Children's Book Gift Guide
You probably have too many toys. But it is a truth universally acknowledged that a child in possession of a bedtime must be in want of an extra story.
Thankfully then, you can never have too many books (this is a direct message to my husband who regularly tells me “No Rachel, we actually do have too many books, we have literally run out of bookshelves” or something to that effect, I stop listening after the first part since the premise is nonsense).
Back to the facts: you probably need more books. And you know that reading to your children is some of the most rewarding time you can spend together. But there are approximately one billion children’s books out there; how do you know which ones will really be a home run? I can help with that!
What does a family photographer know about children’s literature? My qualifications are sterling; I’m a mom! And I love to read. That’s really all there is to it.
But I suppose if you want to go deeper into my resumé: I’m the kid who wouldn’t go outside in the summer because I was holed up in my bedroom reading (like a COOL person). In a now-somewhat-funny anecdote, I almost set our house on fire when I was about 10 because I was reading in bed with a lamp on. I wasn’t allowed to read in bed because otherwise I would stay up all night doing that and not, you know, sleeping — though at the time I was sure it was because my parents hated literature. To conceal the fact that I was engaged in illicit activity I put a BLANKET OVER THE LAMP and burned a hole in the blanket. That’s right, I almost died just to get in another chapter. I still say it was worth it!
I am the reason my home growing up had a “no reading at the table” rule at dinnertime (I had to actually talk to my family members; can you even imagine), I worked at the local library in high school, went on to be an English major in college, and continue to always have a book or three in progress at any given time.
When I became a mom, reading was the aspect I was arguably most excited about sharing with my child. My baby shower was children’s book themed, and everyone brought a book instead of a card. We had an incredible little library before Alexander even made his arrival, and I read to him aloud every day even in utero, probably before he had even developed ears - and we’ve never stopped! Now I get to share that love with his little sister, and for a brief but precious time his little brother Jamie. The hours spent reading together are some of my most treasured motherhood memories.
All that to say, I'm not an expert; just a reclusive, sleep-deprived attempted arsonist from the sound of my biography. But my enthusiasm for sharing good books with others runs deep, and if there's anything I've learned from being a family photographer over the past decade it's that mamas are always looking to connect with other mamas over those pure parts, those moments in motherhood that just light up your soul. And for me, reading is definitely one of those parts.
I love being surrounded by (precarious stacks of) books, and in the nearly-seven years I’ve been a mom, I’ve read and loved a lot of children’s books. I know we’ve barely even scratched the surface of children’s literature, but along the way we’ve discovered some absolute treasures, and I love sharing that joy with others.
If you’re looking to gift a child you love with a book or two, you can’t go wrong with any on this list. Our bookshelves are overflowing, and if you ask me I’ll make a case for loving them all. But for this list, I tried to focus solely on the titles that have been nearly worn out from reading so many times, so you’re getting truly the best of the best. I also need to preface this with the fact that my children are under 7 - we are still discovering new favorites for older kids. I already feel badly for all the books I overlooked or haven't discovered yet, so it's only fair if you email me back with some of your favorites, too.
A quick note before we dive in: these are all affiliate links to Amazon! It’s always best if you can find these at a local bookstore, a thrift shop or the library. But if you do end up ordering through Amazon, I will earn a little bit back for myself, which I will undoubtedly turn around and use on more books. Sorry, Brian.
Look, no one is hiring me as a graphic designer
And now, in no particular order….our family favorites!
The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen
This might be my #1 gifted, and #1 most often recommended book for kids. Everyone from little kids to big kids will enjoy it, and each will find something new to get out of it on each new read. While this may be our favorite Chris Van Dusen book, it’s an extremely slim margin. Close behind are his other titles Hattie & Hudson, A Camping Spree with Mr. McGee, and the whole If I Built…series. We pull each of these off of our shelves in equal rotation. In all of them, the illustrations are absolutely stunning, and you’ll spend just as much time enjoying the gorgeous artwork as you will the witty verse. The Circus Ship is an especially hilarious story; a shipload of circus animals are shipwrecked off the coast of Maine, and find an unlikely home with the townspeople there. The page where all of the animals are hiding in town from the mean circus leader has been poured over for HOURS. Instant classic.
Rattletrap Car by Phyllis Root
We took this on the family beach trip one year, and it was the most requested book of the trip by the demanding under-5 contingency. At any given point in the week, an adult somewhere was reading it to a gaggle of children. It doesn’t rhyme per-se, but it has a buoyancy to the words that make it incredibly fun to read aloud, with repetition that the little ones enjoy joining in each time. Imaginative, silly, sweet - all my favorite story components.
