying them out loud improves speech.

Plus, singing nursery rhyme such as the Itsy Bitsy Spider, Old MacDonald Had a Farm, or Five Little Ducks teaches kids patterns in language, vocabulary, and memorization. And since the lyrics include lots of repetition, kids have many opportunities for success with memory and beginning reading.

Add in movement as you sing the songs like you can in 10 Little Monkeys or Wheels on the Bus and you’ll see a boost in motor skills as well.

Remember “This little piggie went to market” with the toes on your feet or the fingers on your hand? That’s another good one to add movements to–it’s great for a child’s cognitive development. Find nursery rhyme activities for preschoolers to keep them learning.

Or have the child sit on your lap and sing “The Noble Duke of York” while you bounce your legs and raise and lower your knees.

Sing “London Bridge is falling down,” while you hold your hands up to form a bridge with a partner, and someone runs underneath.

Active poetry — what’s not to love!?

But aren’t nursery rhymes weird and outdated?

Some of them are, no doubt.

My recommendation is to skip the duds with stereotypes or violence — and keep the gems. Because there are so many gems!

Here are popular nursery rhyme books that I think you’ll want to keep in rotation with your baby, toddler, and preschooler.

Nursery Rhymes for Kids

Board books & picture books.

Kids LOVE these puppet board books –and this is a darling spider who gets to interact with your readers as you read the nursery rhyme.

Old MacDonald Poke-a-Dot Board Book (Melissa & Doug)

Read and sing along with this fantastic interactive book in which little fingers get to click and pop the buttons on each page.

Ditty Bird Children’s Songs

Five little ducks when out one day. Mother Duck calls them back with a quack quack quack. But only four come back, then three, two, one, and none. In the spring, they come back with their own families. A darling counting book that you can also sing along to.

Repetition, rhyme, and counting make this darling book the classic that it is, but in this story, watch Little Ant get distracted and peek through the die-cut holes.

An adorable mouse watches the sky and imagines all sorts of things before going to sleep.

Little Elephants / Elefantitos by Susie Jaramillo

Sing along with the classic Latine Los Elefantes nursery rhyme song in English or Spanish as you watch the elephants balancing on the spider’s web. Lift the flaps on the English number to read the number in Spanish.

The Cow Tripped Over the Moon A Nursery Rhyme Emergency

The cow fell, and the Rock-a-Bye Baby did, too. Someone fell off a wall, and a weasel goes pop. The Nursery Rhyme ambulance helps Cow Who Jumped Over the Moon, the Baby in “Rock-a-bye Baby,” Humpty Dumpty, and more in this clever rhyming story .

I LOVE this book!   Itzy combines all the spider stories/songs into one funny story about Itzy going to kindergarten . First, he chases a fly and accidentally scares a little girl eating curds and whey on a tuffet only to get swallowed by an old lady (who also swallowed a lot of other crazy things!) When he’s coughed back up, he tries to build a web. As he does, it starts raining and he struggles to keep going up the, yes, you guessed it, the waterspout. Hilarious, right?!

Little red chicken loves when his dad reads aloud to him–and he loves to modify the stories, too. This morning, he really wants cookies so he helps his dad read the nursery rhymes adding new rhymes with cookies in them. For example, “ Hickory, Dickory, Dock, ” reads the dad. Then little red chicken jumps into the story and adds, “ I sure like cookies a lot! ” Eventually, Papa suggests that instead of cookies for breakfast, they have cake…a pancake. Entertaining, funny, and playful.

JJ is on a field trip and on the bus during which he and his classmates get to sing a song. The bus ride story of rain, sunshine, and questions about their arrival is juxtaposed with the lyrics to the song. These characters are from the popular tv show Cocmelon on YouTube and Netflix.

Humpty Dumpty  by Charles Reasoner

A fun retelling of this familiar Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme.

We loved this quirky, hilarious Little Miss Muffet book that goes into DETAIL like you wouldn’t believe about Miss Patience Muffet whose dad is obsessed with bugs and even owns a talking spider. Although her mother disapproves, Patience just wants to play the violin. So, she runs away and has quite an exciting adventure with Bo-Peep, robbers, and the talking spider.

Three Little Kittens

You’re going to love this playful update on an old nursery rhyme with kittens who are silly, kind, and problem solvers. First, the kittens lose their mittens, and their dialogue with each other and their mom here and throughout the story is the best part of the story. They find their mittens to they do get to eat pie. But there’s more, including hot pie, messy mittens, clean up, and feeding a mouse friend. A cheerful read aloud story not to be missed!

Mary Had a Little Lamb by Amy Pixton, illustrated by Jonas Sickler

Mary had a little lamb in Africa with gorgeous illustrations!

Little Bo Peep and Her Bad, Bad Sheep a Mother Goose Hullabaloo  by A.L. Wegwerth & Luke Flowers

Nursery rhymes pay little attention as Little Bo Peep tries to find her ba ba black sheep, but in this case bad sheep — pigs are off to market, the spider is trying to swallow a fly, and so much craziness is happening that your kids will love looking at all the nursery rhyming details of each illustration. I totally adore this book.

I love this book — but it’s not for your preschoolers; it’s for readers who will get the humor of the wordplay and writing. Scieszka’s changed the familiar nursery rhymes in hilarious, smart ways — fill-in-the-blanks, recipes, anagrams, new verbs, new nouns, scientific approach, pig Latin, and more.

Cute illustrations show the nursery rhyme characters acting out the story with simple dialogue bubbles added in for extra fun. Part of the Charles Reasoner collection .

I love the illustrations because this inclusive Little Piggy story, it shows a pig family getting ready for a meal and I like that the little one is riding on the back of mommy pig’s bicycle and saying “wee wee wee” in delight to get home for a meal together at the table.

Mice running up the clock? That’s this simple nursery rhyme story , perfect for very young readers. Part of the Charles Reasoner collection .

In this Old MacDonald version, the farmer loves things that go. “ And on that farm, he had a truck. He loved things that go! With a vroom-vroom here and a vroom-vroom there. Here a vroom, there a vroom, everywhere a vroom-vroom. “

Calling all truck fans — this is the book for you! Because Old McDonald has a lot of trucks — a bulldozer, front loader, motor grader, dump truck, and more. E-I-E-I-O! This is not just a favorite for age 2 readers but also a family favorite sing-along picture book.

Nursery Rhyme Story Collections

Over the Hills and Far Away: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes  collected by Elizabeth Hammill, illustrated by more than 70 celebrated artists

This book is a bit cumbersome for especially small children. Mine (who are not small) both weren’t interested in such a big book. However, it is  beautifully illustrated and probably one of the most thorough collections of nursery rhymes  I’ve seen with a lot of rhymes I’d never heard of before.

A Pop-Up Book of Nursery Rhymes

Add three dimensions to your favorite Mother Goose nursery rhymes with fun pop-ups !

Featuring fifty classic nursery rhymes illustrated and interpreted in comics  by fifty of today’s preeminent cartoonists and illustrators, this is a groundbreaking new entry in the canon of nursery rhymes treasuries.

The Classic Collection of Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes  illustrated by Gina Baek

Illustrator Gina Baek depicts the  classic nursery rhymes  in her capitating, rich style from Little Bo-Peep to Three Blind Mice and Hot Cross Buns.

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