Best Children’s Books of All Time

Starting a kid’s library or looking to add to your collection? These titles should give you some inspiration.

We all have our favorite children’s books. Some of them have been family treasures for decades. Others are exciting modern releases.

When your child finds their favorite read, you’ll know all about it. It’s the one they’ll pick up (and want you to read to them) again and again.

Whether you’re starting a kid’s library from scratch or looking to add to your collection, these titles should give you some inspiration.

50. Winnie-the-Pooh

A.A. Milne / Methuen Publishing

Author: A.A. Milne

Illustrator: E.H. Shepard

Year first published: 1926

Fun fact: The original Pooh bear was purchased at Harrods department store in London and given by A. A. Milne to his son Christopher Robin on his first birthday.

Bottom Line: Winnie-the-Pooh

E.H. Shepard / Methuen Publishing

Bottom line: The first volume of stories about the much-loved teddy bear Winnie-the-Pooh teaches young kids the value of friendship, with a little help from Piglet, Eeyore, Owl and Rabbit.

Winnie-the-Pooh and his gang, who have enchanted young readers since 1926, will never go out of fashion.

And adults love the stories too. In 2003, the BBC’s “Big Read” survey listed “Winnie-the-Pooh” at No. 7.

49. Little You

Richard Van Camp / Orca Book Publishers

Author: Richard Van Camp

Illustrator: Julie Flett

Year first published: 2013

Fun fact: Richard Van Camp also wrote the hugely successful “Welcome Song for Baby: A Lullaby for Newborns.”

Bottom Line: Little You

Julie Flett / Orca Book Publishers

A contemporary classic, internationally renowned storyteller Richard Van Camp’s “Little You” celebrates the potential of every child.

Its message is simple but profound: “You are life and breath adored. … You are the birth of everything true.”

And Julie Flett’s beautiful, understated illustrations add to the magic.

48. Miss Rumphius

Barbara Cooney / Puffin Books

Author/illustrator: Barbara Cooney

Year first published: 1983

Fun fact: The “real Miss Rumphius” was a woman named Hilda Edwards who scattered lupine seeds throughout Maine’s countryside.

Bottom Line: Miss Rumphius

Barbara Cooney / Puffin Books

Barbara Cooney’s story of Alice Rumphius, who pledges to live in a house by the sea and make the world a more beautiful place, is celebratory and timeless.

“Miss Rumphius,” which won the American Book Award in the year of publication, is the perfect book to pass down through generations.

It’s one to be treasured.

47. Owl Moon

Jane Yolen / Philomel Books

Author: Jane Yolen

Illustrator: John Schoenherr

Year first published: 1987

Fun fact: “Owl Moon” won the 1988 Caldecott Medal.

Bottom Line: Owl Moon

John Schoenherr / Philomel Books

“Owl Moon” is a charming story of a little girl and her father who go owling in the woods late at night.

Jane Yolen captures the innocence and curiosity of childhood with her simple yet descriptive prose (they trudge through snow “whiter than the milk in a cereal bowl”), and John Schoenherr’s illustrations help bring the duo’s adventure to life.

46. Little Bear

Elsa Holmelund Minarik / Harper Trophy

Author: Elsa Holmelund Minarik

Illustrator: Maurice Sendak

Year first published: 1957

Fun fact: “Little Bear” launched the “I Can Read” series in the late 1950s, which was instrumental in improving children’s literacy.

Bottom Line: Little Bear

Maurice Sendak / Harper Trophy

Elsa Holmelund Minarik’s “Little Bear,” beautifully illustrated by Maurice Sendak, is the perfect choice for beginner readers.

The words are almost all easy and can be sounded out, and there’s plenty of repetition.

But none of that takes away from the charm of the imaginative Little Bear and his ever-protective Mother Bear.

45. Brave Irene

William Steig / Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Author/illustrator: William Steig

Year first published: 1986

Fun fact: “Brave Irene” was a 1986 New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year.

