Books are the best way to develop imagination and creative thinking in kids. Here we have prepared a bucket list of the best books for kids of all ages. These books act as a portal that allows your kids to discover new realities and make their imaginations fly.
A good read benefits children in many ways, they experience a range of emotions and acquire skills and knowledge which helps in their cognitive development. Let me share my experience with books.
It’s because of books I am who I am today!!! I am grateful to my parents for reading books to me and that’s the most memorable part of my childhood. No matter how late my dad reached home, he never skipped the reading time with me.
I used to wait for that part of the day eagerly not because I got to explore the different worlds in my books or know different serious, funny, positive, and dark characters along with life lessons and beautiful messages; but interesting conversations arising from those stories.
Sometimes, my interpretation would differ from that of my parents and they would laugh out loud at my thought process.
Why Reading Is Important?
It is said that books are our best companions. Books are our friends in a real sense. Once your child starts reading, they experience a whole new world. Apart from a healthy pastime, the habit of reading develops language skills, vocabulary, and also memory skills in children.
Besides knowledge, books are beneficial in stimulating your mind, enhancing thinking, linguistic skills, concentration, vocabulary, and imagination. Reading is also a common habit among the most successful people in this world. Every parent must read books to their child to cultivate this beautiful hobby.
One of the best ways to spend quality time with your children at home and connect with them after a hard day’s toil is by reading books.
In this era of digital devices, books are a tale from the past. Kids of this modern world enjoy screen time and playing video games on smartphones. In this digital age, books help to augment your kid’s imagination, help them to think, get an idea, and decide their opinions. Books are the best way to keep your child’s smart devices away and reduce their screen time.
Here We Have Prepared A List Of The Best Books For Kids
These will make your child crave books just like they crave for screen time. So, without much ado let’s get started.
1. A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon
A beautiful story of Camilla Cream explains how peer pressure can affect a person. Camilla Cream loves Lima Beans, but she never eats them because the kids in her school don’t like them. The anxious girl fails to feel quite herself.
This is a perfect bedtime story and every parent must read this book to their child to make them understand that no matter what people say or think, it is important to be yourself.
2. Have You Filled A Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud
Carol McCloud has explained that we all have buckets and we feel happy when it is filled and sad when it is empty. Here author emphasizes that every child should try to be a bucket filler. It means a person should try to fill other people’s buckets with the help of good deeds and words. By being mean to others we not only empty their buckets but ours as well.
Here bucket filling and emptying are metaphors used to explain the effects of our actions and words on the well-being of others and ourselves. Using simple language the author explained the concept of self-esteem and happiness that everyone has.
Through daily kindness, compassion, making the right choices, appreciation and love we can increase others’ self-esteem and happiness levels (bucket filling). Read this to your child and ask them every day – Have You Filled Your Bucket Today?
3. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
Famous for the imaginative adventures of Harold who uses his purple crayon to draw, create, and do whatever he wants; this is one of the best books for kids. Boost your young ones to brainstorm and use their imagination to the fullest. This book full of whimsy is known to motivate kids to get into the habit of doodling and drawing.
Related: 20 Best Psychology Books To Improve Your Life
4. The Quiltmaker’s Gift by Jeff Brumbeau
A wonderful story of a quilt-maker that teaches children about being kind, selfless, and the importance of giving. The quilt-maker designed beautiful quilts to help the poor and needy. That’s how she gained happiness and true pleasure. Even when troubled by the greedy king, her generosity helps her win.
This is the best book for kids of age 4 and up. Illustrated with fantastic pictures, the story with a meaningful lesson will motivate readers to be better people.
5. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
Does Harry Potter even need an introduction? The boy wizard and the unforgettable magical world has entertained and inspired millennials like anything. Harry Potter is my first love! Childhood would be so incomplete without reading this series of fantasy novels with death as a major theme.
After reading, watching Harry Potter movies is next-level fun. Known as one of the best-selling book series in history, it holds a special place in the hearts of both young and adult readers.
