Best Classic Children’s Books for All Ages

This 40-year-old classic introduces tots to a variety of colorful animals and takes them on an adventure full of rhyming words. It will quickly become one of your child’s favorite books.

In a great green room, tucked away in bed, a little bunny says goodnight to all the familiar things that surround him. Children love this soothing rhythmic book at bedtime and beyond.

This is one filling read! A young caterpillar eats his way through all kinds of food before *spoiler alert* becoming a butterfly at the end of the book. This ever-popular book has been translated into more than 50 languages. Check out other great books by Eric Carle.

This classic cautionary tale reminds naughty little rabbits to stay out of the neighbor’s lettuce patch. Published in 1902, it was Beatrix Potter’s first of 23 animal tales for children.

This 1964 Caldecott Medal Winner is a wild romp for both kids and adults alike. Join Max — who’s wearing a wolf suit, of course — as he dreams of sailing away to a colorful world of Wild Things.

More classic books for children ages 6 months to 3 years

Dick and Sally have the rainy day blues — until the Cat in the Hat shows up and leads them through a magical and messy adventure. On your next rainy day, check out any of Dr. Seuss’s 46 zany children’s books.

Think of this heartwarming book as Philosophy 101 for kids. It’s about the gift of giving and the capacity to love, told throughout the life of a boy who grows to manhood, and a tree that selflessly gives him her bounty through the years.

More classic books for children ages 4 to 8

After reading Charlotte’s Web, every kid will hold a place in her heart for Wilbur the pig. Wilbur’s future seems bleak when he discovers that he is destined to be the farmer’s Christmas dinner — until his wise spider friend, Charlotte, decides to help him.

This classic page-turner introduces children to the exciting genres of mystery and fantasy. Meg Murry and her friends become involved with unearthly strangers and a search for Meg’s father, who disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government.

First published in 1868, this is one of the most beloved novels in American literature. It’s a story of family ties, youthful dreams, and coming of age as four devoted sisters search for romance and find maturity in Civil War-era New England.

More classic books for children ages 9 to 12

Get drawn into Tolkien’s fantastical world with this 1937 classic. Bilbo Baggins, a respectable, well-to-do hobbit, lives comfortably in his hobbit-hole until the day the wandering wizard Gandalf chooses him to share in an adventure from which he may never return.

When your child is ready for more mature themes like feminism, morality, and romance, pick up this 1847 novel. In early 19th-century England, an orphaned young woman accepts a job as a governess at Thornfield Hall, a country estate owned by the mysterious Mr. Rochester, and her life forever changes.

Dive into the glitz and drama of the Jazz Age. This timeless story of Jay Gatsby and his love, Daisy Buchanan, is widely acknowledged to be the closest thing to the “Great American Novel.”

More classic books for teens