Bottom Line: Brave Irene

William Steig / Farrar, Straus and Giroux

You’ll struggle to find a sweeter story than that of Irene Bobbin, the dressmaker’s daughter, aka William Steig’s “Brave Irene.”

Irene shows what it means to be brave when she battles the elements and overcomes many obstacles to deliver an important package to the royal palace.

44. The Cat in the Hat

Dr. Seuss / Random House Books for Young Readers

Author/illustrator: Dr. Seuss

Year first published: 1957

Fun fact: Dr. Seuss nearly burned his first book, “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street,” after it was turned down by 27 publishers.

Bottom Line: The Cat in the Hat

Dr. Seuss / Random House Books for Young Readers

One of Dr. Seuss’s best-known books, “The Cat in the Hat” is universally relatable to children.

Since it was first published in 1957, the cat’s quest for adventure on a lonely, rainy day has been enjoyed by readers of all ages.

Feline hijinks aside, it’s also great for beginner readers, with simple, often single-vowel vocabulary.

43. The Elephant and the Bad Baby

Elfrida Vipont / Puffin

Author: Elfrida Vipont

Illustrator: Raymond Briggs

Year first published: 1971

Fun fact: Elfrida Vipont wrote over 30 books and won the Carnegie Medal in 1950 for “Lark on the Wing.”

Bottom Line: The Elephant and the Bad Baby

Raymond Briggs / Puffin

The classic story of the elephant and the bad baby is full of mischief, but ends well when the baby learns to say “please” and everybody gets pancakes.

Author Elfrida Vipont and illustrator Raymond Briggs, known for the classic titles “The Snowman,” “Father Christmas” and “When the Wind Blows,” are a match made in heaven.

42. Harold and the Purple Crayon

Crockett Johnson / HarperCollins

Author/illustrator: Crockett Johnson

Year first published: 1955

Fun fact: The real name of the American cartoonist Crockett Johnson was David Johnson Leisk.

Bottom Line: Harold and the Purple Crayon

Crockett Johnson / HarperCollins

Harold proves that you can go anywhere if you have a little imagination — and a purple crayon.

Beginner readers have been enjoying his journey through woodlands, across oceans and over mountains for decades.

It’s a perfect story to spark conversation: If you could draw your own adventure, what would it look like?

41. Stick Man

Julia Donaldson / Arthur A. Levine Books

Author: Julia Donaldson

Illustrator: Axel Scheffler

Year first published: 2008

Fun fact: Julia Donaldson served as the U.K. Children’s Laureate from 2011 to 2013.

Bottom Line: Stick Man

Axel Scheffler / Arthur A. Levine Books

Every book from award-winning author Julia Donaldson deserves a place on this list.

But there’s something about “Stick Man,” who gets separated from his stick family but will do anything to get back to them, that has a distinctive charm.

As always, Axel Scheffler’s colorful, expressive illustrations enhance the reading experience.

40. Summer Evening

Walter de la Mare / Faber & Faber Children’s

Author: Walter de la Mare

Illustrator: Caroline Rabei

Year first published: 1902

Fun fact: “Summer Evening” is one of four picture books that form a seasonal set.

Bottom Line: Summer Evening

Caroline Rabei / Faber & Faber Children’s

Walter de la Mare’s poem “Summer Evening” follows a farmer and his family as they enjoy a picnic outdoors in the late summer sun.

A chase among several pet and farm animals adds plenty of excitement for young readers.

It ends with all the creatures going to sleep, making this is a great bedtime story.

39. Be Kind

Pat Zietlow Miller / Roaring Brook Press

Author: Pat Zietlow Miller

Illustrator: Jen Hill

Year first published: 2018

Fun fact: Before writing kids’ books, Pat Zietlow Miller was a newspaper reporter.

Bottom Line: Be Kind

Jen Hill / Roaring Brook Press

A sweet, thoughtful picture book with a big message, “Be Kind’ tells the story of Tanisha, who spills grape juice all over her new dress and is made to feel better by her classmate.

