The 20 best children’s books of all time
Twenty children’s books that families keep handing down, from picture books for bedtime to novels for confident readers.
There is no official list of the best children’s books ever written, so this is ours. We chose books that have stayed in print and in family bookcases for decades, that suit reading aloud or reading alone, and that have shaped the books children read today. We have avoided sales claims, because figures vary between sources. Dates are first publication, and ages are our own suggestions. Every book has its own guide and every author has their own page.
For what children are buying right now, see our Top 20 children’s books, which changes with the bestseller charts. You can also meet the authors.
The 20 classics
1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
By J.K. Rowling, 1997. Ages 8 and up
The first book about a boy who learns he is a wizard and starts at a school of magic. Read the full guide or learn about J.K. Rowling.
2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar
By Eric Carle, 1969. Ages 0 to 4
A tiny caterpillar eats its way through the week and turns into a butterfly. Read the full guide or learn about Eric Carle.
3. Where the Wild Things Are
By Maurice Sendak, 1963. Ages 3 to 7
A boy sent to bed without supper sails away to a wild island and learns he can go home again. Read the full guide or learn about Maurice Sendak.
4. Charlotte’s Web
By E.B. White, 1952. Ages 6 to 10
A young pig is saved by a clever spider in a story about friendship and loss. Illustrated by Garth Williams. Read the full guide or learn about E.B. White.
5. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
By C.S. Lewis, 1950. Ages 7 to 11
Four children step through a wardrobe and find a snowy land called Narnia. Read the full guide or learn about C.S. Lewis.
6. Matilda
By Roald Dahl, 1988. Ages 7 to 11
A bright girl with unkind parents finds a surprising power. Illustrated by Quentin Blake. Read the full guide or learn about Roald Dahl.
7. The Gruffalo
By Julia Donaldson, 1999. Ages 2 to 6
A clever mouse invents a terrible monster to keep hungry animals away, until the monster is real. Illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Read the full guide or learn about Julia Donaldson.
8. Goodnight Moon
By Margaret Wise Brown, 1947. Ages 0 to 3
A little rabbit says goodnight to everything in the great green room. Illustrated by Clement Hurd. Read the full guide or learn about Margaret Wise Brown.
9. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
By Lewis Carroll, 1865. Ages 7 and up
A girl falls down a rabbit hole into a world of nonsense and puzzles. Illustrated by John Tenniel. Read the full guide or learn about Lewis Carroll.
10. The Cat in the Hat
By Dr. Seuss, 1957. Ages 3 to 7
A very rainy day turns upside down when a mischievous visitor arrives. Read the full guide or learn about Dr. Seuss.
11. The Tale of Peter Rabbit
By Beatrix Potter, 1902. Ages 2 to 6
A naughty young rabbit sneaks into a garden he has been told to avoid. Read the full guide or learn about Beatrix Potter.
12. Winnie-the-Pooh
By A.A. Milne, 1926. Ages 4 to 8
Gentle adventures with a bear of very little brain and his friends in the woods. Illustrated by E.H. Shepard. Read the full guide or learn about A.A. Milne.
13. The Hobbit
By J.R.R. Tolkien, 1937. Ages 9 and up
A small, comfort-loving hobbit is swept into a quest to win back a treasure from a dragon. Read the full guide or learn about J.R.R. Tolkien.
14. Green Eggs and Ham
By Dr. Seuss, 1960. Ages 3 to 7
A grumpy character is asked again and again to try a plate of green eggs and ham. Read the full guide or learn about Dr. Seuss.
15. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
By Roald Dahl, 1964. Ages 6 to 10
Five children win golden tickets to see inside Willy Wonka’s famous chocolate factory. Illustrated by Quentin Blake. Read the full guide or learn about Roald Dahl.
16. The Wind in the Willows
By Kenneth Grahame, 1908. Ages 6 to 10
Four friends share adventures along a riverbank and in the Wild Wood. Read the full guide or learn about Kenneth Grahame.
17. Anne of Green Gables
By L.M. Montgomery, 1908. Ages 9 and up
An imaginative orphan girl arrives at a farm on Prince Edward Island. Read the full guide or learn about L.M. Montgomery.
18. The Tiger Who Came to Tea
By Judith Kerr, 1968. Ages 2 to 5
A surprise visitor knocks at the door at teatime and eats everything in the house. Read the full guide or learn about Judith Kerr.
19. Guess How Much I Love You
By Sam McBratney, 1994. Ages 0 to 4
A little hare and a big hare try to outdo each other in saying how much they love one another. Illustrated by Anita Jeram. Read the full guide or learn about Sam McBratney.
20. Diary of a Wimpy Kid
By Jeff Kinney, 2007. Ages 8 to 12
An illustrated journal of a boy’s first year at middle school. Read the full guide or learn about Jeff Kinney.
How to use this list
- Match the book to the age. Picture books such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Goodnight Moon suit under-fives. Novels such as The Hobbit work best when children are ready for longer stories.
- Read the long ones aloud. Older classics such as Winnie-the-Pooh, The Wind in the Willows and Charlotte’s Web are often easier to enjoy when someone reads them to you. See our guide to reading aloud.
- Borrow before you buy. Most of these are in public libraries. See our library guide.
What is the best children’s book of all time?
There is no single answer, because it depends on the age of the child and what you value. Harry Potter, Charlotte’s Web and The Very Hungry Caterpillar are among the most often named.
Which classics suit toddlers?
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Goodnight Moon, Guess How Much I Love You and The Tiger Who Came to Tea are all good for the youngest children.
Which classics suit older children?
Harry Potter, The Hobbit, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Matilda and Anne of Green Gables suit confident readers from about 8 to 9 and up.
How were these books chosen?
We looked for books that have stayed in print and popular for decades, and covered a mix of ages and styles. The list is our own judgement, not a sales ranking.