20 Classic & New Classic Children’s Books That Every Kid Should Read

Everyone loves Spot — and for good reason. With its bright and bold color palette and simple, yet playful text, this lift-the-flap classic has drawn giggles from pre-readers for over 30 years! Spot’s hide-and-seek adventure offers an early lesson in prepositions and lots of smiles. “Spot is one of the essential experiences of childhood.” — Parents Magazine 

Corduroy, the story of a sweet stuffed bear in search of his forever home, might just be more popular today than it was upon its original publication over 50 years ago. While Corduroy may charm its readers, it is Lisa, the young black girl — a rare sighting in picture books at the time (1968) — who accepts and takes Corduroy home, that is so fondly remembered by so many.  

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, with its colorful, interactive die-cut pages, might just be Eric Carle’s — acclaimed and beloved author/illustrator — best-known work. Renowned for its bright illustrations and awe-inspiring description of a caterpillar transitioning into a butterfly, this book has been translated into 70 languages and has sold over 55 million copies. 

“Goodnight room, goodnight moon.” Margaret Wise Brown’s quiet poetic verse and Clement Hurd’s gentle yet iconic illustrations make this classic a bedtime staple. As we say goodnight to kittens and mittens, clocks and socks, and the cow jumping over the moon, these effortless rhymes will lull anyone (kids and adults alike) off to dreamland. First published in 1947, this favorite has NEVER gone out of print. 

Full of the rhyme and repetition young kids are drawn to, combined with Carle’s lively and bold collage illustrations, made this simple call and response picture book an instant classic. Fun fact, Bill Martin has a Ph.D. in early childhood education and he has long championed using rhyme and rhythm as an effective and fun way to teach young children how to read. Whether it’s Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Polar Bear, Polar Bear or Panda Bear, Panda Bear — you can’t go wrong with any of the books in the Brown Bear and Friends series.  

Kids LOVE to sing (or scream) this rollicking alphabet chant. All the letters of the alphabet race each other up the coconut tree. Will there be enough room? You can likely guess the answer to that one. A great pick that helps littles with letter recognition, sounds, and how to keep a beat! Lois Ehlert’s bold, cheerful art is a perfect complement to the text, making this fun read an enduring favorite with kids.  

This Caldecott Medal-winning picture book has become one of the most highly acclaimed and loved children’s books of all time. Max travels far and away to an imaginative land in search of adventure, only to realize what he wants most of all is right at home. Every verse is a treasured quote. This iconic story has inspired a movie, an opera, and the imagination of generations. If you want a child in your life to have a lifelong love of reading, give them this book.  

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are the dream team! Donaldson’s trademark rhyming text and Scheffler’s brilliant, characterful illustrations are flawless, and you should genuinely read everything they’ve ever created, but The Gruffalo is a sure bet! A witty story of a little mouse who cleverly outwits a fox, an owl, and a snake with tales of a terrible gruffalo is pitch-perfect. After all, there’s no such thing as a gruffalo …  

“Once there was a tree … and she loved a little boy.” And so, begins a story of unforgettable perception, a poignant picture book about love and acceptance. Parents, caregivers, and teachers have used this classic for YEARS to illuminate generosity and unselfishness – lessons we could all benefit from, young and old. A beautiful story from the author of Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic. 

While this is a newer title, Jim Panzee, THE grumpy monkey, has captured our little grumpy hearts. Like The Day the Crayons Quit and Dragons Love Tacos, we are claiming this one as a new classic and one that we’re sure to see for years to come. Perfect for young children learning how to deal with BIG feelings, Suzanne and Max Lang bring hilarity and levity to this very important lesson on emotional literacy. 

The Wizarding World is a global phenomenon, and we’re still waiting for our Hogwarts letter! What started as a few thoughts scribbled on a napkin has now been the inspiration for an epic series of movies, Pottermore, a theme park at Universal Studios, and an award-winning two-part play. And don’t get me started on all the Deathly Hallow tattoos! This enchanting series is where it all started. It has been translated into over 80 languages and has collectively sold over 500 million copies worldwide. All because of a boy who lived … #Always  

Demigods, monsters, and Greek gods! It’s easy to get lost in Rick Riordan’s bestselling Greek mythology series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Following the demigod son of Poseidon and his friends on action-packed quests, these funny and fast-paced books made mythology cool again for a new generation. And they have been adapted into a movie, a Broadway musical, and soon, a TV series on Disney+! 

Go on an exhilarating adventure with young Dragonets of Destiny, who have been entrusted with a great duty of ending The War of SandWing Succession and bringing peace to the seven warring tribes. With thrilling battle sequences, double-crosses, and an epic world you can’t help but lose yourself in, this series is adored by fantasy fans. The series consists of three arcs and each arc is made up of five books, except the third arc consists of four books currently … soo much content!! 

This page-turning, heart-stopping, award-winning contemporary classic is the survival story with which all others are compared. The story starts around that of a thirteen-year-old boy, struggling with his parent’s divorce, and then, the sole survivor of a plane crash that has left him alone in the Canadian wilderness. This inspirational and motivational tale of triumph against the odds has been a favorite among adventurous kids for some time.  

Quirky, fun, and mysterious all at once, Holes is a modern classic worthy of a spot on every young reader’s bookshelf. Louis Sachar deftly weaves together stories from the past and present, creating a brilliant and thought-provoking tale about Stanley Yelnats, Camp Green Lake, and the power of strength and perseverance in the face of adversity. A must-read at any age.

Esperanza Rising is an inspiring tale set in the 1930s about a wealthy young girl who is forced to flee Mexico with her mother after her father’s death. Esperanza grows up quickly as she adjusts to her new life on a labor ranch in Southern California. This powerful depiction of one girl’s immigration story is sure to spark important conversations among young readers.

While technically a Young Reader novel, The Giver should be required reading for all adults as well — that is, if you haven’t read it already. This powerful and provocative story centers around Jonas, who lives in a seemingly perfect society, with no pain, suffering, grief, and also, no color. It is only when he is given his life assignment as the Receiver of Memory that those fragile walls around him begin to crumble. This Newbery Medal-winning dystopian classic is a transformative read, opening the eyes of its readers to larger questions around the virtues of freedom.  

In the tradition of Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little, this is a story of unexpected friendship and hope. It was inspired by a true story of a silverback gorilla held captive for 27 years and written from the point of view of Ivan, that gorilla. Ivan is content to view the world through the glass walls of a shopping mall, that is, until he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild and added to the collection. It is through Ruby he realizes that this life is not enough. This Newbery Medal winner explores what it truly means to be human, to be alive, and the responsibility we have to each other.  

Kate DiCamillo is a national treasure. She understands the complexities and emotional journey of youth better than most. You really can’t go wrong with ANY of her beloved books, but Because of Winn-Dixie has stolen our heart. Told over the course of one summer, when ten-year-old India Opal Buloni life takes an unexpected turn. What we love most here are the everyday people and their stories. There are so many interesting and vibrant characters throughout this emotional classic, and because of Winn-Dixie, we get to meet them all — and we will never forget them.  

Based on a powerful true story, Linda Sue Park interweaves the lives of two eleven-year-old Sudanese children, a girl in 2008 and a boy in 1985. Told in alternating sections, we follow Nya and Salva as they overcome dangers to improve their lives and those around them. This is a story of perseverance, hope, and redemption. It highlights the daily struggles of those who don’t have access to resources we so often take for granted. A moving and inspirational take of survival with a great ending.