The fact that it doesn’t happen right away provides much scope for discussion: What are the ways individual acts can affect the lives of others — and the world as a whole?

38. I Want My Hat Back

Jon Klassen / Candlewick

Author/illustrator: Jon Klassen

Year first published: 2012

Fun fact: Jon Klassen’s numerous film and animation projects include the U2 music video “I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight.”

Bottom Line: I Want My Hat

Jon Klassen / Candlewick

Sometimes, a book comes along that adults love reading as much as kids love listening to it.

Jon Klassen’s multi-award-winning “I Want My Hat Back,” featuring a bear who has lost his hat (and very much wants it back) has all the elements of a brilliant story: quirky characters, humor, realism and an important message at its core.

In this case, bad choices can lead to negative consequences.

37. Olivia

Ian Falconer / Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Author/illustrator: Ian Falconer

Year first published: 2004

Fun fact: Ian Falconer has illustrated numerous covers of The New Yorker and designed sets and costumes for the New York City Ballet, the San Francisco Opera and the Royal Opera House.

Bottom Line: Olivia

Ian Falconer / Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Move over, Babe. Everyone’s favorite pig is Olivia.

Ian Falconer’s Caldecott Honor Book “Olivia” is the first in his bestselling series featuring a confident, strong-willed little girl pig.

The short sentences, simple format and black, white and red pictures make it visually interesting and easy enough for beginner readers to tackle.

36. The Skin You Live In

Michael Tyler / Chicago Children’s Museum

Author: Michael Tyler

Illustrator: David Lee Csicsko

Year first published: 2005

Fun fact: “The Skin You Live In” is the first book ever published by the Chicago Children’s Museum.

Bottom Line: The Skin You Live In

David Lee Csicsko / Chicago Children’s Museum

Michael Tyler’s rhyming picture book “The Skin You Live In” imparts an important message of social acceptance and explores themes of friendship, self-esteem and diversity.

The lively prose (“Your butterscotch gold skin,/your lemon tart bold skin;/your mountain high apple pie,/cookie dough rolled skin!”) is perfectly paired with David Lee Csicsko’s bright illustrations.

35. I Knew You Could Do It!

Nancy Tillman / Feiwel & Friends

Author/illustrator: Nancy Tillman

Year first published: 2019

Fun fact: Nancy Tillman owns a pug and a Swiss mountain dog, and says she’d have a giraffe if she could, but her husband won’t let her.

Bottom Line: I Knew You Could Do It

Nancy Tillman / Feiwel & Friends

Nancy Tillman has numerous bestselling picture books under her belt. Her most recent release, “I Knew You Could Do It!” is just as heartfelt as the others.

It celebrates accomplishments big and small and tells every young reader, “I believe in you.”

Tillman’s stunning illustrations pay tribute to beloved fairy tales and nursery rhymes like “The Three Little Pigs,” “Snow White” and “The Cat and The Fiddle.”

34. Handa’s Surprise

Eileen Browne / Candlewick

Author/illustrator: Eileen Browne

Year first published: 1994

Fun fact: Kenyans in London’s Tourist Office and High Commission checked Eileen Browne’s working illustrations to make sure they were authentic.

Bottom Line: Handa’s Surprise

Eileen Browne / Candlewick

Surprises don’t always have to come at the end of a book.

In Eileen Browne’s delightful “Handa’s Surprise,” the reader knows exactly what’s going on behind Handa as she takes seven delicious fruits in a basket to her friend, Akeyo.

Kids will enjoy the story so much they won’t even realize that they’re learning about numbers, animals and fruits at the same time.

33. The Animal Boogie

Debbie Harter / Barefoot Books

Author: Fred Penner

Illustrator: Debbie Harter

Year first published: 2000

Fun fact: “The Animal Boogie” comes with a CD to make it easier to learn the song (and get dancing).

