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Books You Love

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.

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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)

• Search Results

The 100 best-ever children’s books, as chosen by our readers

From the magic of Beatrix Potter to Malorie Blackman's game-changing dystopias, we asked you to share the stories that inspired your love of reading as a child.

18.  Elmer by David McKee (1968)

We said:  A nursery favourite featuring a wonderful elephant of many colours. Elmer and all his differences have subtly taught generations of children that it's ok to be different. 

You said:  It teaches us to be ourselves and embrace our quirks. 

thosedarkpages, Instagram

Where to start with Jacqueline Wilson’s books

24 must-read books for 9-12-year-olds

24 must-read books for 6-8-year-olds

Where to start with Terry Pratchett’s books

46. Further Doings of Milly-Molly-Mandy  by Joyce Lankester Brisley (1932)

We said:  Venture to the quaintest nooks of rural England with Millicent Margaret Amanda (or Milly-Molly-Mandy, for short), always on a fun escapade in that notorious pink-and-white striped dress.

You said:  I loved M-M-M, the tales of the haberdashery shop and making a tea cosy from bits of the family’s old clothes and the booby prize of a little white rabbit. Simple and evocative of a bygone age.

NichollsTanya, Twitter

24 must-read books for under 5s

The best folk and fairy tales for children

67.  Lulu and the Flying Babies by Posy Simmonds  (1988)

We said : Who wouldn’t feel slightly put-out that their new, younger sibling is getting all the fuss? And that instead of playing in the park, Lulu has to walk around a museum because her little brother is cold. Boring! But then Lulu is whisked away by two cherubs on a magical adventure through the museum which turns out, isn’t so dull after all.

You said:   Lulu and the Flying Babies  mainly because Lulu was chubby and nosey, which gets her into trouble. It reminded me of myself!

Stacey Wing, Facebook

Where to start with Roald Dahl’s books

The best books to gift your grandchildren

93.  Lord of the Flies by William Golding  (1954)

We said:  When a group of boys become stranded on an island, a line is drawn between order and chaos, relating to many of today's problems with unstable governments. Golding's popular novel has been adapted into two films, one in 1963 and 1990.

You said: It was published the same year I was born. I actually thought it was real, it wasn't, was it? It's pretty damn close now that I have aged a bit and am maybe a tad wiser. 

MCR_Author, Twitter

Books ranked in no particular order. Some answers edited for clarity and style.

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• HarperCollins Children's Books

40 Must-Read Books For 10-12 Year-Old Children

Books have always been a handy time machine, taking us back and forth through the past, present, and future. A timeless source of joy, developing the habit of reading early has other benefits as well. Children who take to reading at an early age will be better-informed with a more firm grasp on grammar and vocabulary, increased fluency and attention spans, not to mention an overall sense of ease with the language.

Have a look at our specially-curated list of 40 books for children between the ages of 10 and 12, which includes stories of courage and valour, books on finding your future friend, and those that take you inside india.

Stories Of Courage & Valour by Soundar Chitra

From popular Indian legends to tales from across the world, these are stories about extraordinary young men and women who fought for what they believed in, whether it was love, loyalty or fairness.

Get your copy today!

The Mystery Of The School On Fire: The SMS Detective Agency Series by Ravi Subramaniam

In this first mystery in the newly-launched SMS Detective Agency series by master storyteller and writer of bestselling thrillers, Ravi Subramanian, the SMS gang solves the perplexing case of how and why their school catches fire, not once but twice!

The M Series: Monster Tales by  Cornelia Funke

A furry red monster called Ruffleclaw moves in with a family of humans after he tires of eating bugs and living under the tool-shed! Read this charming monster tale from Cornelia Funke, the internationally renowned children’s author of the Inkheart trilogy and several other bestselling books and series.

The Adventures Of Padma and a Blue Dinosaur by Vaishali Shroff

In an exciting mix of non-fiction and fiction, this book contains curious facts and insights about dinosaurs discovered in India, including a colourful map of India indicating where dinosaurs have been discovered and illustrated fact sheets about them, inputs from renowned palaeontologists, and an interview with the Dinosaur Princess of India, Aaliya Sultana Babi.

India In Space  

As we rocket into space on the back of several successful missions, India In Space examines India’s glorious space trajectory starting from its first venture. Pick up this book, the first in a series that will present India’s place in various spheres such as sports, science, history and more, to explore India’s incredible journey into space!

Sriman Badbu by David Walliams

David Walliams’ much-loved middle-grade novel, Mr Stink , now in Hindi. Come, join Chloe and Shriman Badbu on their adventures! When it looks like he might be driven out of town, Chloe decides to hide Mr Stink in the garden shed. Now Chloe’s got to make sure no one finds out her secret. And speaking of secrets, there just might be more to Mr Stink than meets the eye… or the nose.

Sacked by Deepa Agarwal

A charming collection of folktales, retold in a lively, contemporary style by Deepa Agarwal. There’s humour, adventure and amazing flights of fantasy in these stories, and the quirky illustrations just add to the charm!

Samay Ka Khatola by Gulzar

A wonderful collection of poems and songs for children in Hindi from Gulzar, the master poet and storyteller.

Dabbang Dadi by David Walliams

David Walliams’ hilarious Gangsta Granny is here in translation! If young Ben had known that his grandma had plotted to steal the Crown Jewels all her life – that she was a Dabang Dadi – he wouldn’t have thought she was the most boring grandma ever.

Future Friend by David Baddiel

Future Friend  is a terrifically entertaining time-slip adventure that combines action, laugh-out-loud humour and the importance of friendship, in a story that asks the question – what would happen if your best friend came from the future?

Goal! Shot! Run! : Short Biographies Of Sportspersons

Goal, Shot, Run! is a collection of illustrated biographies of sportspeople from all over the world. From cricket to hockey, tennis to football and even the Olympics, it’s time to learn more about your favourite sports superstars, and maybe even discover some new ones!

The M Series: Magical Tales by Shashi Warrier

Many years ago, the Lord of All Magic, fed up with the intrusion of humans into the lives of magical beings, withdrew to a continent in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that he hid, by magical means, from the sight of all humans outside. As the two tales from the hidden continent show, life with magical creatures can never be dull…

Inside India: Festivals & Celebrations by FunOKPlease

Join Indy and Dia on a mad, intelligent and fun tour of India’s popular, curious and bewildering festivals and celebrations. This activity book will help you navigate India’s colourful festival calendar through engaging activities like word searches, crossword puzzles, number games, recipes, art and craft and much more.

A Clock of Stars : The Shadow Moth by Francesca Gibbons

With all the magic of Narnia and the humour of Mary Poppins, this is a future middle grade fantasy classic – and the beginning of an unforgettable journey…Thrilling, sharply funny, and with characters you will fall in love with, A Clock of Stars is a timeless fantasy from an astonishing new voice.

Inside India: Amazing Historical Places by FunOKPlease

The second in the Inside India series, join Indy and Dia on a super exciting and fun tour of India’s amazing historical places and discover unknown details about the famous monuments and sites you’ve already heard of. This activity book will help you navigate India’s rich and mind-boggling map of historical wonders through engaging activities.

Inside India: Fascinating Food by FunOKPlease

Fascinating Food is the third book in the Inside India series. Join Indy and Dia on a mouth-watering, tummy-rumbling and fun tour of India’s culinary landscape. This activity book will take you through India’s various food delights through engaging activities.

Mensa Train Your Brain: Cranium Crunchers by Mensa

The book contains 96 puzzle-packed pages. It is split into three levels of difficulty, called Super Brain, Mega Mind and Ultra Genius. The levels get considerably harder as the book progresses and as kids improve their puzzle skills, and all answers can be found at the back of it.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Don’t miss one of America’s top 100 most-loved novels, selected by PBS’s The Great American Read. A full-color paperback edition of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe , book two in the classic fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia . This edition is complete with full-color cover and interior art by the original illustrator, Pauline Baynes.

Mensa Train Your Brain: Brain-Scrambling Challenges by Mensa

The book contains a wide variety of different types of challenges, including numerical, logical and word puzzles, that will test all areas of puzzle solving. The best part? All answers to the tests can be found at the back of the book!

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Inspired by a true story, this is the beautifully written tale of how a mighty gorilla wins his freedom. A winning blend of humour and poignancy that will appeal to fans of Michael Morpurgo.

Mensa Train Your Brain: Perplexing Puzzles by Mensa

In another edition of the Mensa Train Your Brain series, kids will have fun putting their brain to the test and seeing how many puzzles they can work out correctly. As the cherry on top, the answers to all the puzzles are provided at the book of the book!

Gangsta Granny by David Walliams

Another hilarious and moving novel from bestselling, critically acclaimed author David Walliams, the natural successor to Roald Dahl. A story of prejudice and acceptance, funny lists and silly words, this new book has all the hallmarks of David’s previous bestsellers. Enjoy the original, if you’ve tried the Hindi!

Mensa Train Your Brain: Mind-Melting Conundrums by Mensa

This book is full of marvellous, mind-melting puzzles for kids to enjoy. A true puzzler’s paradise, the book contains 96 pages of puzzles. It is split into three levels of difficulty – Level A is Super Brain, Level B is Mega Mind and Level C is Ultra Genius. The different types of puzzles included will test a wide range of puzzle solving skills.

Quirky History: The Swan Car of Nabha & Other Unusual Storiesfrom History by Mini Menon

Eccentric maharajas and nawabs, bizarre believe it or not tales and hilarious twists and turns come together in this first book of the Quirky History series. From the Nizam who hid a priceless diamond in a shoe to the Swan Car of the Maharaja of Nabha, get ready for history to pop right out of this book!

Raja Balushahi and Rani Rasmalai in Mithaspur and Other Adventures by Prashant Pinge

A thrilling adventure of two young siblings, eleven-year-old Arjun and nine-year-old Anindita, that will immerse you into a world of fantasy. Filled with captivating magic and unexpected dangers, this beautifully illustrated book comes with a pull-out board game!

