40 Books Every Child Should Read
JulieAs the Half Pint Library book drive draws to a close, we are reminded once again of the importance reading plays in a child's development. It is a fact that children who live in a print-rich environment are much more likely to learn how to read on schedule and have a bigger and better vocabulary.
Did you know that children's books actually contain 50% more rare words than primetime television (or even college students' conversations)? As essential as early literacy is, the wealth of children's literature that we have available to choose from can be overwhelming. So we consulted with our HPB Bibliomaniacs and asked: What do you consider to be some of the best children's books ever written? And without further ado, here are 40 Books Every Child Should Read:
Does anyone else have the unquenchable desire to raid the children's section of your local Half Price
Books for The Poky Little Puppy, Where the Sidewalk Ends and There's a Monster at the End of
this Book?! I sure do.
Remember, the 2012 Half Pint Library book drive ends on Saturday, March 31. Please donate a new or
gently used kids book, and help share the love of reading with children in need.
How many of these books do you remember reading? What's your childhood favorite?
-- Julie
This website is made from 100% completely recycled materials.
Reader Comments (58)
Can you by any chance know the name of a book I loved as a child? It was about a man who wore a stack of hats all of the time, that's all I can remember; oh, and the fact that there was this monkey in one of the books that scattered them all in a tree.
Thanks.
I'm not sure what age range you are looking for, but Charlotte's Web is a classic not to be missed book as far as I am concerned!!!
I would say to add the books "Misty of Chincoteague" by Marguerite Henry, "Freckles", by Gene Stratton Porter, "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George, and "The Melendy Quartet" by Elizabeth Enright.
So many of these were my favorites! I loved everything that Beatrix Potter, E.B. White, Eric Carle, and Shel Silverstein wrote. The Giver, The Secret Garden, and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day were three of my childhood favorites. I could go on and on about the books in this list, but then I'd be here all day. Thanks so much for sharing these. It took me back!
Asilee -- I believe you're describing a children's book called "Caps for Sale" by Esphyr Slobodkina.
Asilee: Are you thinking of THE THREE HAT DAY? About a man who wears multiple hats and how he falls in love with a woman who runs a hat store?
Where the Red Fern Grows by Rawlings should also be on this list!
Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slodbodkina
@Asilee -- yes, you are definitely describing "Caps for Sale"! That is a wonderful book!
I agree with most of your choices, but I would also add something by Beverly Cleary, who wrote many classics, including "Henry Huggins." Also, I'd add "Scuffy the Tugboat" of the Golden Books best books.
Any book by Arnold Lobel - Frog and Toad Together was a Newbery Honor book. His gentle humorous stories of friendship are timeless. My favorite book as a child was Little Women.
This brought me back to my childhood and how much I LOVED most of these books. My absolute favorite book when I was a kid was the BFG (the big friendly giant) by Roald Dahl. I must have read that book two dozen times. I want to go any buy all of these for my two year old twin nieces who LOVE books so when they are old enough to sit through or read the longer ones they will already have them. I will always be the aunt who gets them each a book for their birthday (an something else) no matter how old they get. I also get them each an ornament every year for Christmas, so when they are old enough to have their own Christmas tree, they will have ornaments for it (I have an aunt who did this for me and as an adult I really appreciate it).
Caps for Sale .... that's the book with man with hats on his head and monkeys! :)
"Bartholemew Cubbins"
Definately "Caddie Woodlawn", "Nobody's Girl", Little Women", "Black Beauty", "Mischief in Fez", The Happy Hollisters and The Ice Carnival Mystery", "Maida's Little Shop", "Heidi", "Uncle Wiggley", "Little Britches", unabridged Hans Christian Anderson, ....yes, so many good stories! Never missed having TV.
The name of the book is Caps For Sale
Seriously, ,"Thomas the Tank Engine" is on here, but not "The Little Engine That Could" by Watty Piper? Must have been a mistake.
I really, really don't like Skippyjon Jones!
The Poky Little Puppy was my very favorite as a kid, and a friend JUST gave me a copy of it last week. I was so excited to get that book! She also gave us Make Way for Ducklings and Green Eggs and Ham.
The book with the man that wore the hats and the monkeys that scatter them is called, "Hats for Sale". :) Happy reading!
The name of the book is "Caps for Sale" authored by Esphyr Slobodkina.
I teach Kindergarten. If I could, all I would do all day is read to the kids. I LOVE childrens' books. For the older child, Anne of Green Gables is the BEST! BEST, BEST, BEST!
"Runaway Bunny" is a must!
I can't remember the name of the book but it is generational and and repeats the phrase "I'll love you forever , I'll love you for always ... I get emotional when I read it with my grand kids. but I can't remember the title.
Mr. Popper's Penguins was always a favorite at our house. I was also extremely happy when my 22 year old son asked me to pick up a copy of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom for his own 2 year old....the tradition continues!