Bottom Line: The Animal Boogie

Debbie Harter / Barefoot Books

“The Animal Boogie” ticks every box for toddlers and preschoolers.

Fred Penner’s catchy song, accompanied by Debbie Harter’s colorful images, encourages little ones to get moving. Even adults might struggle to resist leaping, stomping, shaking and flapping.

It’s also a simple early introduction to the world of animals.

32. Black Bird Yellow Sun

Steve Light / Candlewick

Author/illustrator: Steve Light

Year first published: 2018

Fun fact: Steve Light draws every day and describes himself as “a big kid at heart.”

Bottom Line: Black Bird Yellow

Steve Light / Candlewick

A delightful book to start a child’s library, Steve Light’s “Black Bird Yellow Sun” takes the reader on a journey through an exciting day, introducing them to a range of colors, sizes, shapes and textures.

It’s simple enough for even the youngest readers, but the artwork is striking, and looking for the worm on each page is a fun detail.

31. The Gruffalo

Julia Donaldson / Puffin

Author: Julia Donaldson

Illustrator: Axel Scheffler

Year first published: 1999

Fun fact: The TV film of “The Gruffalo” was nominated for an Oscar in 2011.

Bottom Line: The Gruffalo

Axel Scheffler / Puffin

A must for every child’s book collection, Julia Donaldson’s “The Gruffalo” was a huge hit in Europe before it caught the attention of U.S. parents.

No matter how many times you read the story of the mouse taking a stroll through the deep, dark woods, it never gets old.

30. Gorilla

Anthony Browne / Candlewick

Author/illustrator: Anthony Browne

Year first published: 1983

Fun fact: Author/illustrator Anthony Browne said he created “Gorilla” while his wife was expecting their first child.

Bottom Line: Gorilla

Anthony Browne / Candlewick

What child can’t relate to asking for something even when you know the answer will be “no”? There’s always hope that one day, the answer will be “yes.”

That’s exactly what happens to Hannah, who longs to see a real gorilla, but her father is always too busy or too tired to take her to the zoo.

29. Goodnight Moon

Margaret Wise Brown / HarperFestival

Author: Margaret Wise Brown

Illustrator: Clement Hurd

Year first published: 1947

Fun fact: Margaret Wise Brown sometimes put a difficult word into her story or poem to make children think harder when they were reading.

Bottom Line: Goodnight Moon

Clement Hurd / HarperFestival

“Goodnight Moon” was first published in 1947, but its message will never date.

A young rabbit is very thorough with his goodnight wishes — could he be trying to delay going to bed?

Clement Hurd’s simple illustrations reflect the journey of Margaret Wise Brown’s poem, growing darker as the bunny succumbs to sleep.

28. Where’s Spot?

Eric Hill / Warne

Author/illustrator: Eric Hill

Year first published: 1980

Fun fact: Eric Hill left school when he was 15 and took up cartooning while working as a messenger at an art studio.

Bottom Line: Where’s Spot?

Eric Hill / Warne

Eric Hill’s classic “Where’s Spot?” is the first in the series featuring the happy, instantly recognizable pup.

It’s short enough to keep a toddler’s attention and stop adults from getting bored (this is one book they’re likely to have to read over and over again).

According to Parents magazine, “Spot is one of the essential experiences of childhood.”

27. The Tiger Who Came to Tea

Judith Kerr / HarperCollins Children’s Books

Author/illustrator: Judith Kerr

Year first published: 1968

Fun fact: Judith Kerr’s tale of the greedy tiger started life as a bedtime story she made up for her 2-year-old daughter.

Bottom Line: The Tiger Who Came Tea

Judith Kerr / HarperCollins Children’s Books

It’s not normal to have a tiger visit for tea, and that’s exactly what makes Judith Kerr’s classic tale of the big cat who turns up uninvited — and eats and drinks everything he can find, from beer to bathwater — so much fun.

