100 Children’s Books to Read In a Lifetime

With a list of 100 children's books to read in a lifetime, you're sure to find just what you're looking for. These classic children's stories make great gifts!

It’s never too late to read a children’s book! Whether you’re babysitting, entertaining your own children, or wanting to experience nostalgia – you can never go wrong with classic stories.

These children’s books are favorites amongst the young and old alike, and some have been turned into familiar films and television shows. Warm up with a cozy blanket and a wholesome book!

100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime

The books on this list are geared towards children at various reading levels. Some are better suited for toddlers, while others are better for older kids. These books will keep your home library suitable for kids, even as they age! 

1. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
2. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
3. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
4. Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
5. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
   
   
6. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka
7. Put Me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire
8. Go, Dog, Go by P.D. Eastman
9. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
10. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
    
    
11. No, David! by David Shannon
12. Olivia by Ian Falconer
13. A Madeline Treasury: The Original Stories by Ludwig Bemelmans
14. The Frog and Toad Collection by Arnold Lobel
15. Click, Clack, Moo by Doreen Cronin
    
    
16. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
17. The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
18. Corduroy by Don Freeman
19. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Simms Taback
20. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
    
    
21. The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
22. Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill
23. Curious George Classic Collection by H.A. Rey
24. The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
25. Yertle the Turtle by Dr. Seuss
    
    
26. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
27. A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond
28. Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne
29. The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
30. The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
    
    
31. Eloise by Kay Thompson
32. Matilda by Roald Dahl
33. Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
34. Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
35. Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel
    
    
36. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
37. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
38. Good Dog, Carl by Alexandra Day
39. My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
40. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
    
    
41. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
42. Jack and the Beanstalk by Paul Galdone
43. We Are In A Book! by Mo Willems
44. Jenny and the Cat by Esther Averill
45. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
    
    
46. The Red Balloon by Albert Lamorisse
47. Little Owl’s Night by Divya Srinivastan
48. A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead
49. Slow Loris by Alex Deacon
50. Oh, The Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss
    
    
51. The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper
52. Cars and Trucks and Things That Go by Richard Scarry
53. How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hillis
54. The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka
55. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff
    
    
56. Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
57. Alligator Pie by Dennis Lee
58. Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi
59. Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
60. The Real Mother Goose by Blanche Fisher Wright
    
    
61. Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
62. Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
63. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
64. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery and Richard Howard
65. Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodinka
    
    
66. How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
67. The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Anderson and Jerry Pinkney
68. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
69. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
70. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
    
    
71. Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
72. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
73. Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park
74. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
75. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
    
    
76. Just A Little Sick by Mercer Meyer
77. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit
78. The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin
79. I Love You to the Moon and Back by Tim Warnes
80. On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman
    
    
81. My Feelings and Me by Holde Kreul
82. Short Adventures of a Loooong Dog by Jessica Neal
83. Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
84. Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty
85. The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
    
    
86. Moo, Baa, La La La by Sandra Boynton
87. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
88. Dr Seuss’s ABC: An Amazing Alphabet Book! by Dr. Seuss
89. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
90. The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
    
    
91. The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss
92. The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle
93. Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
94. The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone
95. Just in Case You Ever Wonder by Max Lucado
    
    
96. Opposites by Sandra Boynton
97. There’s a Wocket in My Pocket by Dr. Seuss
98. The Hat by Jan Brett
99. The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
100. Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle

Whether a children’s book is fresh off the press or decades old, it’s oftentimes a classic for generations. Pass these books onto your child, an expectant mother, or your own nostalgia library!

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Which of these Children's Books have you read in your lifetime?