As a mother, one thing that I’m actively trying to pass down to my four-year-old daughter is my love for books and reading. We spend hours together with our faces buried in stories of other worlds and beloved characters she will likely remember forever.
She’s grown up surrounded by my book collection, even briefly teethed on a couple of books while my back was turned for a brief second, and “read with me!” is a common demand in my house. For now, we tend to stick to easier-to-comprehend tales, but as she gets older, I know the books that I plan to introduce to her. It’s something I’ve thought about a lot.
There is a whole world of children’s books that come with vicarious experiences, inspiration, and life lessons that can serve them well as they get older. So, in the interest of “sharing is caring,” as my daughter very often says to me, here are my top 12 books for kids of all ages. Maybe it will inspire your little ones to become bookworms because the world needs more of them.
12. The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy (1974)
Long before J.K. Rowling came along and stole all of the credit for creating a school for wizardry, Jill Murphy wrote the first book in a series that is beloved to me personally — The Worst Witch.
Imagine Neville Longbottom had been the protagonist, and a girl, and that’s Mildred Hubble. Horribly clumsy, an absolute nightmare on a broomstick, taunted by a bully called Ethel Hallow, and constantly getting into trouble with Miss Hardbroom. If all of this sounds familiar, that’s because it is, but Jill Murphy’s magical world is wildly underappreciated.
11. Stig of the Dump by Clive King (1963)
Stig of the Dump centers around a child named Barney who accidentally stumbles across a caveman named Stig who has made his home in a garbage dump. The two become friends, with Barney helping Stig to improve his living conditions and the two of them communicating without speech but understanding each other nonetheless.
Although it might not sound like the most inspiring of stories, there are strong messages of not judging others for their circumstances and that friendship can overcome all sorts of obstacles, and that’s something that all children should learn.
10. Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug by Jonathan Stutzman (2019)
The Tiny T. Rex series of children’s books was something that I discovered during one of my many trips to the USA, and it’s a travesty that it doesn’t seem to have reached British shores yet. Of all of the books, The Impossible Hug is absolutely my favorite, and one of my daughters too.
Tiny is, well, tiny. His friend is sad, and Tiny wants to give him a hug, but he’s tiny, so he doesn’t think the hug will be very good. Rather than giving up, Tiny goes on an adventure to seek advice from family and practice his hugs on a variety of objects, all so that he can be there for his friend when it’s needed the most. It’s such a cute story and one hell of a lesson in perseverance.
9. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (1908)
The Wind in the Willows is another classic and centers around a group of anthropomorphized forest critters with huge personalities. The worst of them is Toad of Toad Hall, a very rich and very fickle toad who spends his entire life hopping (sorry) from one fad to the next.
Each character embodies a different type of personality, with Mole being independent and timid, Rat being the dreamer of the group, and Badger being seen as a “wise hermit.” After various dramatic events, they group together to teach Toad a better way of life and enter into battle to save their homes. Honestly? This one is hard to explain, but a definite must-read for older kids.
8. George’s Marvelous Medicine by Roald Dahl (1981)
I could have included any of Roald Dahl’s books on this list, and I’d recommend all of them equally, but George’s Marvelous Medicine is probably my personal favorite because it inspired me to mix all of my mother’s bath products together in the tub. She was unimpressed, for the record, and my concoction was less magical than I would have liked.
When George is left at home with his bully of a grandma, George begins to concoct a “medicine” from anything and everything he can find around the house in the hopes that feeding it to her will somehow change her. Unfortunately, it actually makes her grow to ten times her original size, so not only is she mean, but she’s also now huge.
7. Aesop’s Fables by Aesop (Between 620 and 564 BCE)
You know that stories are good when you can’t even guess the original date that they were written, and yet somehow they still manage to be relevant thousands of years later. Aesop’s Fables is a collection of short stories, all of which have valuable lessons attached and make excellent bedtime reading and discussion topics.
Aesop’s Fables have been adapted, translated, re-written, and have served as inspiration for countless other stories through the years and even if you don’t realize it, you’ve definitely heard of many of them. ‘The Boy who Cried Wolf” and ‘The Tortoise and the Hare’ spring to mind.
6. Elmer by David McKee (1968)
Elmer is the story of a patchwork elephant, different from the rest of the herd and yet still deeply loved. This is a message that I will instill in my daughter time and time again because it’s one that I was never taught and took far too long to figure out on my own: It’s absolutely okay to be different.
There are a staggering 44 books about Elmer and his adventures, with other characters such as Wilbur (Elmer’s black and white checkered cousin) being introduced along the way, but the original is still the best, in my opinion.
5. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (1969)
I’m not sure I need to explain the concept of this book too much, and although it doesn’t come with a huge lesson at the end, it can be incredibly useful when it comes to teaching children how to count. Sometimes practical lessons outweigh the need for a philosophical life lesson.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is hugely successful and loved by children worldwide. It’s sold 50 million copies, been translated into more than 60 different languages, and is practically swimming in all of the awards it has won. It’s often described as one of the “greatest childhood classics of all time,” and if that doesn’t convince you, I’m not sure what will.
4. The Stompysaurus by Rachel Bright (2022)
The Stompysaurus is a book that’s included in Rachel Bright’s “DinoFeelings” collection. All of the books feature hidden advice to help children cope with different emotions while keeping them entertained with humorous stories. The lessons don’t just apply to the younger generation, either.
I think this one is best summed up with a quote directly from my daughter’s copy:
“In life, you see, my Stompysaur, there’ll always be that day,
Where everything feels back-to-front, and nothing feels ok.
But take a breath, then blow it out, slow down, make space, untangle,
Try looking at the problem from another sort of angle.”
3. The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone (1971)
If you are or ever have been a fan of Sesame Street, and let’s face it, who hasn’t been at some point, then The Monster at the End of this Book will touch a special place in your heart. It’s still one of my favorite books. I first read it over two decades ago, and my daughter now has my original copy.
The book features Grover (my favorite Muppet), and he’s terrified of the monster that’s at the end of the book. Through the pages, he builds barricades and begs you not to turn the page, but of course, any child will laugh gleefully while flipping it over.
2. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1943)
The Little Prince, originally Le Petit Prince in the author’s native French, has sold over 140 million copies since it was first published and has been translated into over 505 different languages. The story is known and loved around the world and is still relevant to this day.
After a pilot wakes up to find himself stranded in the desert, he meets a small boy who challenges him to draw a sheep. From such small (and admittedly bizarre) beginnings, The Little Prince goes on to become an illuminating tale about what’s truly important in life.
1. Oh, The Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss (1990)
Dr. Seuss is an absolute must when teaching children the joy of reading, with the rhymes and nonsense words keeping the attention of even the most hyperactive young ones. Of all the Dr. Seuss stories, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! is absolutely my favorite, and I’ve read it to my daughter countless times.
The story puts the reader as the main character, inspiring a desire to travel and explore the world as you grow. It’s particularly touching to read to a child, imagining all of the places they’ll go and things they’ll experience as they get older and spread their wings. Again, this is probably best summed up with a quote:
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…”
Published: Nov 23, 2024 08:44 am