For grown-ups and kids alike, “The Tiger Who Came to Tea” is a truly enjoyable experience.

26. The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Eric Carle / Philomel Books

Author/illustrator: Eric Carle

Year first published: 1969

Fun fact: Eric Carle once said of his creation process, “I write for the child inside of me. That is always where I begin.”

Bottom Line: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Eric Carle / Philomel Books

It’s a very hungry caterpillar indeed who literally eats his way through the pages of a book.

Toddlers and preschoolers love watching “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” get bigger and bigger, until he transforms into a stunning butterfly.

Eric Carle’s classic also teaches counting and the days of the week.

25. The Lorax

Dr. Seuss / Random House Books for Young Readers

Author/illustrator: Dr. Seuss

Year first published: 1971

Fun fact: One of Dr. Seuss’s biggest fans is a former president, who once said, “Pretty much all the stuff you need to know is in Dr. Seuss.”

Bottom Line: The Lorax

Dr. Seuss / Random House Books for Young Readers

Long before climate change was a pressing global concern, Dr. Seuss was teaching his young readers to “go green.”

His 1971 book “The Lorax” warns against taking the natural world for granted and reminds us that one small seed (or one small child) can make a big difference.

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

24. Giraffes Can’t Dance

Giles Andreae / Cartwheel Books

Author: Giles Andreae

Illustrator: Guy Parker-Rees

Year first published: 1999

Fun fact: In 2019, “Giraffes Can’t Dance” was made into a musical.

Bottom Line: Giraffes Can’t Dance

Guy Parker-Rees / Cartwheel Books

All Gerald the giraffe wants to do is dance, but his lanky legs and twisted knees don’t make it easy.

However, with a little encouragement from an unlikely friend, Gerald realizes that he doesn’t have to succumb to peer pressure to be happy, and that he can dance to his own tune.

“Giraffes Can’t Dance” sends an important “you can” message that kids who don’t do things the “normal way” might find particularly meaningful.

23. Guess How Much I Love You

Sam McBratney / Candlewick

Author: Sam McBratney

Illustrator: Anita Jeram

Year first published: 1988

Fun fact: More than 47 million copies of “Guess How Much I Love You” have been sold in 57 languages worldwide.

Bottom Line: Guess How Much I Love You

Anita Jeram / Candlewick

Nothing compares to the love between a parent and child, and that is demonstrated in the comforting, tender exchange of affection between Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare.

Sam McBratney’s endearing story and Anita Jeram’s watercolor illustrations have turned “Guess How Much I Love You” into a captivating modern classic.

22. Each Peach Pear Plum

Allan Ahlberg / Viking Books for Young Readers

Author: Allan Ahlberg

Illustrator: Janet Ahlberg

Year first published: 1978

Fun fact: Allan and Janet Ahlberg have created more than 100 books together.

Bottom Line: Each Pear Plum

Janet Ahlberg / Viking Books for Young Readers

“Each Peach Pear Plum,” the classic picture book from husband-and-wife team Allan and Janet Ahlberg, won the Kate Greenaway Medal (the U.K.’s top prize for picture books) in the year of publication.

It may be aimed at the very youngest book lovers, but readers of all ages love playing “I Spy” on each page.

21. Corduroy

Don Freeman / Puffin

Author/illustrator: Don Freeman

Year first published: 1968

Fun fact: Two million children and adults read “Corduroy” on the same day to raise more than $1.5 million for early education programs.

Bottom Line: Corduroy

Don Freeman / Puffin

One of America’s favorite teddy bears, Corduroy first charmed kids in 1968, and the success of the first eponymous book led to a whole series.

The plucky little bear in corduroy overalls with one button missing is one of the most memorable picture book heroes.

20. The Day the Crayons Quit

Drew Daywalt / Philomel Books

Author: Drew Daywalt

Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers

Year first published: 2013

Fun fact: “The Day the Crayons Quit” was Amazon’s Best Picture Book of the Year in 2013.