The Sleep Book by Dr. Seuss
Pretty much any book by Dr. Seuss is a beloved repeat in our house, but this one might just squeak out at top billing. I start yawning myself about halfway through, but not because it’s boring. It’s an absolutely perfect bedtime story, long enough to take a wound-up kid and lull them into a zen state over the course of a silly story, setting the perfect stage for sleep.
Do all parents love reading Dr. Seuss as much as I do? My family growing up had this treasury and I have fond memories reading together with my parents. There are the six main stories, but then some little shorter vignettes like Mayzie and The Big Brag. I always loved sitting down with a big treasury with my oldest, because often after we finished reading one story, he flipped the page and wanted to read whatever was next. Sometimes we’d look up and it was an hour later but he just wanted to keep reading! Horton Hatches an Egg and The Grinch (it never mattered whether it was actually Christmas or not) were perennial favorites.
Other favorite Dr. Seuss titles are The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, which like Toy Story 2 and Godfather 2 is a sequel better than the original, as well as Fox in Socks, which my husband and I hold competitions on to see who can get through it fastest without making a mistake. Bedtime is really exciting over here, guys.
Duck and Goose Go To The Beach by Tad Hills
I adore Hills’ Duck and Goose series, and his Rocket series too. Rocket Writes a Story is probably tied for first place for me, and is wonderful for 4-5 year olds. But Duck and Goose Go to the Beach is one we have read so many times the pages are tattered, and is great starting around age 2 or 3. I just love the story of two slightly-hapless friends who go on an adventure together to the beach. In the end, they head home, realizing that their little meadow is their favorite place to be, but still reliving the excitement of their day out. It’s just one of those perfect little stories that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, with lots of fun little illustrations that kids LOVE (like a map of their dotted-line path from the meadow to the beach that we drew with our fingers probably 427 times).
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
The first time I read this book I made it to the ending and spluttered it out with tears streaming down my cheeks. This book is absolutely beautiful, and I love it to pieces. It is a bit on the longer side, but great for older kids (4-5) and a great opportunity to talk to your kids about putting something beautiful out into the world, no matter how simple. I love the message, I love the prose, I love the artwork. It’s definitely a heart book for me, you know? One of those books that just touches your heart in a way you can’t quite put into words but always want to keep close.
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
The illustrations could not be simpler in this book, but that is exactly the source of its massive charm. Harold is a little boy with a big imagination armed with a single purple crayon. We love this story, and the ways Harold gets himself into and out of trouble while trying to avoid bed. I also love books that have the characters drifting off to sleep on the final page; it sets the stage so perfectly for bedtime. My almost seven year old saw it out on the table while I was writing up this article and made me stop to read it to him again.
Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
You all know Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel - another classic of course. But for some reason this was the one we read over and over again in our house. There are a couple of fun details at play in this book that I think made it so engaging for a little kid: a big city map with a numbered key of important places - Alex would have so much fun pointing to a number and having me look up what it was. I would do lots of “chug-chug-chug” sound effects as Katy plowed through each part of the city. There was repetition and building excitement as Katy incrementally saved the day! A great winter-y book, though as parents of toddlers still wearing their Halloween pajamas in December know, seasonality is merely a suggestion.
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
Yep, it’s a classic. You probably already have it on your shelf! I just can’t overstate how much I love this book though. It’s a masterpiece, and a joy to read aloud with your little one. Starting at around age 2.5, this book was rarely put back on the shelf because we were reading it so often. I love the illustrations, I love the innocent story of little girl and a little bear cub unwittingly switching places while out with their mamas picking blueberries. It is incredibly charming, a smidge suspenseful, and one you should add to your library if you haven’t already.
The Tale of Two Bad Mice by Beatrix Potter
We have the full anthology of Beatrix Potter stories and we have read most of them together at least once. But this particular story has been requested more than all the rest. It’s short, it’s sweet, it’s a wee bit naughty and very, very fun for little ones. Like all of Potter’s stories, there are words you will have to explain to your kids because they are archaic or British or both. But what hasn’t changed is the delight children feel at two little mice throwing a destructive tantrum in a dollhouse because all of the food is fake. Like my favorite E.B. White, so much of Potter’s charm is treating ridiculous situations with grown-up seriousness, and there is loads to admire for children and adults alike.