Related: 50+ Inspirational Harry Potter Quotes To Spike Your Motivation
6. Good People Everywhere by Lyrea Gillen
This colorful book with vibrant illustrations and examples is a favorite of many adults and children. A heart-warming book is full of stories that help children see good in everything and teaches how to work for good causes. The activity pages help kids practice compassion and gratitude.
Read out loud to your child and help them grow into caring and grateful individuals who know how to appreciate good work and see the beauty of life. This book is a Winner of Mom’s Choice Award, Teacher’s Choice, and Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards.
7. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Based on pure imagination this story was destined to be hit. This classic children’s book features the adventures of Charlie inside the chocolate factory. There are no words to describe the beauty of the story and mouth-watering treats mentioned by the author.
It’s a perfect blend of dark humor and playful whimsy. This is one book that makes reading time as enthusiastic as screen time for kids of this new era.
8. Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss
Another interesting book for kids with hope and empowering message. Dr. Seuss talks about life and the ups and downs it presents. There may be different times in our life when we are happy, sad, lonely, moving on, and so on.
No matter what we will win in the end. Because we have the brains to decide what to do, where to go, and have the power to push ourselves in the direction we want. Success lies within us is a beautiful message by Dr. Seuss. This story can encourage your little ones and strengthen their willpower.
9. Winnie-the-Pooh, A.A. Milne
The list of best books for kids will remain incomplete without my favorite Winnie-the-Pooh. A fantastic story about Pooh is popular for nearly 100 years and will continue to be even though children own television more than books today.
The story chronicles around a hundred acres of woods (one thing in my childhood that I desperately wanted to be part of), Christopher Robin and various other animals inhabiting there. “People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day,” is the line that always brings a smile to my face.
10. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Not just a heart-warming story but a complete package of playfulness, humor, and life lessons. Sure, your child will love every moment of Charlotte’s Web and enjoy reading how an adorable pig and a wise spider become best friends forever. The book has maintained its reputation as one of the most beloved children’s books of all time.
11. Sam Tells Stories by Thierry Robberecht
Sam is an adorable character who tells stories to his classmates to impress them and make new friends. But he tells stories that aren’t true, which gets him into trouble. Eventually, he learns the difference between telling lie and telling a story.
The valuable lesson to learn from Sam’s story is – beauty lies in being honest and just being yourself. Geared towards kindergartners, parents must read this story to tell their little ones how important it is, to tell the truth.
12. You with the Stars in Your Eyes by Deepak Chopra
This sweet and poignant story by Deepak Chopra is about a five-year-old girl named Tara walking on the beach with her grandfather curious to know about love, life, and the world we live in. This interesting conversation is also joined by the moon, who explains to Tara that everyone we see is our own self in a different form. We are all part of the same universe. It’s a mind-blowing book for kids of all ages.
13. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Known as one of the best-selling novels, this bitter-sweet story captures the hearts of children. The colorful illustrations add to their interests and help them understand the point of view of Black Beauty the horse, who happens to live a comfortable life unless some mishaps.
The journey of the Black Beauty through dark times and the quest to reach a comfortable end covers friendship and hardship, love and cruelty, wealth, and poverty. In short, it’s an absolute gem of children’s classics.
Related: 8 Unputdownable Fiction Books You Must Read in 2020
14. Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
Known as the world’s best detective, Sherlock Holmes and his classic mysteries are part of happy childhood memories for many people. The triumphs and failures of Holmes while solving mundane to malicious problems is fun and highly entertaining for children.
Every parent must read Sherlock Holmes’ books for kids. Let your little ones develop observation skills, a sharp mind, and be smart enough to decode clues.
15. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Not just an ultimate story of Christmas but a masterpiece that engages readers of all ages. When reading about ghosts, turkey, and impoverished London well-illustrated with images, your child is sure to love every page. This is the best book that teaches children about greed, selfishness, and good morale. The depth of the story and heart-warming message is amazing.