Bottom Line: The Day the Crayons Quit

Oliver Jeffers / Philomel Books

“The Day the Crayons Quit” is a beautifully illustrated, highly entertaining book.

Each of Duncan’s crayons has written him a letter explaining why they have “quit”: Beige is sick of being second best to brown. Blue is tired after coloring all those vast oceans.

Creative and witty, it will make kids look at that box of crayons in a whole new light.

19. Where the Wild Things Are

Maurice Sendak / HarperCollins

Author/illustrator: Maurice Sendak

Year first published: 1963

Fun fact: Maurice Sendak’s iconic story has inspired both a movie and an opera.

Bottom Line: Where the Wild Things Are

Maurice Sendak / HarperCollins

One night, Max puts on his wolf suit, and so begins one of the most influential picture books ever written.

“Where the Wild Things Are” has even inspired numerous doctoral theses.

But most importantly, it’s a wonderful story for kids of all ages, guaranteed to take their imaginations on an adventure.

18. The Snowy Day

Ezra Jack Keats / Puffin

Author/illustrator: Ezra Jack Keats

Year first published: 1962

Fun fact: “The Snowy Day” is the most checked-out volume of all time at the New York Public Library.

Bottom Line: The Snowy Day

Ezra Jack Keats / Puffin

The adventures of a little boy in the city during the first snowfall of the season has captured the hearts of millions.

Full of hope and possibility, “The Snowy Day” is also culturally significant as one of just three Caldecott Medal winners with contemporary African-American children as protagonists.

17. Millions of Cats

Wanda Gag / Puffiin

Author/illustrator: Wanda Gag

Year first published: 1928

Fun fact: “Millions of Cats” is the oldest American picture book still in print.

Bottom Line: Millions of Cats

Wanda Gag / Puffin

Wanda Gag’s “Millions of Cats,” about a lonely old couple who set out to get themselves one cat and end up with millions (and billions and trillions) of them, is a classic tale.

It won a Newbery Honor award in 1929, one of the few picture books to do so.

16. Where the Sidewalk Ends

Shel Silverstein / HarperCollins

Author/illustrator: Shel Silverstein

Year first published: 1974

Fun fact: In 1986, “Where the Sidewalk Ends” was banned from some Milwaukee school libraries because of references to drugs, suicide and death.

Bottom Line: Where the Sidewalk Ends

Shel Silverstein / HarperCollins

The world of kids’ poetry was turned upside down by Shel Silverstein’s 1974 collection “Where the Sidewalk Ends.”

More than four and a half million copies of the collection have been sold, making it the best-selling children’s poetry book ever.

Profound and witty, there’s nothing else like it for kids.

15. The Velveteen Rabbit

Margery Williams / Doubleday

Author: Margery Williams

Illustrator: William Nicholson

Year first published: 1922

Fun fact: “The Velveteen Rabbit” was featured in an episode of the TV show “Friends” when Joey gifted it to his girlfriend (with a little help from Chandler).

Bottom Line: The Velveteen Rabbit

William Nicholson / Doubleday

“The Velveteen Rabbit” tells the tale of a stuffed rabbit, who longs to become real through the love of his owner.

Some kids will recognize the story as a metaphor for how our flaws and so-called imperfections become beautiful through vulnerability and connection, while others will simply love the idea of toys coming alive.

Either way, it’s an absolute classic.

14. Escargot

Dashka Slater / Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Author: Dashka Slater

Illustrator: Sydney Hanson

Year first published: 2017

Fun fact: Author Dashka Slater said that when she was little, her mother “drew little picture books that were all about me.”

Bottom Line: Escargot

Sydney Hanson / Farrar, Straus and Giroux

“Escargot,” the story of a French snail who wants to be everyone’s favorite animal and is also on a mission to get to the delicious salad at the end of the book, has won the hearts of children all over the world. And it might even have encouraged them to eat their carrots.

