Come on an adventure with us as we take a look at ten of the best children’s books that every reader should read at least once.
No matter how old you may be, you’ll always have your inner child. The world can sometimes be dark and difficult, so maintaining a sense of wonder and curiosity is crucial in this day and age. Trust me, we know it isn’t always easy, but take heart: it’s children’s literature month here at Fully Booked, and we’re going to be diving into some of our favorite, timeless childhood classics.
To help you reconnect with your own inner child, we have put together this list of ten of the best classic children’s books to read in your lifetime.
10. Where The Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Shel Silverstein is one of the most underrated and underappreciated writers of the twentieth century.
The author and illustrator of numerous acclaimed children’s books, he was also an accomplished songwriter. (Johnny Cash’s hit song “A Boy Named Sue” was written by Silverstein, for one!)
Where The Sidewalk Ends is another piece of the moving legacy Silverstein left behind, with poems about pacifism, individualism, and of course: peanut butter sandwiches.
Why we recommend it: I love this book for its whimsy, its psychedelic illustrations, and its celebration of freedom. Shel Silverstein was truly one of the greats.
Blurb
Come in… for where the sidewalk ends, Shel Silverstein’s world begins. You’ll meet a boy who turns into a TV set, and a girl who eats a whale. The Unicorn and the Bloath live there, and so does Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout who will not take the garbage out. It is a place where you wash your shadow and plant diamond gardens, a place where shoes fly, sisters are auctioned off, and crocodiles go to the dentist.
9. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Goodnight Moon is arguably one of the most famous bedtime stories in the world, having sold over 48 million copies worldwide, and a classic of children’s literature.
It continues to enchant and surprise readers nearly eighty years after its publication. (A recent viral Instagram post pointed out just how realistic and comforting this book is for parents as well as kids!)
Goodnight Moon is a simple story about bidding goodnight to the world around us with loving wonder for even the smallest objects.
Why we recommend it: I love how this children’s book made me rethink my own bedtime routine (particularly how my smartphone shouldn’t factor into it!).
Blurb
In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. “Goodnight room, goodnight moon.” And to all the familiar things in the softly lit room—to the picture of the three little bears sitting on chairs, to the clocks and his socks, to the mittens and the kittens, to everything one by one—the little bunny says goodnight.
One of the most beloved books of all time, Goodnight Moon is a must for every bookshelf and a time-honored gift for baby showers and other special events.
8. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Toad, Mole, Rat, and Badger are the main characters in this fantastical children’s book about countryside creatures and their rich lives.
Toad is reckless and cocky, but his friends’ loyalty and support help him recognize the power of friendship and reflection.
Why we recommend it: I love the themes of friendship and the nature descriptions in this book.
Blurb
“The Wind in the Willows” is a beloved children’s classic that follows the adventures of a group of anthropomorphic animals living along a river in the English countryside. The story primarily focuses on the kind-hearted Mole, the adventurous Water Rat, the wise Badger, and the impulsive and boastful Toad of Toad Hall.
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7. Holes by Louis Sachar
While this book could also be considered a young adult novel, it’s popular as a children’s book as well. It follows a group of boys at a detention camp where the punishment is to dig a five-foot-deep hole every day.
The book was adapted into a successful film, which was recently the top-streamed movie on Hulu. We’ve even done a podcast episode on Holes which was a lot of fun!
Why we recommend it: I love how this book explored ideas of incarceration, redemption, and friendship.
Blurb
Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnatses. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys’ detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the boys build character by spending all day, every day digging holes exactly five feet wide and five feet deep. There is no lake at Camp Green Lake. But there are an awful lot of holes.
It doesn’t take long for Stanley to realize there’s more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake. The boys are digging holes because the warden is looking for something. But what could be buried under a dried-up lake? Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment.
6. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
This classic children’s novel follows a young, brave, imaginative orphan named Anne Shirley as she seeks to find her place in the world.
