#10: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
Everyone has a bad day now and then, but this childrens book is about a little boy named Alexander who has an extremely, incredibly bad day. Everything that could go wrong does just that. This book is a good one to keep around. It is just the right book to read to a child who is having his or her own bad day. The drawing on the book’s cover is in full color, but the rest of the drawings throughout the book are black and white. The artwork is detailed and the pictures are very cute- each page shows a more and more grumpy and disheveled main character. Alexander may be a tad whiny, but he’s lovable nonetheless. [ Buy Book ]
#9: Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
This is one of the most loved children’s books of all time. It tells the story of Harold, a bright, imaginative little boy who colors his world exactly the way he wants it. As his adventure unfolds, he perceives obstacles as challenges and simply draws a solution. As children’s books go, this one has been around for a very long time- for over 50 years- and it is just as popular today as it was decades ago. [ Buy Book ]
#8: Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel
This childrens book is an illustrated retelling of a traditional Chinese folk tale, the story of a little boy with a very big name. Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo and his brother Chang, according to the folk tale, are the reason why people in China give their children very short names. For young children who are old enough to understand the plot of the story, there may be a few upsetting moments when it seems that the boys are in danger. Older children may have some questions about why the characters in the story act the way they do, and this is a great opportunity to talk with the kids. The story is a little different than most other childrens books, but it is a great book for a child’s library. [ Buy Book ]
#7: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
This children’s book is about the tragic fate of the imaginary town of Chewandswallow. It’s a place where there are no grocery stores, because all the food the people ever need falls from the sky! But the people of Chewandswallow soon find out that there really can be too much of a good thing. From gigantic meatball storms to tomato tornadoes, the weather just keeps getting worse, until the townsfolk are forced to make a difficult decision. The book is full of very beautiful, detailed illustrations that help tell the story in a decidedly memorable way. [ Buy Book ]
#6: Corduroy by Don Freeman
This delightful book tells the story of a tattered, stuffed teddy bear named Corduroy. He explores his surroundings at night as he waits in the department store for someone to come and buy him. At the end, the lonely bear gets a new home, a new friend, and a new button for his overalls. This heartwarming happy-ending book is a great book to read aloud at bedtime or any other time. Published in 1968, this has been a favorite among childrens books for many years. [ Buy Book ]
#5: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
This is a wonderful book to read to children as old as six or seven, but it’s also a great book to read to a baby. The text is simple, the story of a caterpillar’s transformation into a butterfly. The story itself is only 14 quick pages long, so it only takes a couple minutes to read aloud. The artwork, however, will have parents and children alike adoring the pages for much longer. The illustrations are done in a style that looks very much like acrylic paint, and the artist uses bright, vibrant colors for every picture. The hardcover, while always advisable for children’s books, is an especially good investment for this book because it is sure to be read over and over again for years. [ Buy Book ]
#4: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
This is one of the more popular childrens books that deals with the vivid imagination of youngsters. A young boy, sent to his room for being too wild, entertains himself in a world that he has created in his own mind. The pictures in the book are very vivid, and there are some monster-looking creatures. The boy is king of the scary creatures, though, so a little scary is okay. [ Buy Book ]
#3: Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Seuss
This could be the one children’s book that everyone remembers clearly from their childhood. It is certainly a classic. Written in the characteristically zany rhyming verse style that made Dr Suess one of the best loved children’s writers of all time, this book is illustrated in full color artwork that is, well, a little creepy, but also one of the many things Dr Suess fans love about his work. While many childrens books come with a moral or lesson, this one includes a lesson that just about every child needs to learn at some point: If you’ve never tried it, you can’t say you don’t like it! [ Buy Book ]
#2: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd
This just might be the very best children’s book to read at bedtime. There is no exciting plot to get the kids going when they should be winding down. The book is quite short, so it doesn’t take more than a few minutes to read. The illustrations are beautiful, but they are rendered in a way that makes each scene look like a bedroom that is dark and ready to be slept in. The text is intentionally repetitive, and is one child’s nightly ritual of saying goodnight to everything he can see. This is a great book for a child who needs calm, quiet, and minimal distractions at bedtime. [ Buy Book ]
#1: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
This is a truly touching children’s book that tells the story of a friendship between a boy and a tree. Throughout the boy’s life, the tree gives and gives to the boy. The pictures in the book are pretty simple, black and white line drawings but they are very effective. The words and pictures work together to paint a moving portrait of selfless friendship that lasts a lifetime. [ Buy Book ]
November 4th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY HELPFUL SITE. AS A FIRST TIME GREAT AUNT IT OFFERS SUGGESTIONS THAT REINFORCE SOME OF THE BOOKS WE READ TO OUR SON AND NEPHEWS AND NEW RECOMMENDATIONS ALSO. THANKS
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:47 am
This site is just what I was looking for. I needed a list of books to refresh my memories of reading as a child, and a lot of these books I remembered. I didn’t grow up enjoying reading as much as others did, but now I know that I just need to go back to where I left off at and work my way up to my grade level (College) because my best memories of reading were as a child. Thank you for the reviews!
December 4th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
I think Roald Dahl’s “the Twits” should get an honorable mention.
December 5th, 2008 at 4:06 am
These are all great books from our childhood, BUT-
There are some amazing new books out there as well, and a list that was more updated would be really helpful!
I reccommend “Uno’s Garden” by Graeme Base. It is a great story with a wonderful message and the illustrations are absolutely beautiful.
December 6th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
I looking for books, girls ages 8-11.
Books about friendship, self-esteem, and becoming a focused-oriented student.
thanx so much for yr responses
terry stewart
middle school educator
December 6th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Try the “Chinaberry” catalog. It is filled with good books, great reviews, and a wonderful attitude. I’m not connected with them in any way, but I heartily recommend them in selecting good children’s books.
