Children’s novels are the first books we read which make them an important part of our lives. That is why as adults, it is important to introduce some of the best books out there. More often than not, we will choose our favorite books for them. Keep reading to see the best children’s books of all time!
There are hundreds if not thousands of children’s books that come to mind. But how many of them would we want to share with children? Quite a few we imagine. The books we read as children are one of the many elements that shape us. We might not even know it but years later, these books will have a dear place in our hearts as we continue the cycle of letting the next generation read them.
The Best Children’s Books of All Time
- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
- Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
- The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
- Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
- Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
- Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
- The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
- The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
- Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne
- The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
- Corduroy by Don Freeman
- Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
- The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
- James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
- Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
- The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
- Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
- Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
- Curious George by Margret Rey and H. A. Rey
- Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss
- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr
- Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
Old and New Classics
Most of these children’s books will be familiar to you. You may have read many of them and heard about the ones you didn’t. Or even watched a television show or movie adaptation. Making this list wasn’t too hard but we are sure that we will miss out on some great novels that aren’t as mainstream.
Some of these books are probably lying somewhere around your apartment. They are short and easy to read books. We tried to leave out longer novels but a few slipped through. It is hard to leave Charlie and the Chocolate Factory off the list. And even more Dahl books could have made the list. We did include James and the Giant Peach because that felt like such an important novel.
Conclusion
That is all for the best children’s books of all time list. What books should we have included on the list? Let us know in the comments below!
Eric Carle is a favorite at our house.
Heather most certainly does not have two mommies because she wasn’t pushed out of two wombs. That is obviously not one of the best of all time.
Except you can be a mommy by means other than giving birth. Adoption and marriage cones to mind.
Is Your Mama a Llama?
By Deborah Guarino
Velveteen Rabbit and Peter Pan would be fine additions to the list.
The giving tree is a terrible book, and not at all for kids
One of these is not like the others…what do you think Heather
Definitely not a best of all time
A Snowy Day! Ezra J. Keats!
The Girl Who Drank Moon
The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss opens discussion on discrimination.
The Wartville Wizard teaches a wonderful lesson on littering.
Any book by Leo Lionni
What about Wind in the Willows
Try Tales in verse from distant lands.1 and 2.am sure will enjoy.
For older children, The Adventures of Gluskabe by Kamon, where the author has incorporated mindfulness of today with wisdom of the autochtones.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’ Engle and the other books concerning the Murry Family. Disney and Oprah Winfrey destroyed it as movies. Don’t waste your time. The books are always better.
How could Heidi by Johanna Spyri or The Black Stallion be forgotten?