Skip to Content

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.

Must-Read Classic Books for Kids List

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!

List of Children's Books To Read

RELATED: 50 Inspirational Books for Women

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

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. […] You may also like: 100 Children’s Books to Read in a Lifetime […]

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links and/or promotional products, all opinions expressed are that of But First, Joy only. Read my full disclosure