This one is just begging to be read aloud in a French accent.

13. Grumpy Monkey

Suzanne Lang / Random House Books for Young Readers

Author: Suzanne Lang

Illustrator: Max Lang

Year first published: 2018

Fun fact: When he’s not illustrating, Max Lang directs films — such as the Oscar-nominated adaptations of Julia Donaldson’s “The Gruffalo” and “Room on the Broom.”

Bottom Line: Grumpy Monkey

Max Lang / Random House Books for Young Readers

We’re all guilty of bottling up our feelings sometimes, just like Jim the chimpanzee, the star of Suzanne and Max Lang’s No. 1 New York Times best-selling picture book.

“Grumpy Monkey” helps kids deal with unexplained feelings and reminds them that it’s OK to have a bad mood day now and again.

Who knew a moody chimp could be so adorable?

12. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus

Mo Willems / Hyperion Books

Author/illustrator: Mo Willems

Year first published: 2003

Fun fact: In early 2020, Willems invited the children of the world to join him for free virtual “lunch doodles” in his studio.

Bottom Line: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus

Mo Willems / Hyperion Books

Mo Willems’ first book for children, “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” received the Caldecott Honor.

The story of a bus driver who has to leave and asks the reader to not allow the pigeon to drive the bus raises some big questions about moral and social responsibility.

But it’s also simply a truly original, funny book with adorable artwork.

11. Mog the Forgetful Cat

Judith Kerr / HarperCollins

Author/illustrator: Judith Kerr

Year first published: 1970

Fun fact: HarperCollins declared 2020 to be a year of “MOGnificant publishing” to mark the 50th anniversary of Mog.

Bottom Line: Mog the Forgetful Cat

Judith Kerr / HarperCollins

As funny and friendly as she is forgetful, Mog is another beloved character from Judith Kerr.

In the striped family cat’s first adventure, she proves to her owners how important she is by foiling a burglar, earning herself a medal for bravery (and two eggs for breakfast every day).

10. Sheep in a Jeep

Nancy E. Shaw / HMH Books for Young Readers

Author: Nancy E. Shaw

Illustrator: Margot Apple

Year first published: 1986

Fun fact: “Sheep in a Jee” was inspired by “a dull car trip in 1982” when Nancy E. Shaw “tinkered with animal rhymes.”

Bottom Line: Sheep in a Jeep

Margot Apple / HMH Books for Young Readers

What happens when a flock of silly sheep ride through the countryside? “Sheep in a Jeep,” the first in Nancy E. Shaw’s “Sheep” series, reveals the consequences.

The rhyming couplets appeal to young readers, while Margot Apple’s expressive artwork shows the full gauntlet of emotions the five sheep experience during their disastrous journey.

9. Dream Big, Little One

Vashti Harrison / LB Kids

Author/illustrator: Vashti Harrison

Year first published: 2018

Fun fact: Vashti Harrison’s experimental films and documentaries have been shown at film festivals all over the world.

Bottom Line: Dream Big, Little One

Vashti Harrison / LB Kids

Kids are never too young to learn about trailblazers, and Vashti Harrison’s beautifully illustrated “Dream Big, Little One” showcases 18 black women who changed the world in different ways.

It’s an empowering, inspiring book for all girls and boys.

8. Meg and Mog

Helen Nicoll / Puffin

Author: Helen Nicoll

Illustrator: Jan Pienkowski

Year first published: 1972

Fun fact: Jan Pienkowski was awarded the BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award for 2019.

Bottom Line: Meg and Mog

Jan Pienkowsky / Puffin

“Meg and Mog” was the first in a series of books about a witch named Meg (whose spells always seem to go wrong), her long-suffering striped cat Mog and their friend Owl.

Perfect for sharing or reading alone, the stories are always entertaining, with endless opportunities for kids to explore colors, sounds and shapes.