She Can, You Can by Garima Kushwaha

An A to Z biography of iconic Indian women, one for each letter of the English alphabet. Each character is represented by an illustrative sketch and a 500-word summary. This inspirational and motivational book includes the achievements of pioneering females from different walks of life.

The Adventures of Kakababu by Sunil Gangopadhyay

A thrilling story about young Shontu who joins his uncle Raja Roychowdhury, fondly known as Kakababu, on his adventures and the dangers they have to subsequently overcome.  The Adventures of Kakababu , Volume 1, is the first in the new Kakababu series.

Learned Men and Women by Sreelata Menon

Discover the lives of the great learned men and women of ancient India who could control their minds to achieve anything they desired. From pioneering surgical techniques to solving mathematical puzzles, read about the incredible contributions of Vyasa, Sushruta, Valmiki, Surya Savitri, Chanakya, and others.

How to be a Writer by Ruskin Bond

This book is an exclusive glimpse into the writing credo of Ruskin Bond, an author who has had an incredibly successful writing career spanning over seventy years, in his characteristic understated, tongue-in-cheek, humorous style.

The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mohandas Gandhi

An abridged and simplified version of Gandhiji’s Autobiography and his Satyagraha in South Africa, specially prepared by Bharatan Kumarappa. Matters which are not likely to be of much interest to school children have been omitted, and the language has been simplified where possible.

Mahabharata Stories by Deepa Agarwal

Selected stories for children from the Mahabharata ranging from how the Mahabharata was written to the Mritasanjivani story, the birth of Devavrata, the palace of Lac, Draupadi’s Swayamvara, the passing of Bhishma and many others from one of the greatest epics of all time.

Uncool: Fights. Camera. Action!

Uncool is an incredible graphic novel that is centred around young DD and her high school life. The first book of the bitingly funny UNCOOL series – a rib-tickling tackling of teen issues!

A Basketful Of Animal Tales: Stories From The Panchatantra

Foolish fish and clever crows, quick-witted monkeys and dim-witted lions and many more – pit your wits against them in this feast of animal stories!  The Panchatantra stories are ancient yet so contemporary that they have been retold again and again through the ages. They remain as modern as any new story today.

Flipped: Funny Stories / Scary Stories

The Flipped Anthology series gives you two themes, two covers and two sides to open the book from… and you get to choose! Switch between our rib-tickling and spine-chilling stories as you please.

The Gita and You by Sheila Dhir

This book presents eight Kathas that capture the essence of the conversation that took place between Lord Krishna and Arjuna during the Kurukshetra War. The message of each of these Kathas is simplified and conveyed through stories that children can relate to and understand.

Festival Stories: Through The Year by Rachna Chhabria

India is a country of myriad festivals! Not a month goes by in which we don’t have something to celebrate. This book invites you to rejoice in India’s rich culture through the simple stories of two young twins, Natasha and Nikhil, as they experience an entire year of festivals and celebrations!

Flipped: Ghost Stories / Adventure Stories

Now you don’t need to keep a book away if you don’t like a story or a theme, you only need to flip the book over and start reading again! Switch between our blood-curdling and adventuresome stories  as you please.

The 1,000-Year-Old Boy by Ross Welford

The astonishing, beautiful new story for all readers of 10 and over from the bestselling and Costa-shortlisted author of Time Travelling with a Hamster .

Flipped: School Stories / Sports Stories

Now you don’t need to keep a book away if you don’t like a story or a theme, you only need to flip the book over and start reading again! The third book in the Flipped series is a collection of Sports and School stories.

The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate

Return to the unforgettable world of the Newbery Medal-winning and New York Times bestselling novel The One and Only Ivan in this incredible sequel, starring Ivan’s friend Bob. Catch up with these beloved friends before watching the star-studded film adaptation!

Top 2 Comments

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• Educational Resources

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 are some of my family favs and some we have been reading for years. They 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!

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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?

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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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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 Education in School Leadership from Wilmington University, Taylor holds a certification in special education, English language arts, and social sciences. Read full bio of Taylor Beal

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 school books before joining MomJunction as an editor. Read full bio of Wedetso Chirhah

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 Jadavpur University. Her journey as a content writer began in 2017 and since then, Poulami has garnered diverse interests along the way. Read full bio of Poulami Nag

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 content creation from NIELIT Imphal and presented papers at various national and international conferences. Read full bio of N Pravenchandra Singh

MomJunction believes in providing reliable, research-backed information to you. As per our strong editorial policy requirements, we base our health articles on references (citations) taken from authority sites, international journals, and research studies. However, if you find any incongruencies, feel free to write to us .

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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

• 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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60 Best Children’s Books of Fairy Tales for Kids

This post may contain affiliate links.

If you’re looking for the best children’s books of fairy tales for kids, find what you need on this big list of wonderful picture books , chapter books , and middle grade books of popular fairy tales for children; magical stories that are filled with humor, suspense, magic, and adventure.

From classic fairy tales from authors such as The Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson to new and original fairy tale books, you can introduce gentle versions of the stories to young children in kid-friendly versions for all ages. And, when they’re ready, you might read the original stories — which, if they’re Brother’s Grimm, are often more distressing and not meant for young children. 

Best Fairy Tales for Preschoolers

• Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs  by Mo Willems
• Izmelda The Fairest Dragon of Them All!  by Joan Marr
• Goldilocks and the Three Bears and the 33 Bears and the Bliim and the Furniture and Lots More  by Allan Ahlberg
• Red  by Jed Alexander
• The Tossy-Turny Princess and the Pesky Pea: A Fairy Tale to Help You Fall Asleep  by Susan Verde
• Who’s the Grossest of them All?  by Susan McElroy Montanari
• Fairy Tales for Mr. Barker  by Jessica Ahlberg
• Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas  by Natasha Yim

I think that fairy tales for kids are so important because they develop a child’s imagination and teach important life lessons. (The original fairy tales especially.) Here’s a list of fairy tales, some original and retold, and some updated, and some modified.

And whether you’re reading Hansel and Gretel, Rumpelstiltskin, the Little Mermaid, or The Emperor’s New Clothes, consider how fairy tales were originally used as cautionary tales — not just for entertainment!

Best Fairy Tales

For middle grade boys and girls ages 9 to 12.

• The Land of Stories   by Chris Colfer
• A Tale of Dark and Grimm   by Adam Gidwitz
• Snow & Rose  by Emily Winfield Martin 
• Rapunzel’s Revenge  by Shannon Hale & Dale Hale (graphic novel)
• Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy  by Karen Foxlee
• Baba Yaga’s Assistant  by Marika McCoola

Discuss what the stories might be trying to teach kids. Does Goldilocks teach kids not to go into a stranger’s house uninvited? Then, see how they compare to Aesop’s Fables or traditional folktales , also meant to  teach life lessons . For extra fun, see if you can write your own fairytales!

Many picture book channels read aloud fairy tale books  online on YouTube . You can watch those for free. 

I’ve organized the lists into two age group sections to help you find books for the right age group of children. And just remember, the picture books listed aren’t the scary fairy tales that you sometimes find in books for elementary and middle school readers! Finally, I read more newly published books every month and update this list accordingly.

Happy reading!

• Picture Books (Ages 2 – 8)
• Chapter Books (Ages 6 – 12)

Fairy Tales for Kids

Picture books.

F is for Fairy Tale  by Greg Paprocki Starting with A for adventurous, this beautiful alphabet board book features castles, dragons , jewels, a unicorn , and more, with an  alphabet  of  fairy tale  scenes featuring kids, mythical creatures , and animals for each letter all the way to ZZZZZzzzzz.

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B.Bear and Lolly Catch That Cookie! by A.A. Livingston, illustrated by Joey Chou Best friends, B. Bear and Lolly, are having trouble with their Porridge Perfector inventio n when the Gingerbread Mantips it over and runs away. So Lolly and B. Bear decide to catch the Gingerbread Man themselves. Will your kids love this fairy tale story?

Very Little Cinderella by Heapy & Heap Little Cinderella is a cutie pie who speaks in baby talk and throws tantrums. Her fairy godmother helps her get dressed for the dance. This little Cinderella wears her favorite blue dress and yellow boots (“yello”) and goes on her big blue scooter. A charming new telling of this familiar fairy tale!

The Baddies by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler This story is about Baddies who like being bad and the little girl who doesn’t let them win. These three Baddies have a contest to see who is the worst of them all. Their goal is to steal a little girl’s hanky. The troll tries to scare the girl, but she’s not scared. The witch’s spell doesn’t work either. And the ghost gets a bedtime story. After their failures, the girl shares her hanky with a mouse who asks for help keeping her mouse babies warm. The frustrated Baddies move away forever.

Who’s the Grossest of them All?  by Susan McElroy Montanari, illustrated by Jake Parker Goblin sets off through the forest so others can fully appreciate his horribleness. But when he comes to Troll’s bridge, Troll insists that HE is the most horrible creature in the forest. They decide to ask someone else to judge and ask several villagers, including Little Red Riding Hood. Who, as it turns out, is grosser than either Goblin or Troll. (Because of boogers–eew!)

The Princess Who Had No Kingdom  by Ursula Jones, illustrated by Sarah Gibb Try a new   fairy tale  story about a  determined, beautiful, and intelligent princess  who makes her life excellent despite having no kingdom. And I adore, adore, adore Sarah Gibb’s art! Her illustrations are truly amazing.

Fairy Tales for Mr. Barker by Jessica Ahlberg (A Peek-Through Story) Just as Lucy sits down to read fairy tales to her dog, Mr. Barker, he takes off. She follows him through the fairy tales and meets Goldilocks, Sleeping Beauty, Jack, the Giant, and more. This is a delightful romp through many classic fairy tale worlds!

The Princess and the Giant  by Caryl Hart, illustrated by Sarah Warburton Princess Sophie lives next to a magic beanstalk with a VERY noisy giant  who is so loud he keeps Sophie awake all night. So, brave Sophie is determined to figure out the giants and how to help the giant and fix the problem. Sophie’s a great problem solver and befriends the lonely giant.