What Do People Do All Day by Richard Scarry
We have read this one frontwards and backwards, and my oldest still wants me to read it to him now. It definitely has some outdated gender themes - mommies don’t seem to ever have gainful employment in Busy World, and daddy is the one working, buying mommy a new dress or giving her money for groceries. BUT! My son and I always talked about how his mommy works at home and at a job, and that every single family looks different. This is an easy conversation to have, and I like books that give opportunities to have Bigger Discussions. Regardless of employment status, I love that Scarry makes a point to say everyone works - daddies, mommies, kids. They all contribute to the family - so in that sense, it’s evergreen.
That issue aside, this book is absolutely captivating to little ones (and their big people alike). From taking a voyage, to how paper is made, to how a letter is mailed, the intricate functions of how mysterious, every-day things work makes for some really enjoyable snuggle-time reading. And there are SO MANY DETAILS to pour over in the illustrations. This world isn’t called “busy” for nothing. We love Cars and Trucks and Things that Go and Busy Busy World as well.
The Wild Symphony by Dan Brown
Yes, that Dan Brown wrote a children’s book. And it’s not just a children’s book; he composed a whole symphony to go along with it! Each page has a poem about a different animal, and all of it is set to a symphonic soundtrack. You can pull up the album on Spotify and play it as you read the book together. It’s a gentle and brilliant opportunity to expose kids to the power of music to emote certain moods, which Brown does incredibly- every song really does sound like the animal its meant to portray. It wouldn’t be Dan Brown if there weren’t some puzzles to solve along the way, too.
Elephant & Piggie Books by Mo Willems
These were the first books my son as a new reader wanted to read by himself. We get a new one out of the library each week and he devours them, giggling to himself as he discovers the delight of reading all on his own. We also still do dramatic readings of them together. Add in the Pigeon books (I always have to be the off-screen person saying NO pigeon you can’t drive the bus!!!!) and it’s official that Mo Willems is one of the most beloved authors in our house for sure.
The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
Oooh, I love this book. We suspend the reality of what really happens in bullfights, and pull for our gentle giant hero who just wants to sit and smell the flowers in all the lovely ladies’ hair. This is such a sweet little book about choosing to enjoy the simple things in life, but Alex also always really loved the part where the matador is so mad he cried because Ferdinand wouldn’t fight. It’s also really fun to shout “Picadores!” and “Banderilleros!” with lots of extra flourish.
The Prince and the Witch and the Thief and the Bears by Alistair Chisholm
This is just a really fun bedtime book. It’s a group effort for Jamie and his dad to create a bedtime story together - Jamie sometimes having trouble making up his mind on the details - and the resulting story feels fun and fresh and silly. Alex always got the giggles reading this book together. If you’re looking for something completely new and different and just fun, this is a great book for you.
Pickle Chiffon Pie by Jolly Rodger Bradfield
You probably think this book is ridiculous based on silly things like the title, cover and author, and you would be correct. The message of this book is that kindness triumphs over all other kinds of smarts and strengths, but it does so with the most memorable characters. Get ready to laugh a bunch with your little ones as the kind, yet understated, Prince Bernard wins the heart and hand of the princess in a very, er, unique challenge.
Strega Nona by Tomie dePoala
Maybe it’s partly being in an Italian family that eats pasta every Sunday night, but our household loves the story of Strega Nona and her magical pasta pot. And of course the mischief that inevitably ensues when Big Anthony tries to figure out how it works all on his own. You will need to come up with a melody for the pasta spell because then it will get stuck in your head and you’ll be singing it every single time you go to make spaghetti from here on out.
Magic Beach by Alison Lester
I just adore this book. I bought it for our family on my son’s first or second beach trip, and it has become an every-summer many-times-a-summer read. If you are a beach family, it’s going to hit different. Each page tells a rhyming story of an experience playing on the beach, and the next one shows that same experience through the eyes of a child’s imagination. Seriously, the “magic” part of “magic beach.” There is one page that rhymes “seen” and “been” which was initially infuriating until I realized the author is Australian, and so it works for her. Alright Lester, you get a pass!
James Herriot’s Treasury for Children
Perhaps this is partly wish fulfillment, as I too always wished that I could live in the English countryside taking care of puppies and piglets like the author, but I love reading these stories with my oldest. Each tale tells a sweet story about the country vet’s real experiences taking care of farmyard animals in Yorkshire in the 1900s. These are gentle bedtime stories, though one or two of them may have some (minor) sad parts for especially sensitive children. The longer and more complex prose makes this a good book for 4+. Overall, the stories are incredibly hopeful and sweet, and such a charming slice-of-life for a time period so different from our own.