Related: Surviving Christmas: 11 Ways To Deal With Your Toxic Family During The Holidays
16. The Raindrop by Brian D. McClure
Another mind-boggling and adventurous story of a raindrop that helps children learn about the worth of each and every person in this world, even when the person cannot see his worth right now. Author Brian D. McClure beautifully illustrates the myriad emotions of raindrops, their feeling of uselessness, and the discovery of independence.
The journey of raindrop explains how very small and big thing in this world is interdependent. The inspiring story educates kids about acceptance, respect, and understanding. Popular for uplifting rhymes and universal life lessons, every parent should read this book to their child.
17. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Another marvelous and unforgettable story by Shel Silverstein teaches readers about the life of a tree, the gift of giving, and unconditional love. Every parent must read this empathetic and open-ended fable to their child to teach values, compassion, care, and love.
18. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Now, this is another all-time classic story that every child loves to hear. The author brilliantly describes the life cycle of a caterpillar and the beauty and power of nature. Not just the content but the colorful and appealing illustrations make this book worth reading. Kids can easily understand the depth of ideas and themes in it.
19. Wonder Bear by Tao Nyeu
Popular for a magical hat, Wonder Bear is a must-read book for every kid. It’s an imaginative and reassuring story because it will take your little one on amazing adventures until bedtime. It’s a wordless story about a big white bear, which makes this book unique. Yes! The charming and bold illustrations do it all. They compensate for the lack of the text and yet deliver the message successfully.
20. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr., John Archambault
If your kid is still struggling to learn the alphabet, then you must read Chicka Chika Boom Boom. Known as the best alphabet learning book, it’s fun for kids to see how alphabets A to Z try to climb up a coconut tree but they fall with a boom and then start all over again. This story narrates how lower case and upper case alphabets struggle to climb and get injured. Cute concept. Isn’t it?
21. Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
An award-winning, intense story of a board game discovered by two children, peter, and Judy who later realizes how dangerous it is. The story is filled with excitement, drama, adventure, fantasy, thriller, and mystery. It’s a surreal book for older kids.
22. The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
One of my favorite books for kids that teaches about “being yourself” through the simple story of a gentle bull. This is a must-know lesson for children in this modern world than ever. One of the common causes of stress among youngsters today is conformity and living a life that society demands.
Peer pressure and fear of missing out prevent people to live their life as they want regardless of others’ opinions. The art of being yourself should be instilled in people right from an early age.
23. Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie
The story of a mischievous boy perfectly captures what it means to be a child. The book is all about Peter who can fly and never wants to grow up in life, his friends, and their thrilling adventure in Neverland. This is another classic with beautiful illustrations that every parent must read to their child.
24. The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde
A sad story with a beautiful lesson, The Happy Prince is a must-read for children who are unhappy with the lockdown and crisis associated with it.
The friendship between a swallow and a statue of a happy prince, who led a sheltered existence and in death saw the sufferings of the city, teaches the readers about compassion, loyalty, the deeper meaning in happiness, and the distinction between pleasure and happiness, suffering and death.
25. Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
This is another special book for kids that most parents buy. Filled with special artwork, the story of a naughty boy, who is sent to bed without supper by his exhausted mom shows the power of imagination. The plot is joyful plus the monster sounds and dancing sounds associated with Max’s adventures contribute to fun when reading.
The book is all about the unconditional love of the mother. No matter how mischievous the child is he will always find a mother’s love and supper on the table.
26. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
The story chronicles the desire of a stuffed rabbit sewn from velveteen to become real through the power of love. It is also one of the much-loved classic books for kids that encourages young minds to question life and the universe and explore possibilities beyond the literal truth.
27. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
It’s a book full of poems about clowns, monsters and pirates illustrated with humorous sketches. Reading A Light in the Attic has been a wonderful experience for people of all ages. Parents can easily delight their children (both young and old) with diverse stories of each character written in poetic prose.
Would you like to add more to this list of best books for kids? Let me know in the comments. We’re happy to hear from you.
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