Let’s Tell a Story! Fairy Tale Adventure  by Lily Murray, illustrated by Wesley Robins Pick the  story elements  and craft your own fairy tale stories… Choose something on each page (using the pictures) and invent millions of different stories. Do you want to be a prince, a troll, a princess, a black cat? Then make more choices until you get to the end of your dangerous adventure. 

Ra Pu Zel and the Stinky Tofu written by Ying Chang Compestine, illustrated by Crystal Kung Ra Pu Zel lives in ancient China. After too much criticism from adults, Pu Zel shuts herself in a tall tower with her dog Bao, getting food via her long braid. Nothing will entice her out of her tower so her father, the emperor, declares that the first person to persuade Pu Zel to leave her tower will have his marriage blessing. Different princes try to lure her out, but they don’t succeed. Eventually, a young chef cooks stinky tofu below the tower, and Pu Zel rushes down to try a bite. She loves the stinky tofu and falls in love with the chef!

More Fairy Tales for Kids

It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk  by Josh Funk, illustrated by Edwardian Taylor On every page, the narrator interrupts the story to boss Jack around.  Not only is Jack annoyed by the narrator, but he doesn’t like the story since he doesn’t want to be a thief and murderer.  His dialogue with the narrator will crack you up. Finally, Jack stops following the story at the giant’s house in the sky. He befriends the giant, makes him a taco salad, and goes to Cinderella’s house for a party. It’s the perfect updated version of Jack and the Beanstalk with a take-charge hero and curmudgeonly narrator. 

Izmelda The Fairest Dragon of Them All!  by Joan Marr, illustrated by Lala Watkins Izmelda is a dragon who wants to meet a princess, so she finds one  — but Princess Penelope needs to hurry to get to her class because witches are chasing her. It’s taking forever because Izmelda talks Penelope’s ear off, and that’s when the witches arrive! In a surprising twist, the witches are not scary but loving. Kids will love the hilarious characters and playful fantasy story.

Cinderella With Dogs!  by Linda Bailey, illustrated by Freya Hartas  I love this unexpected Cinderella remix with  a Fairy Dogmother who is ready to give  Cinderella  a dog-ish makeover ! In this story, Cinderella gets a gown made of an old dog blanket, hair like a poodle, and booties on her feet. She runs to the ball, howling, and meets the prince and his dog-loving family. After the dance, she declines the prince’s marriage proposal and suggests they chase squirrels together.

The Elves and the Shoemaker (My First Fairy Tales)  adapted by Mara Alperin, illustrated by Erica-Jane Waters Pastel colors and cheerful illustrations make this fairy tale come alive for young readers. Stan and Jan can’t understand why their shoe business is fading. Nor can they figure out who is making such beautiful shoes that help them get more customers. When they see who is helping them, Stan and Jan repay the elves with elf-sized clothing.

The Cat, the Dog, Little Red, The Exploding Eggs, the Wolf, and Grandma  by Diane and Christyan Fox Absolutely hilarious!  Cat begins to read the story of Little Red Riding Hood to Dog  but she doesn’t get far before Dog starts to interrupt with his ever-so-interesting thoughts about what might happen next… “ How does she fight crime, then? Does she have a cool kind of flying gadget basket? Are they exploding eggs? ” 

Little Red Riding Hood  illustrated by Ed Bryan I think you’ll applaud this updated short version of Little Red. B ecause Red is the one who  saves herself , not a woodsman, and makes the wolf run far, far away. Go, Red! The illustrations feel fresh and modern, making this picture book an excellent choice for younger readers.

Sleeping Beauty  by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Erin McGuire Rylant’s version of Sleeping Beauty includes the bigger concept of time, which I really love since fairy tales for kids are meant to explore big concepts.  This is a gentle retelling with serene illustrations.

Greatest Magical Stories  by Michael Morpurgo, illustrated by various This collection of fairy tale stories is like fairy tale’s greatest hits — with stories like Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella as well as some lesser-known stories such as Yoshi the Stonecutter and Tom Thumb. I like that the stories are readable for beginning readers. Speaking of illustrations, each story is illustrated by someone different, which adds bonus depth and uniqueness to each. 

Little Red Riding Hood and the Dragon  by Ying Chang Compestine, illustrated by Joy Ang Little Red and her grandmother get swallowed by a dragon! But Little Red thinks of antics to do inside the dragon’s stomach like kung-fu and the yo-yo to get the dragon to gag them up. A fun retelling of a famous fairy tale for kids set near China’s Great Wall.

The Most Wonderful Thing in the World  by Vivian French, illustrated by Angela Barrett The king and queen agree that to win their daughter’s hand in marriage, the suitor must show them the most wonderful thing in the world.  As the suitors all fail with their attempts (jewels, airplane, mermaid) the princess, Lucia, explores the city with a man named Salvatore. Little by little the two fall in love. And Salvatore tells the majesties what he knows is the most wonderful thing in the world — Lucia.

Fairy Tales for Kids in Chapter Books and Middle Grade Books

This list of fairy tale chapter books and middle grade books contains my favorite choices for reading. The writing is compelling, the stories are enchanting, and you won’t want to stop reading!

Once Upon a Gorjuss Time Six Classic Tales to Dream By by Santoro Beautiful illustrations and evocative descriptions capture the original  classic fairy tales for kids each Gorjuss shares with us: Little Red, The Little Mermaid, Snow White, Alice, Thumbelina, and Rapunzel. She comments before each story and reflects after each one, also. 

Whatever After  by Sarah Mlynowski   (ages 6 – 8) series Once upon a time, a regular girl and her brother accidentally fall into a fairy tale story.  And mess it all up. Whoops. We love all these funny mixed-up fairy tales for kids ages 6 to 9!

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Of Giants and Ice  by Shelby Bach (ages 6 – 9) series Rory finds out that her new after-school club, Ever After School, is a fairy tale training school for characters.  In fact, on her first day she fights a real dragon! We learn that all the kids will be assigned their own character in a familiar tale – and the chance to prove themselves. It’s also the beginning of acceptance for Rory – finding friends for the first time and learning about herself. Love it. (First in the series.)

The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer (series)  ages 8 – 12 Fairy tales come alive when Alex and Conner (brother and sister) find themselves in the fairy tale book given to them by their grandmother (who happens to be THE fairy godmother). Their only way home is for them to find the fairy tale ingredients for a Wishing Spell that will hopefully help them return to their regular home. Finding these artifacts will be dangerous, mysterious, and life-changing. Each book in this series mesmerizes readers with adventure, plot twists, and mystery .

The Fairytale Detectives (The Sisters Grimm) by Michael Buckley (series)  ages 8 – 12 Sabrina and Daphne move in with their Grandmother Grimm and learn that they and their grandmother are fairy tale detectives for the town which is filled with fairy tale people called Everafters. You’ll see meet a LOT of fairy tale characters in this magical town.  The Sisters Grimm series is suspenseful with lots of secrets, mysteries , magic, and adventure.

Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel (Tyme #1) by Megan Morrison (series)  ages 8 – 12 Rapunzel is happy living in her castle with everything she needs since Witch takes good care of her. But her life gets confusing and complicated when she follows Jack to the ground, meets fairies who hate the Witch, and visits the Woodmother to save her own life. Could Witch be what they all say? Rapunzel is very confused.

Storybound by Marissa Burt (series) ages 8 – 12 Una falls into the land of stories of heroes and  villains , but something is very wrong. No new stories are being written. So how did she get written in, and who is she? We read this for a bedtime read aloud book , and my kids and I looked forward to it every night.

Baba Yaga’s Assistant  by Marika McCoola, illustrated by Emily Carroll  ages 8 – 12 Courageous and adventurous Masha knows Baba Yaga from her grandmother’s stories. After her grandmother dies and her father remarries, Masha decides to become Baba Yaga’s assistant. To pass Baba Yaga’s tests, Masha uses her wits and the stories from her grandmother. She thinks she will fail when she rescues three children from Baba Yaga’s cage but she passes. Excellent storytelling and illustrations kept me enthralled in this not-your-average-fairy tale story.

Princess of the Wild Swans  by Diane Mahler ages 10+ I loved this middle grade fairy tale story. Princess Meriel’s father marries a witch in disguise who turns Meriel’s brothers into swans. Spoiled Meriel must work for once in her life, weaving nettles into shirts to save her brothers. It’s based on the Hans Christian Anderson story,  The Wild Swans .

Bluebeard  by Metaphrog Beginning in a small village shadowed by Bluebeard’s castle, this is a richly illustrated graphic retelling of a classic, macabre fairy tale by Charles Perrault.  When Bluebeard invites the starving villagers to his country home, he takes Eve as his wife and imprisons her with magic. The authors skillfully build suspense with every page, which is realized when Eve discovers a terrifying secret room filled with Bluebeard’s dead previous wives and buckets of blood. With the help of her sister and her childhood love, Tom, Eve defeats Bluebird at long last.

Snow White: A Graphic Novel by Matt Phelan ages 10+ I adore this reimagined graphic Snow White set in New York City in the 20s. Snow White’s dad is a Wall Street king, her stepmother is a Zigfield Follies star, and her seven small protectors are street kids. It’s SO interesting how Phelan uses this historical setting to animate a familiar fairy tale. The black and white illustrations set the tone for this dark story with a happy ending.

KEEP READING

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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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30 Inspiring Book Characters Every Child Should Know

Some old, some new, all fabulous!

One of the greatest gifts books give us is the opportunity to connect with characters that resonate with us. We form a deep attachment to characters that make us laugh and make us think, and most importantly, teach us valuable life lessons. When it comes to children’s literature, there are just so many amazing children’s book characters to choose from! Narrowing down the list is almost impossible, but we managed to pull together this list of 30 of the most-loved children’s book characters, old and new.

(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend books our team loves!)

1. Ada Twist from Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty

Ada’s mind is like a popcorn maker bouncing questions around 24/7. Her story is a celebration of insatiable curiosity, girl power, and the rewards of perseverance.