My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
Are you just on the cusp of looking for a longer read aloud for your four-year old? This is my best rec for first chapter book read-aloud that everyone will love to read (and listen to) again and again. The entire story takes maybe 45 minutes to read out loud, so it’s perfect for breaking up into a few shorter sessions, but it’s completely feasible to power through and read the whole thing in one sitting if you have an older child and the vocal stamina. This is the first one in a trilogy, and all of them are worth reading, but we’ve come back and read the first one again and again, and the land of Tangerina and Wild Island became the setting for loads of imaginative play ever since.
The Trumpet of the Swan and Stuart Little by E.B. White
E.B. White is one of my favorite writers of all time. I read both of these books as a child and couldn’t appreciate them beyond their stories - which is enough to love on their own of course. But as an adult, I marvel over White’s simple, witty, beautiful prose and his masterful storytelling that is captivating to children and adults alike. These are fantastic read aloud for 4-5 year olds - we would read a chapter or two at a time, and we’ve read the whole book over several times. This along with Stuart Little really ought to have a permanent place on your shelf. If your kids don’t want to read them, you can just read them for yourself. They’re worth it.
The Magic Treehouse Series by Mary Pope Osborne
Your kiddo might be ready for these mini chapter books earlier than you think. The adventures of Jack and Annie are absolutely delightful read-alouds starting around 4 years old. We have read these first books quite a few times each; they are fast reads, have just the right of mystery and suspense for little ones, and are great wish-fulfillment stories; who doesn’t want their own magic treehouse that takes them on time-traveling adventures??
Paddington Bear by Michael Bond
I enjoy this one because I read all the characters in my posh British accent, though maybe that’s a point against it if you ask my children. Paddington is of course originally a chapter book, but the picture book is a perfect place to start if you have younger kids. It’s silly and sweet, and if your child likes them there are loads more (mis)adventures to follow Paddington into next.
The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson / Axel Scheffler
You probably know the Gruffalo by the same author/illustrator team, but I love this story so much more. Perhaps it’s the wanderlust in me, but I just love the story of a little snail who wants to go on an adventure to see the big wide world. He forms a friendship with a blue whale and the little-ol’ snail even ends up getting to play the hero of the story. A lovely little rhyming story of friendship, adventure, and how no one is ever too small to save the day.
Steam Train, Dream Train by Sherry Duskey Rinker
It was a tie between this one and the original Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site. You probably already have that one and love it as much as we do. I just love train books for some reason though?? So this one edges it out. I love the whimsical animals who ride this midnight train around, loading it with all sorts of goodies. And as I mentioned before, I especially love books that leave the listener nodding off to sleep at its conclusion. We need all the help we can get over here to slow these wild kiddos down.
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip & Erin Stead
Such an adorable story of the world’s sweetest zookeeper who has a sick day…and the animals who make a jailbreak to check on him and take care of him at home. There’s a tenderness to this book that’s hard to put your finger on, but you won’t be annoyed when your kids ask for it again and again. The illustrations are possibly the best part; it’s no wonder it was a Caldecott winner.
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
We love the sweet verse this book is written in - a tale of a bear asleep for the winter, who has some cave crashers who throw a party while he sleeps! A very fun book to read aloud and really beautiful illustrations. There are quite a few Bear Books in the series now, but this is the one to kick it all off.
The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman
As you can infer from the title, this is a very silly book about a very large family of very picky eaters. The delightful verse makes it a pleasure to read aloud (my brother and sister-in-law can recite it by heart from reading it to their kiddos so many times). It is a bit ridiculous, but also incredibly sweet; a tale of problem-solving, luck, and a whole lot of love. Not to mention moms everywhere will sympathize with poor Mrs. Peters and the lengths she has to go to to keep her family fed!
Now, a few quick hits for the 0-2 age range. These aren’t going to be narrative masterpieces, but they are all fun, and every single one of these has been in constant rotation for my son AND now my daughter, so they are tried and true. Like all experiences for your little one at this age, they’re learning something critical in baby or toddler development, and you’ll find that your little keeps going back to their favorite book because it’s teaching them something: words, feelings, cause-and-effect, or just the pure joy of a snuggle session with mama.
The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
Everyone knows Goodnight Moon (we read that one a billion times too), but I like this one even more. It’s one of the books I read to our little son Jamie in the hospital when he was born and we had one precious night with him. A timeless story of a mama who would do anything to be with her little one, my heart seems to grow two sizes every time I read it. And it’s very fun for toddlers to look on the pages and see if they can spot the baby bunny and his mama as they shape-shift through the story. Everyone I know who has added this to their library says how beloved it has become!
Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
Look, I’m just going to assume you already have this one. Everyone does at this point, right? It’s like a mandatory gift at baby showers now. It earned its beloved status honestly though; we can probably recite it by heart. When I read it to my daughter now, my son always comes over and takes a turn reading a page or two to her. I just had to put it on the list because I tried leaving it off and I could hear a faint beep beep beeeeeeep wafting over to me from the bookshelf. Spooky.
Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
One of my 2-year-old daughter’s current favorite books. This book was gifted to us when we announced I was expecting my oldest, so it’s been beloved since the very beginning. We sing-song our way through these pages as well, and one of my daughter’s first “words” were doing the sounds of the snowstorm: Hooooo wooooo!
This book is a countdown book, starting with all 10 ladybugs (cute hard plastic that little ones love to touch). “Friends” keep showing up and ladybugs keep disappearing and the first time you read this book you’re going to think they are BEING EATEN BY NATURAL PREDATORS. But turns out they are just hanging out with their buddies! And they all show up at the end, definitely not having been eaten. It’s a really simple board book, but my goodness did both kids love reading and counting and touching the cute little ladybugs as we went. We’d often finished only to have them turn to the beginning and demand we start over again.
From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
When my son was a toddler, this was his favorite board book. The Very Hungry Caterpillar is of course the big Eric Carle classic, but this was the winner in our house. Each animal has a fun movement - “I am a gorilla and I thump my chest - can you do it?” It’s interactive and great for encouraging little ones to learn body parts and movement. Our copy’s spine is barely hanging on now that my daughter fell in love with it too.
Go Dog Go by P.D. Eastman
You might be thinking - “this old thing? Ehh, we don’t need it.” And you would be wrong. I think maybe it’s so simple that I underestimate the appeal of this book on toddlers constantly, but my daughter is sure to bring reality crashing down when we finish it and she immediately goes back to the beginning and waits (impatiently) for me to re-start. It is a fun, simple way to introduce words that they want so desperately to know - big! little! red! green! dogs having a night time boat party! If it isn’t already, it’s sure to become a constant rotation in your baby’s book demands.
The Belly Button Book …and every other Sandra Boynton Book
Our two year old changes up her favorite Sandra Boynton book weekly, alternating between Snugglepuppy, Pajama Time, Are You A Cow, Dinosaur Dance, and the great Christmas one Moo Baa Fa La La. All have that super secret sauce that makes them addicting to toddler brains that I don’t quite understand, but I’ll just keep being grateful for them.
Peek-a-Who by Nina Laden
One of the first books to encourage “words” from both of my kids - they would try to fill in the blank for each of the “peek-a-” pages. Simple, cute, you’ll get absolutely sick of reading it but your baby will LOVE it, and that’s really all that matters doesn’t it?
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
The quintessential classic board book - and not for nothing. Both my kids loved this book and the tabs are nearly worn off from them opening them up a hundred times each. Definitely another fun peek-a-boo style book for this age.
Big Red Barn by Maragaret Wise Brown
Childhood leans heavy on the farm animal stories, and just when you think you can’t stand one more book that makes you "moooooo,” you’ll want to give this one a try. Come along for a day at the farm and learn about all the big and little animals who call this place home. Felicia Bond’s (the much beloved If You Give a Mouse A Cookie illustrator) artwork is extra charming here.
Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
Parental note - there are no words in this book! You have to supply the narrative, and sometimes we were in the mood for that, and sometimes not. Not that it mattered, because my son and daughter both would ask for this one nightly. They love the naughty gorilla who lets all the animals out of their cages and sneak into the zookeeper’s bedroom for a sleepover, and each time you look at it you’ll see more funny things going on behind the scenes.
My daughter loved ALL of these lift-the-flap books. Great for reading together, also great for entertaining them in their car seat on the go!
And there you have it! A round-up of my family’s favorite children’s books. I apologize for all the wonderful books I overlooked, but I had to draw the line somewhere. I will undoubtedly be revising this list as the years go by. If you disagree with any on the list, remember, I never said these were the best children’s books, just that they were our favorites. If you agree, then they definitely are the best (HAHA). In all seriousness, a family library is a precious, constantly growing and evolving thing, and the unique way you tailor that to your family’s interests is one of the most fun parts about being a mom (I think!).
Are your most well-loved titles on the list? I hope you discovered a few new authors, and that one or two or a bunch of these find a new permanent rotation in your reading snuggle sessions. Wishing you lots of happy adventures with that new-book-smell!
Rachel