December 6th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I think that “Flat Stanley” by Jeff Brown should be included. Millions of school children have frawn and sent the character to relatives and friends as a fund raiser for schools and libraries.
One of my other favorites is “Martha Speaks” by Susan Meddaugh about a little dog who learns to speak by eating alphabet soup.
December 8th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
A wonderful story with now, historic significance, is “The Man Who Walked Between the Towers” by Mordicai Gerstein. Philippe showed steely determination and with help from his friends, did that amazing walk.
Illustrations are so real, they will give you vertigo.
Kids through elders would enjoy another peek at the Twin Towers!!
December 12th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
I’m familiar with eight of the top ten mentioned and own or have gifted many of them to friends. It must be difficult to choose only ten books, though. I would suggest including the “also ran” books in a separate list,(maybe another ten), especially the chapter books that have become so popular. I’ll mention this site to the young mothers I know.
December 12th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Looking through your list, I missed two things:
1. age recommendations - I came to this country as an adult, so I cannot rely on my memories here.
2. books with girls as the central character - even if this is a list of classics - there gotta be some! I started reading 40 years ago, and for adventurous stuff, I pretty much had to settle for stories about boys, but surely these days girls and the people shopping for them have more choices?
What about Pippi Longstocking at the very least?
With your list, I will still have to be searching for a great book for that 7-year-old on my list!
December 12th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Shel Silverstein lives near us, so I plan to tell everyone you think his book is the #1 best children’s book of all time. Great!
I better read it.
December 12th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Whoa! Are we ignoring rhythm and rhyme? Are we discounting Boynton? Are we leaving out Rikki Tikki Tavi? Some of Eric Carle’s other books are far superior in that they have a clue of building character. Oh, my. Hope it wasn’t a librarian or a school teacher or a mom that compiled this list. It is a short list to be sure.
J
December 13th, 2008 at 12:06 am
I happen to have all of these book in my child’s library. They are all very good. If you want a meaningful book for your kids buy, The Three Questions. Its the kind of book you can start reading to them when they are five and again every year there after.
December 15th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
How sad that there are no books here with girls as central characters. All the characters are either boys or creatures. One would think that half of the human race isn’t worth writing about.
December 15th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
What about the Babar books? I absolutely loved them when I was a child (I’m 63) and have given them to lots of kids. And what about Winnie the Pooh and all the othet A.A. Milne books? What about Lear’s limericks? Beatrix Potter? I realize that there really are a lot more than “ten best” children’s books, but this list seems to be deficient in classics.
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I came to this site looking for something new; yes I was a little disappointed. However I never walk away from the chance to talk books” with other interested parties!
This is a wonderful list, please don’t get me wrong. It should be
titled something like ” books that should be found in every Thefamilies library” …or something like that.
I also noticed that all of the titles were very old…. as am I! There’s nothing wrong with that however, new children’s books come out every Tuesday! May I mention some additions to your list or offer titles that you should consider borrowing from your library or purchasing yourself?!
Wave by Suzy Lee
Tale of Two Mice by Ruth Brown
The Miraculous Journey of Edwrd Tulane
The works of the fabulous and lovely Jane O’Connor and Robin Glass - Price (sp?):
Fancy Nancy
Fancy Nancy and the Posh Pup
Fancy Nancy Bonjour Butterfly!
The work of Todd Parr:
The Peace Book
The Do’s and Don’ts of Underwear
Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse!!! by Kevin Henkes
Books by Robert Munch, a Canadian author that’s not very common except for I’ll Always Love you, which is a title I’m not too fond of
The Day the Babies crawled away by Peggy Rathman
Bill Martin is another awesome author…. Chicka chicka Boom Boom plus his series of bear books…
PLEASE do not discount the works of Audrey Wood and her estranged husband which is leaving me right now, what a sadness to go through life without having been read (King Bidgood’s in the Bathroom and he Won’t Get Out!) to as a kid.
The
Black Book of Colors
Oh you may have guessed that I’m a children’s literature specialist. I spend hours and hours each week in children’s bookstores reading books. Each and every day i read a picture book that I don’t know.
People with my knowledge will say you forgot Jan Brett and Patricia Polacco and Tomie DePaola…. I didn’t…. but my neck is starting to hurt.
So in closing I’ll say, let’s not forget Olivia, Madeline, and Eloise (she would get very angry and would let it be known. And please, for the love of Pete, everyone should have a copy of Jellybeans on their shelf before they need it. It’s written by Sylvia von Om and is a simple discussion of heaven. Yes, yes I know, there’s a book about death for children that’s lovely called Lifetimes. Another excellent choice.
Please do not forget Mother Goose ( there’s a book called Father Gander) if you prefer the PC type of rhymes. Grimms and Anderson tales must be read in all different versions. Let’s not upset O. Henry by leaving out The Gift of the Magi.
I’m much too tired to continue, have a blessed day….oh and if you can get ruth Brown’s Dark Dark Tale from about 25 years ago, you’ll be amazed at the similaritiesbetween that and her newest mentioned earlier…… oh and Shel Silverstein passed away years ago my dear. Sad but true.
Peace, Patty
March 28th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
With so many great children’s books, it is hard to narrow it to the ten best, but the books you have chosen are classics - so good job! The best way to turn kids into avid readers is to expose them to great books.
My suggestion to parents searching for good books - instead of the latest new releases, select award-winners that you know are good. For the best children’s books, look for Newbery Medal winners and for picture books, try winners of the Caldecott Medal.
Thanks for the book list and of course, all of your toy picks.