Buy it: Ada Twist, Scientist at Amazon

2. Alexander from Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

Ever have one of those days? Well, from the minute he wakes up on the wrong side of the bed, Alexander is having a bummer of a day. This story gives readers a hilarious glimpse into the thought process of a young boy with a serious case of the grumps.

Buy it: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day at Amazon

3. August Pullman from Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Auggie, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face, tugs at our heart strings and teaches us the power of a good heart and a strong mind.

Buy it: Wonder at Amazon

4. Brian from The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig

We’ve all seen this boy—the shy, sweet one who has so much to offer but can’t quite connect with his classmates. Brian’s story teaches us about the power of kindness and inclusion and encourages us to keep our eyes open for the invisible ones in our own circle.

Buy it: The Invisible Boy at Amazon

5. Charlie Bucket from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

When Charlie Bucket finds one of the golden tickets to the opening of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, he has no idea what an adventure he’s in for. Honest and kind, brave and true, Charlie is a hero among spoiled, greedy brats who in the end triumphs.

Buy it: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Amazon

6. Charlotte from Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

A children’s literature icon, Charlotte is a paragon of patience and wisdom as she guides Wilbur the pig through his trials and tribulations. In the end she makes the ultimate sacrifice, leaving us brokenhearted but grateful to have known her.

Buy it: Charlotte’s Web at Amazon

7. CJ from Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena

CJ lives in the poor part of the city and wonders why his life looks different than his friends’. Luckily, he has his grandmother to help him see the beauty, and fun, in the world around them. His spirit encourages us to look for the good in life.

Buy it: Last Stop on Market Street at Amazon

8. David from No, David by David Shannon

David is a young boy bubbling over with enthusiasm and curiosity. And more often than not, it lands him in hot water. With a mischievous smile and an unswerving sense of humor, David embodies the joie de vivre that we are all born with.

Buy it: No, David at Amazon

9. Delphine from One Crazy Summe r by Rita Williams-Garcia

When Delphine and her two sisters spend the summer with their mother in Oakland, they find themselves in a different world. Set on the cusp of the civil rights movement, Delphine’s worldview expands exponentially as she grows up before our very eyes.

Buy it: One Crazy Summer at Amazon

10. Dory from Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon

Ignored by her older brother and sister, charming, energetic Dory is left to her own (sizable) imagination as she goes on adventures with her imaginary friend Mary. Hilarious and heartwarming, you can’t help but fall in love with Dory.

Buy it: Dory Fantasmagory at Amazon

11. Edward from The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

Edward is a fine china rabbit who lives many lives. As we follow him along on his journey through the hands of different boys and girls, we experience the joys and heartbreak of a life well-lived.

Buy it: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane at Amazon

12. Emmanuel from Emmanuel’s Dream by Laurie Ann Thompson

When Emmanuel was born in Ghana, West Africa, with a deformed leg, his prospects were dim. But with the love and encouragement of his beloved mother, he not only survived but thrived. Based on the life of inspirational athlete and disability rights activist Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, this story delivers a powerful message about overcoming differences by believing in yourself.

Buy it: Emmanuel’s Dream at Amazon

13. Esperanza from Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan

When a tragedy upends Esperanza’s life of privilege and wealth into one of poverty and uncertainty, she has to find the strength to rise above her difficult circumstances and bring hope to her ailing mother.

Buy it: Esperanza Rising at Amazon

14. Mrs. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus series by Joanna Cole

If only every child could have a magical teacher like Valerie Frizzle, the world would be a better place. With her trademark wackiness and boundless energy, she leads her students (and our readers) on unforgettable journeys.

Buy it: The Magic School Bus at the Waterworks at Amazon

15. Frog and Toad from the Frog and Toad Series by Arnold Lobel

Among the most beloved children’s book characters are Frog and Toad. Sweet and simple, their stories of friendship and loyalty bring us back to a more innocent time in a way that is so very satisfying in today’s complicated world.

Buy it: Frog and Toad Are Friends at Amazon

16. Greg Heffley from Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Author Jeff Kinney admits he based Greg on his own worst qualities in middle school and high school. Sometimes a hero, sometimes a zero, but always entertaining—he’s a guy that kids can relate to.  

Buy it: Diary of a Wimpy Kid at Amazon

17. Irene Bobbin from Brave Irene by William Steig

Brave Irene, the dressmaker’s daughter, has to deliver a gown to the palace. Despite the challenge of a fierce snowstorm, Irene pushes through with cleverness and determination. Told by master storyteller William Steig, you can’t help but cheer for Irene to make it to the finish line on time.

Buy it: Brave Irene at Amazon

18. Jacob from Jacob’s New Dress by Sarah Hoffman

One of the earliest books that tackled the unique challenges faced by children who don’t identify with traditional gender roles, Jacob’s story opens your heart and mind to children who are questioning. 

Buy it: Jacob’s New Dress at Amazon

19. Jabari from Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

Jabari is sure he’s ready for the high dive. But as his turn nears, he employs some hilarious stall tactics. Encouraged by his patient dad, he keeps us on the edge of our seat until he takes his triumphant plunge.

Buy it: Jabari Jumps at Amazon

20. Junie B. Jones from the series by Barbara Park

Junie B. Jones is endlessly entertaining as she makes her way from home to school. Filled with curiosity and wonder, her adventures provide us the unique privilege of experiencing the world through the eyes of a kindergartner.

Buy it: Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus at Amazon

21. Lilly from Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

Sometimes despite our best intentions, our enthusiasm gets the best of us. Free-spirited Lilly tries to contain her excitement about her new purse, but her impetuousness wins out. We can all relate as we witness her pint-sized thought process and root for redemption from her beloved teacher Mr. Slinger.

Buy it: Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse at Amazon

22. The Lorax from the story by Dr. Seuss

One of the most influential children’s book characters, the Lorax captivates us with his message of environmental awareness, bringing a critical issue to the forefront in a clear, kid-friendly way. Sowing the seeds for future activists, he assures us that no action taken is too small.

Buy it: The Lorax at Amazon

23. Max from Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

A romping ode to bad behavior, Max is wildly relatable as he transforms from a defiant, naughty boy into a little one who is cured by a good night’s sleep and his mother’s love.

Buy it: Where the Wild Things Are at Amazon

24. Molly Lou Melon from Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell

Molly Lou is so endearing because she lets her freak flag fly. And in the process, she opens the eyes of her classmates and inspires them to be the best, true version of themselves.

Buy it: Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon at Amazon

25. Nate from the Nate the Great series by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

Like his predecessors before him (Encyclopedia Brown, Nancy Drew, and others) Nate the Great has a knack for solving mysteries. With 29 books and counting, the character has inspired young detectives everywhere with his Sam Spade persona and clever sidekick Sludge the dog.

Buy it: Nate the Great: Favorites at Amazon

26. Olivia from the series by Ian Falconer

Olivia is a fashionable pig who is a whirling dervish of creative energy and delightful shenanigans. Kids of all ages can be inspired by her unshakeable sense of self as she unapologetically makes her way through life.

Buy it: Olivia at Amazon

27. Percy Jackson from The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Greek mythology and the modern world collide when 12-year-old Percy Jackson is accused of stealing Zeus’ master lightning bolt. Despite his struggles with ADHD and dyslexia, he uses his wits and indomitable spirit to clear his name and claim his birthright.

Buy it: The Lightning Thief at Amazon

28. Stanley Yelnats from Holes by Louis Sachar

What do you do when the cards just seem to be stacked against you? Stanley blames the family curse when he is sent to a juvenile detention camp but soon finds himself on a wild adventure searching for buried treasure.

Buy it: Holes  at Amazon

29. Unhei from The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi

New girl Unhei is tempted to adopt an American name in order to fit in at her new school. But in the end, she finds the courage to be herself. A touching tale about embracing your differences and celebrating your unique heritage.

Buy it: The Name Jar at Amazon

30. Viola Swamp from Miss Nelson Is Missing! by Harry Allard

Sweet teacher Miss Nelson reaches the end of her rope with her unruly, misbehaving students. So, she decides to teach them a lesson with the help of her horrible alter-ego Viola Swamp.

Buy it: Miss Nelson Is Missing at Amazon

Who are your all-time favorite children’s book characters? Come share on our WeAreTeachers Helpline group on Facebook.

Find these children’s book characters and more in our amazing roundup of the best books for kids of all ages. , you might also like.

12 Helpful Character Traits Anchor Charts for Elementary and Middle School ELA Classes

Dig deep and really get to know the characters. Continue Reading

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Ebook Friendly

20 best short stories for kids.

In this list, you’ll find not only single short stories for kids, but also short story collections.

Digital natives suffer from the shortening attention span much more than their parents. The first activity to be set aside is reading books.

Reading requires focus, and it’s harder and harder to concentrate on one thing when you are attacked by text messages, Facebook notifications, or to-do reminders.

What’s more, some books, like novels, may seem too time-consuming to finish.

Short stories are perfect for digital times because they offer something digital addicts need most of all – the pleasure of reading a whole story without sacrificing time.

In the list below, we handpicked short stories for kids that you can get as collections. Some of them, like The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh , are available only in print.

However, where possible we picked ebook editions. You’ll be excited to discover many books by Dr. Seuss can be read on the Kindle (and other e-readers, as well), including  The Cat in the Hat .

We’ve also found fantastic short story collections for kids, that are completely free to download. The Other Side of the Sun by Evelyn Sharp, or  Legends That Every Child Should Know include the classics of children’s literature.

Actually, one-third of all listed books are a free download, either from Amazon, or Project Gutenberg, or The Internet Archive.

At the end of the post you’ll find Best short stories for kids infographic .

Are there any short stories for children that you’d like to add to the list? Please leave a suggestion in the comments below. Thanks!

20 short stories for kids

1. tales from moominvalley – tove jansson.

Unlike all the other Moomin books, which were novels, this is a collection of nine short stories.

Delightful and funny, the stories follow citizens of Moominvalley. “Some of the characters in these tales will be brand-new to Moomin fans, but there are lots of old friends to meet as well.”

2. Grimm’s Fairy Tales – The Brothers Grimm

A collection of German fairy tales first published in 1812 by the Grimm brothers, Jacob and Wilhelm.

