The 50 best children's books of all time
The best children's books ranked: picture books, bedtime stories, early readers and classic middle-grade novels. A top 50 with where to read each one.
The right book at the right age turns a child into a reader. This list runs from picture books for bedtime to classic middle-grade novels like Charlotte's Web and Holes, and gives each a one-line note so you can match the book to the child.
These are editorial picks, ranked for readability and lasting appeal, and nobody pays to be on the list. Not sure where to start? Try the book finder and get three picks for your mood.
Top 50 children's books, ranked
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Charlotte's Web
A pig is saved by a clever spider who writes words in her web.
- Cozy
- Moving
Where to read
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Matilda
A gifted girl uses her mind to outwit a terrible headmistress.
- Funny
- Inspiring
Where to read
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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Five children win a tour of Willy Wonka's factory.
- Funny
- Cozy
Where to read
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The BFG
A girl is carried off by a friendly giant.
- Funny
- Cozy
Where to read
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James and the Giant Peach
A boy escapes his aunts inside an enormous peach.
- Funny
- Cozy
Where to read
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The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Four children find a magical world through a wardrobe.
- Cozy
- Gripping
Where to read
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Winnie-the-Pooh
A bear and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood.
- Cozy
- Funny
Where to read
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The Wind in the Willows
Mole, Ratty and Toad share adventures along the river.
- Cozy
- Funny
Where to read
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Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
A girl falls down a rabbit hole into a strange world.
- Funny
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Peter Pan
The boy who wouldn't grow up takes the Darling children to Neverland.
- Cozy
- Inspiring
Where to read
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The Secret Garden
A lonely girl discovers a hidden garden.
- Cozy
- Inspiring
Where to read
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Heidi
A girl lives with her grandfather in the Swiss Alps.
- Cozy
- Moving
Where to read
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Pippi Longstocking
A strong, free-spirited girl lives on her own with a horse and a monkey.
- Funny
Where to read
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Where the Wild Things Are
A boy sails to an island of wild creatures.
- Cozy
- Funny
Where to read
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar
A caterpillar eats his way through the week.
- Cozy
Where to read
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Goodnight Moon
A bedtime goodnight to everything in the room.
- Cozy
Where to read
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The Cat in the Hat
A mischievous cat visits two children on a rainy day.
- Funny
Where to read
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Green Eggs and Ham
Sam-I-Am tries to get a grumpy character to try a new food.
- Funny
Where to read
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Oh, the Places You'll Go!
A rhyming encouragement for every new step in life.
- Inspiring
Where to read
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The Giving Tree
A tree gives everything to a boy who grows up.
- Moving
Where to read
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The Gruffalo
A clever mouse invents a monster to scare off predators.
- Funny
- Cozy
Where to read
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The Tiger Who Came to Tea
A tiger turns up for tea and drinks everything in the house.
- Cozy
- Funny
Where to read
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Guess How Much I Love You
Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare compare their love.
- Cozy
- Moving
Where to read
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The Snowy Day
A boy explores the city after a snowfall.
- Cozy
Where to read
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The Little Prince
A pilot meets a small prince from another planet.
- Thoughtful
- Moving
Where to read
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Bridge to Terabithia
Two friends invent a magic kingdom in the woods.
- Moving
Where to read
-
Wonder
A boy with a facial difference starts school for the first time.
- Moving
- Inspiring
Where to read
-
Holes
A boy at a detention camp is made to dig holes in the desert.
- Funny
- Gripping
Where to read
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Hatchet
A boy survives alone in the Canadian wilderness.
- Gripping
- Inspiring
Where to read
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid
A middle-schooler records his awkward first year.
- Funny
Where to read
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Dog Man
A police officer with a dog's head fights crime.
- Funny
Where to read
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The Wild Robot
A robot stranded on an island learns to survive with animals.
- Moving
- Cozy
Where to read
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Because of Winn-Dixie
A girl and a stray dog make friends in a small Florida town.
- Cozy
- Moving
Where to read
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The Tale of Despereaux
A brave little mouse falls in love with a princess.
- Cozy
- Inspiring
Where to read
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Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
A boy discovers he is the son of a Greek god.
- Funny
- Gripping
Where to read
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
A boy learns he is a wizard and goes to Hogwarts.
- Cozy
- Gripping
Where to read
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The Hobbit
A hobbit joins a party of dwarves to reclaim a lost treasure.
- Cozy
- Gripping
Where to read
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A Wrinkle in Time
Three children travel through space to rescue their father.
- Thoughtful
- Gripping
Where to read
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The Phantom Tollbooth
A bored boy drives through a magic tollbooth.
- Funny
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Anne of Green Gables
An orphan girl with a big imagination comes to a farm in Prince Edward Island.
- Cozy
- Funny
Where to read
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Little House in the Big Woods
A pioneer family lives in the Wisconsin woods.
- Cozy
Where to read
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Stuart Little
A mouse born into a human family sets off on an adventure.
- Cozy
- Funny
Where to read
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The Tale of Peter Rabbit
A naughty rabbit sneaks into Mr McGregor's garden.
- Cozy
- Funny
Where to read
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Paddington
A bear from Peru arrives at Paddington station.
- Cozy
- Funny
Where to read
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The Borrowers
A family of tiny people lives under the floorboards.
- Cozy
- Gripping
Where to read
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The Lorax
A creature speaks for the trees.
- Inspiring
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Corduroy
A toy bear looks for his missing button.
- Cozy
Where to read
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Madeline
A brave little girl lives in a Paris boarding school.
- Cozy
- Funny
Where to read
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Frog and Toad Are Friends
Two friends share simple adventures.
- Cozy
- Funny
Where to read
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Number the Stars
A girl helps her Jewish friend in occupied Denmark.
- Moving
- Gripping
Where to read
Each link opens that store’s search for the book. Availability and prices vary by store and country. We may earn a commission from some stores, which never changes the ranking.
Types of children's books
Looking for something more specific? These are the main kinds of children's, with the sort of story or subject each one covers.
Picture books
Short, illustrated and made for reading aloud.
Bedtime stories
Gentle books to wind down with.
Early readers
Large print and simple sentences.
Middle-grade novels
Ages 8 to 12, with real plots.
Funny books for kids
Silly stories that get children laughing.
Classic children's stories
Books parents and grandparents remember.
Want to write and publish your own children's book?
Many readers of this page are also writers. The stores in the lists above are where readers find books, while Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, IngramSpark, Lulu and Draft2Digital are the tools authors use to publish and distribute a book to those stores. You can also publish to Barnes & Noble Press and Google Play Books directly.
Our free KDP calculators help with print cost, royalties and cover size, and our publishing services can take care of setup for you.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best books to read aloud to children?
Charlotte's Web, Winnie-the-Pooh, The Gruffalo and Matilda all read aloud well, at different ages.
How do I choose a book for my child's age?
Look for picture books under 6, early readers around 6 to 8 and middle-grade novels from about 8 to 12. The short note beside each book helps with the fit.
Where can I read or buy the best children's books?
Each of the 50 books has links to Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble and Google Play Books. Authors who want to publish their own children's book can start with our free guides to Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Lulu and Draft2Digital.
Not sure what to read next?
Pick a genre and a mood and the book finder will suggest three books to try.