12 Classic Children’s Books to Read With Your Kids

Among my favorite classes in college were the courses I took in Children’s Literature. My mother curated a love of books in me at an early age and college solidified my adoration for the genre. I recently brushed off my personal book collection in order to form a list of 12 Classic Children’s Books to Read With Your Kids. The following recommendations have been broken down by age group for your convenience.

I would like to clarify that many children fall outside these age brackets, so remember it all depends on the kiddo! These selections are based on books I honestly love, have read multiple times and currently own. Feel free to email me with additional book suggestions as I am always looking to expand my library. Happy reading!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you decide to purchase any of these resources, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.Many items photographed will be linked below.

Picture books (Ages 0–5):

1. Olivia by Ian Falconer

Children of all ages love Olivia. She’s a talented and quirky piglet who imagines an extraordinary life for herself amidst a very ordinary life. Honestly, Olivia reminds me of a little me. She’s spunky and creative and an excellent role model. Well, most of the time.

2. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

There isn’t enough time in the day to fully explain my affection for Where the Wild Things Are. I spent several days in college deconstructing this masterpiece. This iconic children’s book won the Caldecott Medal for the Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year in 1964. Nearly 56 years later and it is still considered one of the most classic children’s books. It’s certainly one that’s worth the purchase and will be passed down for generations.

3. I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont

Do you have mischievous children prone to make a mess? I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More is a creative, colorful masterpiece that’s perfect for the most expressive of kiddos. If you are raising a little artist, then this book is a necessary purchase. Also I love any excuse to use the word “ain’t.”

4. The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone

My nephews are obsessed with this book. Obsessed. They have it fully memorized and love reading it before bed. It’s the perfect read-aloud book, because it is highly interactive. The Monster at the End of the Book is told from the perspective of Grover, so if you love Sesame Street then this book is for you!

Easy Reader (Ages 5-7):

1. Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel

Frog and Toad is a classic Easy Reader. It highlights the importance of friendship, kindness, and respecting different personalities. Toad is pessimistic, but Frog is always supportive in the best way. I’m also a big fan of any books with minimal illustrations, because it leaves room for imagination. Frog and Toad is a staple in any collection of classic children’s books.

2. Moe the Dog in Tropical Paradise by Diane Stanley and Elise Primavera

Of all the books on this list, Moe the Dog is my absolute favorite. I can’t explain it, but this book had an extra special place in my heart. Moe and his friend Arlene are stuck in the middle of a bleak winter; unable to go on vacation. More takes it upon himself to create a vacation from the comfort of his own home. It’s precious and heart-warming and an underrated children’s book you need to have in your library.

3. Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister

The Rainbow Fish is the perfect story for children who are learning to share. Not only sharing our possessions, but a little bit of ourselves with others. Does that make sense? Rainbow Fish is the story of the most beautiful fish in the ocean who will not share his sparkling scales with others. The fish has no friends because he is so mean and will not share his beauty. Eventually he does choose to share and gains many new friends. The Rainbow Fish has several sequel books in the series, and all of them are precious.

4. Arthur’s Loose Tooth by Lillian Hoban

Not gonna lie, I was obsessed with Arthur’s Loose Tooth. No idea why. Maybe it was the illustrations, or maybe I was losing my own teeth at the time, but either way I loved this easy reader. It is obviously about Arthur who is losing his teeth. Pretty simple, and yet a classic. Definitely recommend reading this book with your kids!

Chapter Books (Ages 6-9):

1. When We Were Very Young by A.A. Milne

The work of A.A. Milne is some of the most cherished of my entire childhood. Every night before bed my mother would pull out a large blue book with stories from When We Were Very Young and The House at Pooh Corner. The simple illustrations and rhythmic writing had us in a trance. “Market Square” is my favorite poem from the collection. In the poem Christopher Robin goes looking for a rabbit at the market only to find dozens of rabbits roaming free in a meadow.

2. Sneetches and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss

Everyone knows Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham, One Fish Two Fish and Fox in Socks, but my personal favorite Dr. Seuss book happens to be What Was I Scared Of? If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading this book, please buy it today. You can buy the book separately or in the collection entitled Sneetches and Other Stories. What Was I Scared Of is about a creature who is scared of a pair of pale green pants with nobody inside them. Brilliant. What child doesn’t love reading about empty pale green pants?

3. Junie B Jones by Barbara Park

I was a little too old for Junie B. Jones when these books came around, but my mom used to read her books with my little sister. Junie B is this hilarious ball of sass that tells it how it is. This book series is perfect for kiddos who are just starting school or who are nervous about making friends. Junie B is a unique personality that gives any reader the confidence to be equally as unique.

4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter might seem like an advanced book for a nine year old, but I learned how to read with books like this one at the age of nine. The content was so interesting to me I didn’t want to wait for my mom to help me read the book, so I learned to read on my own in order to know what happens. For this reason I recommend it as a book parents should read with their kids. Oh, and if you don’t know the plot of Harry Potter then climb out from under that rock.

Thank you for reading my list of 12 Classic Children’s Books to Read With Your Kids. I hope you found a few essentials for your home library. For more book recommendations, check out the blog posts below:

10 Classic Books for Teens and Young Adults
The Top 5 Favorite Best Books for Young Married Couples
6 Books You Should Definitely Re-Read in 2020
15 of My Favorite Board Books for Toddlers

Subscribe to Be Still and Write below for weekly content and updates, and don’t forget to follow on Pinterest for more book recommendations. Feel free to email me with questions and suggestions.

Love always,