From “Rapunzel” to “Hansel and Gretel” to “Briar Rose” to “Little Red Riding Hood,” the fairy tales have been captivating readers young and old for over two centuries.

3. Famous Stories Every Child Should Know

A classic short story collection, edited by Hamilton Wright Mable, and published in 1907.

This free collection brings together eleven short stories, including  A Child’s Dream of a Star  by Charles Dickens, and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s  The Great Stone Face .

⇢ Project Gutenberg

4. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi – Rudyard Kipling

A classic story by Rudyard Kipling, written in the 1890s as a part of the Jungle Book .

The story follows the adventures of a valiant young mongoose, after he was adopted into a British family residing in India.

5. The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh – A. A. Milne

A complete collection of an adorable teddy bear created in 1924 by A.A. Milne.

Classic children stories, Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner , are brought together in this beautiful edition, with recolored illustrations by Milne’s creative counterpart, Ernest H. Shepard.

6. Where the Wild Things Are – Maurice Sendak

An iconic children’s picture book that has inspired a movie, an opera, and the imagination of generations.

Written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak, the book focuses on a young boy Max who goes to bed without supper. His bedroom undergoes a transformation into a jungle inhabited by beasts – Wild Things.

⇢ Barnes & Noble

7. Little Bad Wolf and Red Riding Hood – Timothy Tocher

Written by Timothy Tocher, this free short story is a sample from Newfangled Fairy Tales.  Each fairy tale in the series puts a delightful new spin on classic stories and themes.

The Big Bad Wolf is running a successful scam on Little Red’s Grandma until Little Red catches him in the act.

8. Once Upon an Alphabet – Oliver Jeffers

A highly inventive and irresistible book by Oliver Jeffers.

Every alphabet letter has its own story, “slyly funny in a way kids can’t resist, and gorgeously illustrated in a way readers of all ages will pour over.”

9. M Is for Magic – Neil Gaiman

Bestselling author and master storyteller Neil Gaiman presents a breathtaking collection of tales that may chill or amuse readers – but always embrace the unexpected.

Eleven stories illuminate the real and the fantastic, and will be welcomed with great joy by Neil Gaiman’s many fans as well as by readers coming to his work for the first time.

⇢ Kindle

10. Little Wizard Stories of Oz – L. Frank Baum

From the creator of the Oz books, L. Frank Baum, comes a collection of six charming and simple short stories.

Among the tales, you’ll find  The Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger , and  Jack Pumpkinhead and the Sawhorse .

11. Bedtime Stories – Richard Scarry

Five funny tales by Richard Scarry, featuring Lowly Worm, Huckle Cat, Bananas Gorilla, and the rest of memorable menagerie are collected in a bedtime anthology.

12. The 20th Century Children’s Book Treasury

44 classic picture books and short stories of the 20th century were compiled by Janet Schulman in one collection.

The selections range from concept books and wordless books to picture books and short read-aloud stories, and represent the complete array of childhood themes and reading needs.

13. Legends That Every Child Should Know

This is a collection of folk tales and legends from around the world, complied by Hamilton Wright Mabie.

Among nineteen legends, you’ll enjoy  Hiawatha ,  The Lorelei ,  Beowulf , and  The Legend of Sleepy Hollow .

⇢ Internet Archive

14. The Classic Treasury of Aesop’s Fables

Twenty best-loved fables by Aesop, beautifully illustrated by Don Daily.

In the collection, you’ll find  The Tortoise and the Hare , The Goose Who Laid the Golden Eggs , and The City Mouse and the Country Mouse .

15. Shakespeare’s Stories for Young Readers – E. Nesbit

Twelve of Shakespeare’s greatest tales come to life in these entertaining lively stories specially adapted by E. Nesbit for young readers.

Capturing the vital events and using some of the original wording, the stories serve as a perfect introduction to Shakespeare for preteens.

16. Mary Poppins: 80th Anniversary Collection – P. L. Travers

A magical English nanny, Mary Poppins, created by P. L. Travers, have delighted children and adults the world over since 1934.

80th anniversary collection includes the first four tales, illustrated by Mary Shepard: Mary Poppins , Mary Poppins Comes Back , Mary Poppins Opens the Door , and Mary Poppins in the Park .

17. The Other Side  of the Sun: Fairy Stories – Evelyn Sharp

Written by a British author Evelyn Sharp, this popular children’s book includes eight short stories.

The Tears of Princess Prunella is most famous one, but you’ll find here also  The Magician’s Tea-Party , and  The Kite That Went to the Moon .

18. Dickens’ Stories About Children Every Child Can Read

Edited by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut, this is a wonderful collection from one of the biggest story writers of all time.

In the book, child stories have been taken out from Dickens’ novels and are told by themselves.

19. Disney Bedtime Favorites – Annie Auerbach

Perfect for bedtime, the collection has nineteen Disney stories to choose from, told by Annie Auerbach.

You’ll fine here stories about characters from Finding Nemo, Cars 2, Toy Story 3, The Lion King, and many more.

20. The Cat in the Hat – Dr. Seuss

A classic children’s short story written and illustrated by Theodor Geisel better known as Dr. Seuss. The Cat shows up at the house of Sally and her brother and shows the kids funny tricks in an attempt to entertain them.

The book encourages children to read by themselves, with simple words and illustrations that give clues to their meaning.

Keep reading. Here are other lists and tips to explore:

• Free ebooks for Christmas 2023: here are the top 20 downloads Just like a year ago, we are presenting the list of ebooks that were most downloaded from Project Gutenberg in […]
• 12 best personalized gifts for librarians and library supporters These library-themed gifts are extremely easy to personalize. All you have to do is add your own text!
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• 12 best metal accessories and home decor for book lovers Explore some of the best home decor items for book lovers that are handmade from metal: steel, brass, copper, bolts, […]

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20 All Time Best Children’s Authors

There have always been writers writing for children, and their work – partcularly those in this list of  20 all time best children’s authors – has had a profound impact on the development of childhood and children’s literature. Some of the earliest children’s authors include Charles Perrault, Hans Christian Andersen, and Lewis Carroll. These authors created stories that were both entertaining and educational, and they helped to shape the way that children’s literature is written today.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in children’s literature that reflects the diversity of the world we live in. Authors such as Jacqueline Woodson, Malorie Blackman, and Neil Gaiman are writing stories that feature characters of colour, characters with disabilities, and characters from different cultures. This work is helping to ensure that all children have access to books that reflect their own experiences and identities.

Children’s authors play an important role in shaping the minds and hearts of young readers. Their work can help children to develop their imaginations, learn about the world around them, and understand themselves and others better. Children’s authors are also important because they can help to create a more inclusive and equitable world for all children.

Children’s authors are an important part of the literary landscape, and their work has a lasting impact on children and society as a whole. Here are twenty of the most significant children’s authors.

Charles Perrault (1628 – 1703)

Charles Perrault was a French author who is best known for his collection of fairy tales, Histoires ou contes du temps passé (1697), better known as Mother Goose Tales . Perrault’s fairy tales, such as Little Red Riding Hood , Cinderella , and Sleeping Beauty , are some of the most popular and enduring stories in the world.

Perrault’s fairy tales were originally written for adults, but they quickly became popular with children. Perrault’s stories are characterized by their simple language, their clear moral messages, and their use of magic and adventure. Perrault’s fairy tales have been translated into many languages and have been adapted into numerous films, television shows, and stage productions.

Perrault’s contribution to children’s literature is immense. His fairy tales have entertained and inspired children for centuries, and they continue to be enjoyed by children and adults alike. Perrault’s fairy tales are a valuable part of our cultural heritage, and they continue to be relevant today.

Hans Christian Andersen (1805 – 1875)

Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author who wrote over 150 fairy tales, including The Little Mermaid , The Emperor’s New Clothes ,” and   The Ugly Duckling . His stories are known for their universal themes of love, loss, acceptance, and self-discovery. Andersen’s fairy tales have been translated into over 125 languages and have been adapted into films, television shows, and operas.

Andersen’s fairy tales are often dark and complex, and they often deal with themes that are not typically found in children’s literature. However, his stories are also full of hope and optimism, and they offer children valuable lessons about life. Andersen’s fairy tales have had a lasting impact on children’s literature, and they continue to be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

Lewis Carroll (1832  -1898)

Lewis Carroll was an English author, mathematician, and photographer best known for his two Alice books: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking-Glass (1871). These books are considered classics of children’s literature and have been translated into over 100 languages.

Carroll’s Alice books are full of nonsense, wordplay, and mathematical puzzles. They are also full of social commentary, with Carroll poking fun at Victorian society and its conventions. The books have been praised for their imagination, humour, and their ability to appeal to both children and adults.

Carroll’s other works for children include The Hunting of the Snark (1876), The Walrus and the Carpenter (1871), and Jabberwocky (1871). These works are also full of nonsense and wordplay, and they have been enjoyed by children and adults for generations.

Carroll was a master of wordplay, and his Alice books are some of the most loved children’s books ever written. They are full of imagination, humour, and social commentary, and they continue to be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849 – 1924)

Frances Hodgson Burnett was a prolific British-American author who wrote many popular novels and stories for children. Her most famous works include Little Lord Fauntleroy (1886), The Secret Garden (1911), and A Little Princess (1905). Burnett’s books are known for their themes of family, friendship, and self-discovery. They are also notable for their vivid descriptions of nature and their use of magical realism.

Burnett’s books have been translated into many languages and have been adapted into films, television shows, and stage productions. She is considered one of the most important children’s authors of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Here are some of the qualities that make Frances Hodgson Burnett a great children’s author:

• She had a gift for creating memorable characters that children could relate to.
• Her stories were full of adventure, excitement, and magic.
• She wrote about important themes such as family, friendship, and self-discovery.
• Her books were beautifully written and illustrated.

Burnett’s books continue to be enjoyed by children and adults alike. They are classics of children’s literature that will be read for generations to come.

