Skip to content

Your Bag

There is nothing in your cart. Start shopping to fill it up!

Article: Top 15 Best Kids Books for Every Stage

best kids books, classic books for kids, books for kids

Top 15 Best Kids Books for Every Stage

Books for Kids to Help them Fall in Love with Reading

At Piccalio, our enthusiasm for baby gear drives us to independently curate our favorite products. If you make a purchase through the links on our site, Piccalio may earn a commission.

Updated

Reading to your child is one of the best gifts parents can give. Discover some of the best authors and series of classic books for kids to include on your bookshelf. From modern tales with colorful illustrations to books that tackle difficult topics, there's a book for everyone.

Picture Books Ideal for Ages 0-5

1. Sandra Boynton Board Books

best kids books, classic books for kids, books for kids

Full of rhythm and rhyme, Sandra Boynton's board books are full of fun storylines. Even before your baby can speak, they'll enjoy clapping and bouncing along to these great books.

Popular Titles:

  • Moo, Baa, La La La!
  • Blue Hat, Green Hat
  • The Going to Bed Book

2. Eric Carle Books

best kids books, classic books for kids, books for kids

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a beloved story that belongs in every book collection. Young children love this adorable story about a hungry caterpillar's quest for food. Eric Carle was an illustrator known for his delightful colorful images that awaken the imagination. Try his other titles as well.

Popular Titles:

  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar
  • Brown Bear, Brown Bear (by Bill Martin, Jr., Illustrated by Eric Carle)
  • The Very Busy Spider

3. Shel Silverstein Poetry Books

best kids books, classic books for kids, books for kids

Giggle, laugh, and learn some lessons while reading Shel Silverstein's poems. Enjoy a range of poems. Enjoy a silly poem about a girl who wouldn't take the garbage out. Or, read a meaningful story about relationships.

Popular Titles:

  • Where the Sidewalk Ends
  • The Giving Tree
  • A Light in the Attic

4. Mo Willems Books for Kids

best kids books, classic books for kids, books for kids

Former Sesame Street writer and animator, Mo Willems writes fun stories. His children's books include several series such as Pigeon, Elephant & Piggie, Cat the Cat, and Unlimited Squirrels.

Popular Titles:

  • Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
  • I Will Surprise My Friend!
  • That Is NOT a Good Idea! 

5. Leo Lionni Books for Kids

best kids books, classic books for kids, books for kids

With whimsical illustrations and heart-warming storylines, Lionni has a knack for writing stories.

Popular Titles:

  • Swimmy
  • A Color of His Own
  • Frederick

6. Curious George Book Series

best kids books, classic books for kids, books for kids

Written and illustrated by Margret and H. A. Rey, these books share adventures about a monkey and his handler. Kids love Curious George, who always seems to get into trouble.

7. Madeline Book Series

best kids books, classic books for kids, books for kids

Ludwig Bemelmans wrote the first Madeline book in 1939. The book, about a Parisian schoolgirl, quickly grew popular. The original series features six books.

Educational Books for Kids

Several organizations help parents tackle tough topics with kids through books. Here are a few to try:

8. A Kids Co.

best kids books, classic books for kids, books for kids

Learn about important topics like emotions, culture, and even racism in kid-friendly format. A Kids Co offers board books for the youngest kids and hardback books for older kids.

9. Little People Big Dreams

classic books for kids, best kids books, books for kids

Inspire your child with biographies of famous people. From Beyoncé to Leo Messi and Mozart, learn about stand out people from every century.

Classic Children's Books for Young Readers

10. Kate DiCamillo

best kids books, classic books for kids, books for kids

Enjoy reading Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tiger Rising, or The Tale of Despereaux. DiCamillo has won Newbery Medals for her extraordinary stories. The Tale of Despereaux tells the story of a mouse on a quest to save a princess.

11. E.B. White

best kids books, classic books for kids, books for kids

E.B. White wrote both Stuart Little and Charlotte’s Web. These classic children's books are excellent for reading aloud.

12. Andrea Beaty

best kids books, classic books for kids, books for kids

If you're looking for a picture book for older children, try Sofia Valdez, Future Prez or Rosie Revere, Engineer. Beaty's books encourage children to explore STEM career paths.

13. Madeleine L’Engle

best kids books, classic books for kids, books for kids

Enter the world of science fiction with L'Engle's young adult novel, A Wrinkle In Time. This book won a Newbery Medal and is now the first book in a series about the Murry family.

14. Harry Potter

best kids books, classic books for kids, books for kids

This amazing series has helped many children fall in love with reading. Follow Harry Potter's journey through the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and beyond.

15. Roald Dahl

best kids books, classic books for kids, books for kids

Roald Dahl wrote classics such as Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Your child may enjoy reading these books alone or aloud as a family.

Choosing the Best Books for Kids

Head to your local library and see what titles you can find! Check books on Common Sense Media for reviews that help gauge whether the book is appropriate for your child. The most important thing to do is make reading fun and enjoyable. Soon, your child will discover the joy of reading on their own.

Posted in: 0 - 3 Months, 12 - 18 months, 18 Months - 3 Years, 3 - 6 months, 3 - 6 years, 6 - 9 months, 9 - 12 months, Our Favorites



Leave a comment

This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

All comments are moderated before being published.

Read more

baby walker toy, best baby walker, best walker for baby
Our Favorites

Top 5 Best Baby Walker Toys

Watching your baby learn to crawl and walk is a beautiful experience. By walking, your baby gains independence and confidence to explore the world around them. Yet, helping your baby learn to walk ...

Non toxic baby toys, non toxic toys, montessori toys
Our Favorites

Best Non-Toxic Baby Toys and Gifts for Toddlers

Did you know that as many as 80% of toys with just normal wear and tear end up in a landfill? If you're a parent overwhelmed by the clutter of toys, we understand. During this season of giving, cho...

beige mom, sad beige mom, beige moms, what is beige mom
Montessori Parenting

The Science Behind the Sad Beige Moms Debate

Last Christmas, a TikTok by @nattiejopo spray painting a colorful Christmas tree toy in more neutral tones went viral. The video created controversy in the comments, adding more fuel to the fire ab...

Montessori furniture, best Montessori bookshelf, Best Montessori toy shelf
Montessori Playroom

Why Parents Love Our Montessori Bookshelf and Toy Shelf

Our Montessori Bookshelf and Stackable Toy Shelf are parent favorites. Using the Montessori philosophy to inspire our designs, we created attractive and functional children's shelves. Plus, they lo...

The Best Nursing Pajamas for Maternity and Postpartum
Our Favorites

The Best Nursing Pajamas for Maternity and Postpartum

Make life easier as you feed your baby in the dark on sleepless nights with quality postpartum pajamas. Good pajamas are especially important for breastfeeding. However, comfortable postpartum paja...

when do babies see color? when do babies start to see color? infant's eyes
0 - 3 Months 3 - 6 months 6 - 9 months

When Do Babies See Color? A Guide to Your Infant's Eyesight

When your infant looks up at you, what can they see? At birth, babies' visual systems are still developing. What you can see and what your baby can see are vastly different. So, when do babies see ...