7. Dear Zoo

Rod Campbell / Little Simon

Author/Illustrator: Rod Campbell

Year first published: 1982

Fun fact: In 2019, a group of parents made the news for criticizing “Dear Zoo” for only featuring male animals.

Bottom Line: Dear Zoo

Rod Campbell / Little Simon

Rod Campbell’s lift-the-flap picture book “Dear Zoo” is a must-have for every starter library.

Despite growing up in a house without books, Campell believes that it “really is essential that children have the chance early on to enter into a story with their imaginations and have a chance to live all kinds of different experiences through the written word.”

6. Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

Dr. Seuss / Random House Books for Young Readers

Author/illustrator: Dr. Seuss

Year first published: 1990

Fun fact: “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” is the top-selling Dr. Seuss book of all time.

Bottom Line: Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

Dr. Seuss / Random House Books for Young Readers

The last of Dr. Seuss’s books to be published during his lifetime, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” is the perfect graduation gift for toddlers, school kids and college students alike.

In fact, it’s ideal for anyone embarking on a new stage of life, or simply facing a challenge.

In other words, it’s for everyone.

5. Lost and Found

Oliver Jeffers / Philomel Books

Author/illustrator: Oliver Jeffers

Year first published: 2005

Fun fact: The animated film of “Lost and Found” won a BAFTA for Best Animation in 2009.

Bottom Line: Lost and Found

Oliver Jeffers / Philomel Books

What would you do if a lost penguin turned up at your door? You’d take it back to the South Pole, of course.

In the multi-award-winning “Lost and Found,” a little boy tries to do just that, and the result is a heartwarming story of friendship that resonates with readers of all ages.

4. Room on the Broom

Julia Donaldson / Dial Books

Author: Julia Donaldson

Illustrator: Axel Scheffler

Year first published: 2001

Fun fact: Julia Donaldson was a songwriter before she started writing books.

Bottom Line: Room on the Broom

Axel Scheffler / Dial Books

Another classic from the Julia Donaldson/Axel Scheffler dream team, “Room on the Broom” takes readers on an adventure with a witch, her cat, and a few unexpected guests they pick up along the way.

The odds may be stacked against the witch, but her new friends help her avoid disaster.

3. On the Night You Were Born

Nancy Tillman / Feiwel & Friends

Author/illustrator: Nancy Tillman

Year first published: 2005

Fun fact: Nancy Tillman originally self-published “On the Night You Were Born,” which went on to become a New York Times bestseller.

Bottom Line: On the Night You Were Born

Nancy Tillman / Feiwel & Friends

Written to celebrate a baby’s birth, “On the Night You Were Born” was inspired by a greeting card.

“I expanded the message to say what I felt for my own children, and with the hope that those words would say what other parents felt for their children as well,” Tillman said.

2. Love You Forever

Robert Munsch / Firefly Books

Author: Robert Munsch

Illustrator: Sheila McGraw

Year first published: 1986

Fun fact: “Love You Forever” was read in full in an episode of “Friends,” as Joey’s birthday gift to 1-year-old Emma.

Bottom Line: Love You Forever

Sheila McGraw / Firefly Books

The iconic nursery staple “Love You Forever” tells the story of the ever-changing relationship between a boy and his mother.

It’s touched the hearts of millions of readers, young and old, around the world, and its inspiration makes it even more poignant.

Robert Munsch wrote the book after he and his wife had two stillborn babies.

1. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

Michael Rosen / Little Simon

Author: Michael Rosen

Illustrator: Helen Oxenbury

Year first published: 1989

Fun fact: “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” was the subject of a Guinness World Record for “Largest Reading Lesson” in 2014, when a reading was attended by 1,500 children and an additional 30,000 listeners online.

Bottom Line: We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

Helen Oxenbury / Little Simon

The recipient of numerous awards, “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” was adapted from an old folk song by Michael Rosen.

The children are based on illustrator Helen Oxenbury’s own children, and many of the obstacles they encounter during their “bear hunt” are based on actual places in England and Wales.