Kenneth Grahame (1859 – 1932)

Kenneth Grahame is best known for his classic children’s novel The Wind in the Willows , which was first published in 1908. The book tells the story of four animal friends, Mole, Rat, Badger, and Toad, who live in the English countryside. The book is full of humour, adventure, and nostalgia, and it has been enjoyed by generations of readers.

Grahame was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He worked as a clerk at the Bank of England for many years, but he always dreamed of becoming a writer. In 1907, he published his first book, The Golden Age , a collection of short stories about childhood. The Wind in the Willows was published the following year, and it was an immediate success.

Grahame’s other children’s books include The Reluctant Dragon (1908) and Dream Days (1918). He also wrote a number of essays and articles, and he edited several anthologies of children’s literature.

Grahame’s work is characterized by its gentle humour, its love of nature, and its celebration of childhood. His books have been translated into many languages, and they continue to be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

Rudyard Kipling (1865 – 1936)

Rudyard Kipling was a British author and poet who is best known for his works of children’s literature, including The Jungle Book , Kim , and Just So Stories . Kipling’s children’s stories are characterized by their vivid imagination, their moral lessons, and their use of simple language that is accessible to children.

Kipling’s stories often explore themes of courage, self-reliance, and the importance of community. They also feature a wide variety of animal characters, which are often used to represent human qualities. For example, in The Jungle Book , the character of Mowgli is raised by wolves and learns to live in harmony with the jungle. This story teaches children about the importance of respecting nature and living in balance with the environment.

Kipling’s children’s stories have been enjoyed by generations of readers. They are classic works of children’s literature that continue to be relevant today.

Beatrix Potter (1866 – 1943)

Beatrix Potter was an English author and illustrator who is best known for her children’s books featuring animals. Her most famous character is Peter Rabbit, who first appeared in the book The Tale of Peter Rabbit in 1902. Potter’s books are known for their charming illustrations and their simple, yet timeless stories. They have been translated into over 35 languages and have sold over 250 million copies worldwide.

Potter was born in London in 1866. She was a shy child who loved animals and nature. She often spent her summers in the Lake District, where she developed her love of drawing and writing. In 1890, she began illustrating greeting cards for a company called Hildesheimer and Faulkner.

In 1893, Potter wrote and illustrated The Tale of Peter Rabbit for Noel Moore, the son of her former governess. The book was a success, and Potter went on to write and illustrate 22 more books. She also wrote several other works, including a series of letters to children.

Potter was a pioneer in the field of children’s literature. She was one of the first authors to write stories that were both entertaining and educational. Her books also helped to popularize the use of watercolour illustrations in children’s books.

Potter died in 1943 at the age of 77. She is considered one of the most important children’s authors of all time. Her books continue to be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

A.A. Milne (1882 – 1956)

Alan Alexander Milne (1882-1956) was an English playwright, poet, and author of children’s books. He is best known for his Winnie-the-Pooh stories, which he wrote for his son, Christopher Robin. The stories are set in the Hundred Acre Wood, a magical forest inhabited by a cast of lovable characters, including Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger, and Roo.

Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh stories are characterized by their simple language, gentle humour, and timeless themes of friendship, adventure, and imagination. They have been translated into over 60 languages and have sold over 50 million copies worldwide. Milne’s stories have also been adapted into numerous films, television shows, and stage productions.

Milne’s other children’s books include The Christopher Robin Verses (1924), When We Were Very Young (1924), Now We Are Six (1927), and The World of Pooh (1926). He also wrote several plays, including The Dover Road (1928) and The Play’s the Thing (1936).

Milne’s work has been praised for its wit, charm, and insight into the world of childhood. He is considered one of the most important children’s authors of the 20th century.

Enid Blyton (1897 – 1968)

Enid Blyton was a prolific English children’s author who wrote over 600 books, including the Famous Five , Secret Seven , and Noddy series. Her books have been translated into over 90 languages and have sold over 600 million copies worldwide.

Blyton’s books are known for their simple language, exciting plots, and relatable characters. They often feature children who go on adventures, solve mysteries, and learn valuable lessons. They have been praised for their ability to entertain and inspire children. However, they have also been criticized for their lack of diversity and their portrayal of gender roles.

Despite the criticism, Blyton’s books remain popular with children around the world. They are a reminder of the power of imagination and the importance of adventure. Enid Blyton is one of the most popular children’s authors of all time and her books have had a lasting impact on children’s literature.

C.S. Lewis (1898 – 1963)

Clive Staples Lewis was a British author, best known for his children’s fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia . Lewis was also a scholar of medieval and Renaissance literature, and he wrote several works of Christian apologetics.

The Chronicles of Narnia are seven novels that tell the story of a group of children who travel to the land of Narnia, a magical land populated by talking animals, mythical creatures, and other fantastical beings. The series is set in a world where good and evil are constantly at war, and the children must play a role in the battle between light and darkness.

The Chronicles of Narnia have been translated into over 40 languages and have sold over 100 million copies worldwide. The series has been adapted into several films and television series, and it continues to be popular with children and adults alike.

Lewis’s children’s books are characterized by their rich imagination, their moral lessons, and their Christian themes. The Chronicles of Narnia are a classic example of children’s literature

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900 – 1944)

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was a French writer, poet, and pioneering aviator. He is best known for his novella The Little Prince , which has been translated into more than 300 languages and sold over 200 million copies worldwide.

Saint-Exupéry wrote The Little Prince in 1942 while he was living in the United States. The book is a philosophical tale about a pilot who crashes in the desert and meets a young prince from another planet. The prince tells the pilot about his home planet, which is a tiny asteroid, and about the lessons he has learned about life.

The Little Prince is a classic children’s book, but it is also enjoyed by adults. The book is full of wisdom and insights about life, love, and loss. It is a reminder that even the smallest things can be important, and that it is important to never lose our sense of wonder.

Saint-Exupéry was a gifted writer, and his prose in The Little Prince is simple yet elegant. The illustrations in the book, which were also drawn by Saint-Exupéry, are charming and whimsical.

The Little Prince is a timeless classic that stays with the child long after she has finished reading it.

Dr. Seuss (1904-1991)

Dr. Seuss, born Theodor Seuss Geisel, is one of the most loved children’s authors of all time. His books, such as The Cat in the Hat , Green Eggs and Ham , and Oh, the Places You’ll Go! , are known for their playful rhymes, silly characters, and imaginative worlds.

Seuss’s books have been translated into over 20 languages and have sold over 600 million copies worldwide. They have been praised for their ability to teach children about new words and concepts in a fun and engaging way. Seuss’s books have also been credited with helping children develop their imaginations and creativity.

Seuss was a master of language and wordplay. He used his unique style of writing to create books that are both entertaining and educational. They often explore themes of friendship, acceptance, and the importance of imagination.

Dr. Seuss’s books are a classic part of childhood.  They have had a lasting impact on children’s literature. They continue to be enjoyed by children of all ages around the world.

Astrid Lindgren (1907 – 2002)

Astrid Lindgren was a Swedish author who is best known for her children’s books, including Pippi Longstocking , Emil of Lönneberga , and The Brothers Lionheart . Her books have been translated into over 90 languages and have sold over 145 million copies worldwide.

Lindgren’s books are known for their strong female characters, their humour, and their celebration of childhood. She often wrote about the importance of imagination, independence, and freethinking. Her books have been praised for their positive messages and their ability to inspire children to be themselves.

Lindgren’s work has had a lasting impact on the genre. She was a recipient of the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest international award for children’s literature. She was also awarded the Right Livelihood Award, which is known as the “Alternative Nobel Prize.”

Lindgren’s books have been adapted into movies, TV shows, and stage productions. They continue to be popular with children all over the world. They are a testament to her talent as a writer and her understanding of the importance of childhood.

Tove Jansson (1914 – 2001)

Tove Jansson was a Finnish author and artist who is best known for her Moomin books. The Moomins are a family of white, hippopotamus-like trolls who live in Moominvalley, a magical land of forests, lakes, and seashores. Jansson’s Moomin books have been translated into over 50 languages and have sold over 150 million copies worldwide.

Jansson’s Moomin books are known for their gentle humour, their exploration of complex themes, and their beautiful illustrations. The Moomins are often seen as a metaphor for the human condition, and their stories often deal with themes of friendship, family, and the importance of imagination.

In addition to the Moomin books, Jansson also wrote several other children’s books, including The Summer Book and The Sculptor’s Daughter . She also wrote several novels for adults, including The Unknown Friend and The Wind’s Apprentice .

Jansson’s work has been praised by critics and readers alike. She has won numerous awards, including the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest international award for children’s literature. She is considered one of the most important children’s authors of the 20th century.

Roald Dahl (1916 – 1990)

Roald Dahl is one of the most popular and loved children’s authors of all time. His books, such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , James and the Giant Peach , and Matilda , have been translated into over 50 languages and have sold over 200 million copies worldwide.

Dahl’s stories are known for their imaginative plots, their quirky characters, and their dark humour. He often uses his stories to explore themes of good versus evil, the power of imagination, and the importance of standing up to bullies. His books have been praised by critics and readers alike. They have been adapted into films, television shows, and stage productions. His work has also inspired other authors and artists.

Dahl’s legacy as a children’s author is secure. His books continue to be enjoyed by children and adults alike. They are a reminder that even the darkest of times can be filled with wonder and magic.

Judith Kerr (1923 – 2019)

Judith Kerr was a German-born British author and illustrator of children’s books. She was born in Berlin and fled Nazi Germany with her family in 1933. They settled in London, where Kerr studied art and began her career as an illustrator.

Kerr’s first book, The Tiger Who Came to Tea , was published in 1968. It was an instant success and has been translated into over 25 languages. The book tells the story of a little girl named Sophie who has a surprise visitor for tea: a tiger! The book is full of humour and charm, and it has been praised for its simple yet effective illustrations. It has been voted on several platforms as the most popular children’s book of all time.

Kerr went on to write many other successful children’s books, including Mog the Forgetful Cat , When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit , and The Other Way Round . Her books are known for their warm humour, their insights into childhood, and their beautiful illustrations.

Kerr was awarded an OBE in 2012 for her services to children’s literature. She died in 2019 at the age of 95.