Why we recommend it: I love Anne’s inner world, as well as her relationship with Gilbert Blythe.
Blurb
L.M. Montgomery’s classic tale of love and friendship introduces young Anne Shirley. When Miranda and Matthew Cuthbert decided to adopt an orphan boy to help on the farm, they didn’t know what they would get. But when the redheaded Anne is waiting at the station, their lives are changed forever. Young readers discover the heartwarming tale of love and family in the Calico Illustrated Classics adaptation of Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables.
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5. Matilda by Roald Dahl
Matilda is another classic children’s book, this one about a brilliant and courageous young girl with secret powers. (She is undoubtedly one of the best female characters in literature.)
Through her inner strength, Matilda is able to overcome difficulty and find true happiness.
Why we recommend it: I like how this book shows the sometimes uncomfortable experiences of childhood alienation and loneliness.
Blurb
“Matilda” is a delightful and empowering children’s novel that tells the story of an extraordinarily gifted young girl with a passion for reading and learning. Despite being neglected by her self-absorbed parents and terrorized by her school’s tyrannical headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, Matilda discovers she possesses telekinetic powers.
Set in a small English village, this darkly humorous tale follows Matilda as she uses her intelligence and newfound abilities to stand up against injustice and help her beloved teacher, Miss Honey. Dahl’s signature wit and imagination shine through in this story of triumph over adversity.
4. Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Lewis Carroll’s famous children’s novel tells the story of a young girl named Alice and her adventures down the rabbit hole into a strange alternate reality.
Why we recommend it: I loved reading this and realizing just how much of an impact it’s had on pop culture and the English language. A true classic.
Blurb
“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” is a whimsical and surreal tale that has enchanted readers since its publication in 1865. The story follows young Alice as she falls down a rabbit hole into a fantastical world filled with peculiar characters and absurd situations.
In Wonderland, Alice encounters a cast of unforgettable figures, including the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, and the tyrannical Queen of Hearts. As she navigates this topsy-turvy realm, Alice grapples with puzzling riddles, shape-shifting adventures, and the fluid nature of logic and language.
3. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Oh, the book that made a generation of children less afraid of spiders. Wilbur the pig lives on a farm with various animals, including Charlotte the spider. When it becomes clear that Wilbur’s life is at risk, Charlotte devises a plan to save him from slaughter.
Why we recommend it: I love the poignant emotion in this book and how it treats cycles of birth, maturation, and death. An absolutely profound children’s book.
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2. Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
This children’s book tells the tale of a young boy named Max and his adventures through a mysterious nighttime jungle.
Dressed in a wolf suit, Max soon meets the Wild Things and discovers true friendship in an unlikely place.
Why we recommend it: I like how this book explores ideas like rebellion and acceptance.
Blurb
A Literature Kit. This story is based on a mischievous boy named Max. Dressed up in a wolf suit he does things he shouldnt. His mom gets upset and calls him a Wild Thing! Max retaliates by screaming back to his mom ILL EAT YOU UP! From within his imagination Maxs room goes from forest to ocean with Max inside the little boat where he comes up to the land of Wild Things. Max becomes lonely and he smells good things to eat. Wanting to be with someone who loved him best of all, he leaves the land of Wild Things. He comes back to his own room where he finds his supper, still hot, waiting for him.
1. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
This philosophical children’s book should be required reading for everyone.
It’s about an unnamed pilot, stranded in the desert, and his unlikely friendship with the little prince. As the pilot seeks to repair his plane and escape, the prince tells him his fantastical life story and his adventures through the cosmos.
Why we recommend it: I love everything about this book. It is beautifully written, meaningful, and absolutely unforgettable.
Regardless of your age, or whether you’re a parent (or a cool aunt or uncle), these books are sure to bring some delight and wonder to your reading list.
Children’s books are for everyone, and this list captures ten of the best ones for readers of all ages. From distant galaxies to magical powers to talking frogs, these ten books are a perfect choice for readers at any point in their lifetime.