Michael Bond (1926 – 2017)

Michael Bond was a British author best known for his series of children’s books featuring Paddington Bear. He served in the Royal Air Force during World War II, and then worked as a television cameraman and writer. In 1958, he published his first Paddington Bear book, A Bear Called Paddington . The book was an instant success, and Bond went on to write over 20 more Paddington Bear books.

The Paddington Bear books have been translated into over 40 languages and have sold over 35 million copies worldwide. The books have also been adapted into a popular television series and two feature films. Paddington Bear is a beloved character around the world, and he has been praised for his kindness, politeness, and sense of adventure.

Bond was a gifted writer with a warm and humorous touch. His Paddington Bear books are full of heart and humour, and they have touched the lives of generations of children. Bond was awarded the OBE in 1997 for his services to literature, and he was made a CBE in 2015. He died in 2017 at the age of 91.

Bond’s Paddington Bear books are a classic example of children’s literature at its best. They are timeless stories that will continue to be enjoyed by children for generations to come.

Jacqueline Wilson (1945 -)

Jacqueline Wilson is a British children’s author who has written over 100 books, including The Story of Tracy Beaker , Double Act , and Hetty Feather . Her books have been translated into over 30 languages and have sold over 40 million copies worldwide.

Wilson’s books are known for their realistic portrayal of children’s lives. She often deals with difficult topics such as adoption, divorce, and child abuse, but she does so in a way that is sensitive and age-appropriate. Her books have been praised for their humour, warmth, and emotional honesty.

Wilson has won numerous awards for her writing, including the Children’s Book Award, the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, and the Whitbread Children’s Book Award. She was also appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2002 for her services to literature.

Wilson is a passionate advocate for children’s literacy. She has spoken out about the importance of reading for pleasure and has worked to promote reading in schools and libraries. She is also the founder of the Jacqueline Wilson Charitable Trust, which supports literacy projects for children in need.

Wilson is one of the most popular children’s authors in the world. Her books have been enjoyed by millions of children around the world, and she has helped to shape the way that children’s literature is written and read.

J.K. Rowling (1965 -)

J.K. Rowling is a British author who is best known for her Harry Potter series of fantasy novels. The Harry Potter series has sold over 500 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 80 languages. The series has also been adapted into a successful film franchise.

Rowling’s writing for children is characterized by its humour, adventure, and moral messages. She is a master of creating believable and relatable characters, and her stories are full of excitement and wonder. Rowling’s books have inspired children all over the world to read and to dream.

In addition to the Harry Potter series, Rowling has also written several other books for children, including Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them , Quidditch Through the Ages , and The Tales of Beedle the Bard . She has also written a crime novel for adults, The Cuckoo’s Calling , under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.

Rowling is a highly acclaimed author who has received numerous awards for her work, including the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award, and the British Book Award. She is also a member of the Order of the British Empire.

Rowling’s books have had a profound impact on children’s literature. They have inspired children to read, to dream, and to believe in themselves. Rowling is a true children’s author who has created some of the most loved and enduring books of all time.

David Walliams (1971 -)

David Walliams is a British comedian, actor, and children’s author. He has written over 30 children’s books, which have sold over 50 million copies worldwide. His books are known for their humour, their heartwarming stories, and their messages of acceptance and tolerance.

Walliams’s books have been translated into over 53 languages and have won numerous awards, including the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the Children’s Book Award. He has also been nominated for the Carnegie Medal, the highest award for children’s literature in the United Kingdom.

Walliams’s books have been praised by critics and readers alike. They have been described as “funny, heartwarming, and thought-provoking”. Walliams’s books have also been credited with encouraging children to read.

Some of Walliams’s most popular books include The Boy in the Dress , Gangsta Granny , Mr Stink , Billionaire Boy , and Ratburger . These books have all been adapted into stage shows and television series.

And this concludes our list of writers who were all-time classic children’s authors. What’s your take on these, any children’s writers who are missing?

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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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• School Life

Best Books For 3-5 Years: Engaging And Informative Story Books For Kids

Get here the list of best books for ages 3 to 5 and give them the gift of quality reading experience. these books are interactive and engaging. .

The bedtime stories which parents recite to their children stay with them for life. They become a part of cherished memories for the child later on in life. Story time is not just about reading stories to kids, it helps develop their brains. When parents read to their kid, it helps them to learn new words and new information. Reading helps kids develop language skills. The exposure to vocabulary helps them to read when they get older. Through stories, kids learn to appreciate other people, their lives and it might cultivate empathy in them. Books are a great way to teach kids the best way to handle their emotions. 

Best Books For 3-5 Year Old 

Here we have given a curated list of the best books for 3-5 year old. These books will not only engage kids but also provide life lessons. 

1.The Very Hungry Caterpillar 

Author - Eric Carle 

Genre - Children’s literature, fiction

Summary - This illustrative book follows the story of a caterpillar who is always hungry and thus can be found eating all the time before turning into a butterfly. This book teaches counting and life cycle of a butterfly among other things. 

2.Blueberries for Sal

Author - Robert McCloskey

Genre - Children’s literature 

Summary - Blueberries for Sal is a beautiful and classic book for kids. Kids will love the adventures of Sal and her friend, a bear as they go to pick blueberries. Enjoy this heartwarming story with your kid. 

3.Clifford Goes to Kindergarten 

Author - Norman Bridwell

Genre - Fiction

Summary - Tell your child the captivating story of a little girl, Emily, who is nervous on her first day of kindergarten. But the twist in the tale is that she has her friend and dog, Clifford, to cheer her spirits and accompany her. 

4.The Poky Little Puppy 

Author - Janette Sebring Lowrey

Genre - Fiction 

Summary - The Poky Little Puppy is considered to be one of the best books for kids. This is a charming story of cute as button puppies who are mischievous and dig holes for fun. But one of them is not as fast as the others and is always left behind. 

5.Little Blue Truck’s Springtime

Author - Alice Schertle 

Summary - Join the little blue truck as he goes on an adventure on a vibrant and blooming spring day! Meet new animals and their babies in this interactive book. 

What it teaches - Teamwork, unity, kindness. 

6.The Story of Ferdinand  

Author - Murno Leaf

Summary - This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of a bull who is not interested in fighting other bulls. Yes that’s right! He would rather sit under his favourite tree and enjoy the solitude. This book encourages kids to be unique and follow their heart. 

7.Are You My Mother? 

Author - P D Eastman 

Summary - Are You My Mother is a heartwarming story of a hatchling bird and his mother. The bird comes out of the egg and finds that his mother is not there. So he starts looking for her. The baby asks everyone, ‘’Are You My Mother?’’ 

8.The Velveteen Rabbit 

Author - Margery Williams 

Genre - Fantasy fiction, children’s literature 

Summary - The Velveteen Rabbit is a beloved story book for children. It follows the story of a lovely stuffed rabbit toy whose desire is to become real. When the time comes, his wish comes true! Find out what happens next. 

What it teaches - Hope, self-worth, how to deal with hardships. 

You can choose any of these colourful and engaging story books and educate and entertain your child. Happy story time! 

Also, check

Best Books for 6–8 Years: Check Summary, and Unique Features

Best Horror Books for Teens: Check Stories From Indian and International Authors

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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.

‘Sound of Hope’: The True Story of the Texas Community That Adopted 77 Children

WATCH THIS!

Watch an exclusive clip from “Sound of Hope,” which tells the story of Bishop and Donna Martin, who rallied their congregation to adopt the community’s children out of foster care.

Kevin Fallon

Senior Editor, Obsessed

Angel Studios

When Bishop W.C. Martin and his wife, Donna, adopted four children out of foster care, they did not just give them a loving family. They created a movement.

In 1996, the couple, the leaders of the Bennett Chappell Missionary Baptist Church in Possum Trot, Texas, first adopted the four children, then they rallied their congregation: Between 1998 and 2000, 22 families from their church also adopted difficult-to-place children from the local foster system. In all, 77 children were adopted by members of the church, many of whom had been victims of sexual and physical abuse or unsafe living situations.

The community’s effort is now the subject of the film Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot , which hits theaters July 4. Executive produced by Letitia Wright ( Black Panther ), the film had a special screening on Juneteenth , ahead of its theatrical release.

See an exclusive clip from the film here:

“Our story is that of a group of people that would not give up on children,” Bishop Martin told the Daily Beast’s Obsessed. “We were determined to work for the good of the children. And if we could do it, anyone community could do it.”

He hopes the film leaves an imprint on audiences’ lives: “After people see Sound of Hope , I want to see love demonstrated. I want to see commitment demonstrated. I want to see people moved to action. I want them to know the beauty and power of adoption. I want to see hundreds and thousands of children come out of the system. And that these kids will know this is a movement of God, and that there would be no way this could be done without God’s hand being on it.”

Donna Martin echoed the sentiment: “This film is breathtaking. I love being able to share what God has already done in our little community.”

“The name of the movie is so fitting: Sound of Hop e. I think there is an anointing on this film that will cause healing in any family, to any person in any walk of life,” she said. “I believe this film is going to cause revival in the nation, and we will bring all of these kids out of the system into loving homes.”

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast  here .

READ THIS LIST

Money blog: Policy tweak could save you £295 on car insurance

Welcome to the Money blog, your place for personal finance and consumer news and tips. Leave a comment or your Money Problem/consumer dispute (don't forget to leave a contact number/email) in the box below.

Thursday 11 July 2024 07:14, UK

• Common trick could save you £295 on car insurance
• 'We have never seen such a spike': Popular coffee brand issues price warning
• Unloved savings account offering some of the highest rates

Essential reads

• We asked beauty experts for their top dupes to give you a summer glow - without breaking the bank
• Michelin chef reveals £2 supermarket pasta that can elevate your dinners - as he picks his Cheap Eats in London
• Basically... What are the different ways of paying for a car?
• Women in Business : From blackouts to CEO - how burnout helped create UK's biggest venue booking platform
• Best deals on school uniform ahead of new academic year
• Further reading: Ian King answers your questions on what Labour government means for your personal finances

Ask a question or make a comment

The appearance of finer weather helped the economy recover some lost ground in May, according to official figures that were better than expected.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) recorded gross domestic product growth of 0.4% in the month, compared with its earlier determination of  zero growth during April .

A poll of economists by Reuters had pointed to a 0.2% increase for monthly gross domestic product in May.

On a quarterly basis, the UK's interest rate-driven recession of the second half of 2023 ended at the start of this year as the  Bank of England  ended its rate hiking cycle which was designed to cool inflation by choking demand in the economy.

Read our full story here ...

A common trick could get your car insurance down by £295.

Motorists aged between 25 and 34 save that figure on average by adding an experienced driver to their policy, Compare the Market has found. 

Even younger drivers aged 18 to 24 - who often face the highest premiums - could also make big savings, an average of £281.

The typical premium for those aged between 18 and 24 is £2,140 - but adding a named driver brings that down by 15% to £1,859. 

You can check how much you could potentially save in the table below...

In order for your policy to be valid though, all named drivers must use the car. 

The cost of car insurance usually declines by adding an experienced driver to the policy, as insurers typically take both motorists' information into consideration when determining the premium, based on the car being shared.

If you add an additional driver and they do not use the vehicle, this can be considered as a type of insurance fraud called fronting. 

If you are caught fronting, your policy could become invalid and you could face criminal prosecution. 

Julie Daniels, motor insurance expert at Compare the Market, said the price of insurance had increased by 19% in the past year. 

Germany's property industry is headed for a "bitter" crisis, the country's largest landlord has warned. 

Higher interest rates have been hammering the property sector in Europe's largest economy, and could see several companies go bust in the near future, it is claimed.

Rolf Buch, chief executive of Vonovia, warned the country is "going to see an extreme number of bankruptcies over the next few months, maybe over the next few years". 

"We're already seeing them today. It is going to be bitter," he said. 

Meanwhile, renters are facing fierce competition for flats and Mr Buch said the market for these is "going to get worse". 

The sector had previously seen a boom due to low interest rates and a strong economy, but this changed when rising inflation forced the European Central Bank to swiftly raise borrowing costs. 

The industry is now calling on the German government to intervene.

The ECB cut its main deposit rate from 4% to 3.75% last month but bank president Christine Lagarde has indicated that benign economic developments mean further interest rate cuts are not urgent, with a robust labour market and resilient wage growth.

For Savings Guide this week, Savings Champion research and development manager  Daniel Darragh gives us the lowdown on the best notice accounts on the market right now... 

Notice accounts have seen a rally in recent times, with rates on the rise.

Some of these accounts are offering some of the highest rates outside of regular savings accounts. OakNorth's 95-Day Base Rate Tracker, paying 5.37% AER, and Vanquis's 90 and 60-Day accounts, paying 5.35% and 5.30% AER respectively, even beat any fixed-rate term accounts currently available.

A relatively unloved and often overlooked area of the savings market, notice accounts tend to offer higher rates than easy access accounts due to their restrictions on access, but they have greater flexibility of access than a fixed-term bond.

As the name suggests, notice accounts require you to give notice to access your money without a penalty. Usual notice periods range from 30 to 120 days, although there are some accounts on the market that require six months or even a year's notice. 

While you need to give the required notice to access your cash on the majority of notice accounts, some will allow immediate access with a penalty equivalent to the notice period - although this is now less common. This penalty can be taken from the capital if insufficient interest has built up prior to access, so it's important to plan carefully as you could end up with less money than you put in.

It's also important to note that unlike fixed-rate bonds, notice accounts pay a variable rate of interest so are subject to fluctuations in rates over time. This is particularly pertinent given the speculation that the Bank of England is considering cutting interest rates in the coming months, which may well be passed onto savers in variable rate accounts by the underlying provider.

In the case of notice accounts, when rates decrease, the amount of notice given to customers varies from provider to provider. Some providers will give customers the full notice period, plus x number of days, before any rate reductions take effect – in essence, allowing clients to give notice and withdraw their funds from the account before the new, lower rate takes effect. 

Other providers may only give a set amount of days, less than the notice period itself, which means that, even if you were to give notice on the day you were informed of the rate drop, your money would be subject to the lower rate for at least part of the notice period. As there is no hard and fast rule on this, it is important to check the terms and conditions of the account so you know what situation you will be in if or when rates start to fall.

For some people, not being able to access their money immediately is important to help them to resist dipping into their savings and it could also be a good way of getting a higher return on money that you know you will not need straight away – so could be a serious consideration for many cash savers.

The Danish capital might not be what comes to mind when you think of a cheap holiday - but if you're willing to help the community, you can earn yourself freebies and discounts. 

Under a new scheme being trialled, visitors to Copenhagen can claim anything from a free lunch or glass or wine to a free kayak rental. 

They can earn these freebies by completing tasks such as litter picking, travelling by public transport, cycling or volunteering in an urban garden. 

The CopenPay scheme is being trialled from 15 July until 11 August. 

Twenty-four attractions in the city are signed up to take part, including the Museum of Copenhagen - where you can claim a free coffee if you've walked there, travelled by bike or used public transport. 

On certain dates, you can earn a free one-hour GoBoat cruise around the city, or a 45-minute free bike ride with Donkey Republic. 

Officials have said if the trial is deemed a success, CopenPay could be rolled out throughout the year.

Yesterday it was the cost of tea that was on the rise, now it seems coffee isn't safe from imminent price hikes either... 

Caffeine lovers have been warned that the price of a cup of coffee could keep increasing for at least another year. 

Industry giant Lavazza said "very challenging headwinds" meant UK prices will not drop until the middle of 2025 at the earliest.

Poor harvests in Brazil and Vietnam, geopolitical conflict and supply chain disruption have all contributed to costs reaching record levels, said the group's chairman, Giuseppe Lavazza.

On Monday, prices reached an all-time high of £3,356 a tonne.

"We have never seen such a spike in price as the trend right now," said Mr Lavazza.

For consumers, this has meant the price of a 1kg bag of beans has already risen by 15% in a year. 

Mr Lavazza said this could increase by 20% to 25% over the next 12 months.

Meanwhile, a flat white at the firm's flagship cafe in London now costs £3.50 to take away or £5.50 to have in.

"We have faced very, very strong headwinds. I don't see any reason why coffee prices will go down," Mr Lavazza added. 

The UK retail coffee market is worth £1.3bn, growing by 3.9% year-on-year and driven by price inflation of 3.8%, according to Nielsen figures. 

Yesterday, the Indian Tea Board warned average tea prices could rise by up to 20% after extreme weather caused poor harvests. 

In the last week of June, the typical price of Indian tea leaves rose to more than £2 per kg, it said. 

You can read more about that here ... 

The UK's biggest supermarket chain has told customers its Express stores across England will close at 7.30pm instead of the usual 10pm or 11pm if the Three Lions reach the final of the Euros. 

It said the decision had been taken to allow its staff to get home or to the pub in time for kick-off at 8pm. 

Employees who do not want to watch the match will be paid as normal, it said. 

Stores will be open as normal the following morning. 

England are playing the Netherlands this evening in the semi-finals. 

If they get through, they will face Spain in the final - and will have the chance to become the first England men's team to win a major tournament since the World Cup in 1966. 

HSBC is increasing the amount it will lend for most mortgages.

At the same time, the bank is ditching its 65% and 80% loan-to-value offers.

The maximum amount of money that can be borrowed on an 85% LTV has risen the most, ballooning by 150%.

Here are the changes in full:

• 95% LTV: From £500,000 to £570,000
• 90% LTV: From £550,000 to £750,000
• 85% LTV: From £750,000 to £2m (or £1m for flats)
• 75% LTV: From £2m to £3m
• 70% LTV: Increased to lending over £3m

"This could make the difference between someone being able to buy the property they want or need, or having to compromise by buying a smaller property with fewer bedrooms, or maybe in an area that is outside the catchment area of their preferred school for their children," said Chris Pearson, HSBC UK's head of intermediary mortgages.

Campaigners are launching a major new four-day working week trial in the hopes of winning over the new government.

Participating companies will begin the scheme in November before the findings are presented to the government next summer.

Some 54 of the 61 companies that took part in the first 4 Day Week Campaign pilot continued to use it after the study finished.

Director Joe Ryle told  The Guardian he was optimistic a Labour government would be more receptive than the Conservatives.

"Change is in the air and we hope to see employers embracing this change by signing up to our pilot," he said. 

"The nine-to-five, five-day working week was invented 100 years ago and is no longer fit for purpose. We are long overdue an update."

You may remember we reported on the success of the first trial here...

The quality of customer service is deteriorating across the UK's biggest companies, according to a new report.

A survey of 60,000 people about 275 major firms found satisfaction levels were at their lowest since 2010.

Customers reported a decline in complaints handling, as well as worse customer experience and a more negative view of company ethics, the Institute of Customer Service found.

"The current outlook isn't where we need it to be, despite our research showing that higher levels of customer satisfaction correlate with financial stability and growth," said Jo Causon, chief executive of the Institute of Customer Service.

"Business leaders need to understand the evolving needs and expectations of their customers, developing their organisations' approach accordingly to unlock the sustainable growth the economy needs."

The ICS's Customer Satisfaction Index rates satisfaction on a scale out of 100, with the overall score across all 275 companies standing at 75.8, a drop of 0.8 points on a year ago and 2.6 points below its high of 78.4 in July 2022.

Utility providers were the worst offenders, with a satisfaction rating of 69.8 out of 100 - though it was the only industry to see a slight uptick (0.3 points).

Digging into the data further, and water companies - plagued by sewage spills and rising bills - were the most disappointing among utilities, dropping to 69.5 points.

Tourism, leisure, retail, banks, automotives, insurance, public services and transport industries all saw a decline.

Satisfaction fell fastest over the last year in the telecommunications and media sector, down 2.1 points to 73.3/100.

On the other end of the scale, Timpson, Nationwide and John Lewis scored highest among individual companies - between 85 and 86 points.

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