The books listed here are suitable for children from six to ten years old, and many are loved by older children, too. This list includes a variety of books: picture books, books for beginning readers, chapter books, and novels. Your child will likely enjoy reading some of thebooks by himself, and he’ll enjoy hearing others read aloud. Keep in mind that this list is by no means a complete guide to the best authors and books for young children. An author listed may have written many titles, of which only one or two are noted. Other authors who have written excellent books are not listed at all. The purpose of this page is simply to suggest books you and your child may enjoy. The books on this list are often recommended by experts in the field of children’s literature. Our family has enjoyed many of them over the years, but that doesn’t guarantee that your child will. The best way to determine what books your child will enjoy is to read children’s books — lots of them. Read award-winners and award-losers. (Some of the best loved books are runners-up!) Read books about children’s books, too. Give your child high-quality books for his birthday and other special occasions. Visit your local bookstore and browse the shelves of the children’s section. But be cautious when asking for recommendations. Many clerks aren’t knowledgeable about children’s books, and they may simply recommend what everyone else is buying. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but bear in mind that today’s buying trends tend to be based more on advertising and popular culture than on quality. The librarians in the children’s room of your library are excellent sources of information. They can usually make suggestions tailored to your child’s reading ability and interests. The most popular books are usually checked out as soon as they are returned, so reserve them ahead of time if you can. If you have a computer with Internet access, you may be able to reserve books from home — a lifesaver for those who visit the library with small children! Alternatively, you could schedule an afternoon or evening to visit the library without children in tow and spend some time getting to know the best in old and new children’s books.

Aesop: Aesop’s FablesAllard, Harry: Miss Nelson Is Missing! and The Stupids Step OutAndersen, Hans Christian: The Little Match GirlAtwater, Richard and Florence: Mr. Popper’s PenguinsBabbitt, Natalie: Tuck EverlastingBang, Molly: DawnBanks, Lynne Reid: The Indian in the CupboardBemelmans, Ludwig: Madeline seriesBrenner, Barbara: Wagon WheelsBrink, Carol Ryrie: Caddie WoodlawnBrunhoff, Jean de: The Story of BabarBulla, Clyde Robert: The Chalk Box KidBurningham, John: Cannonball Simp, Harquin, and Would You Rather?Burton, Virginia Lee: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel and The Little HouseByars, Betsy: The Summer of the SwansCarlson, Natalie Savage: The Family under the BridgeCaudill, Rebecca: Did You Carry the Flag Today, Charley?Cleary, Beverly: Ramona the PestCoerr, Eleanor: Sadako and the Thousand Paper CranesCohen, Barbara: Molly’s PilgrimD’Aulaire, Ingri and Edgar: D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek MythsDahl, Roald: Charlie and the Chocolate FactoryDalgliesh, Alice: The Bears on Hemlock Mountain and The Courage of Sarah NobledePaola, Tomie: 26 Fairmount AvenueEstes, Eleanor: The Hundred Dresses Gardiner, John Reynolds: Stone Fox Gipson, Fred: Old YellerGodden, Rumer: The MousewifeGrahame, Kenneth: The Reluctant DragonHaywood, Carolyn: “B” Is for Betsy and Little EddieHenry, Marguerite: Five O’clock Charlie Henry, O.: The Gift of the MagiHolling, Holling Clancy: Paddle-to-the-Sea Isadora, Rachel: Ben’s TrumpetJohnson, Crockett: Ellen’s LionLewis, C. S.: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (and other books in the Chronicles of Narnia series)Lindgren, Astrid: Pippi LongstockingLittle, Jean: Lost and Found Lobel, Arnold: Frog and Toad TogetherMills, Lauren: The Rag CoatMilne, A. A.: The House at Pooh Corner, Now We Are Six, When We Were Very Young, and Winnie-the-PoohMinarik, Else Holmelund: Little Bear Mosel, Arlene: The Funny Little Woman and Tikki Tikki TemboMowat, Farley: Owls in the Family and Two against the North (or Lost in the Barrens)Munsch, Robert: Love You Forever and The Paper Bag PrincessNaylor, Phyllis Reynolds: ShilohNewberry, Clare Turlay: MittensNumeroff, Laura Joffe: If You Give a Mouse a CookieParish, Peggy: Amelia BedeliaPerrault, Charles: Cinderella Polacco, Patricia: Just Plain FancyPotter, Beatrix: The Tale of Peter RabbitRawls, Wilson: Where the Red Fern GrowsRey, H. A.: Curious George seriesRobinson, Barbara: The Best Christmas Pageant EverSelden, George: The Cricket in Times SquareSendak, Maurice: Where the Wild Things AreSeuss, Dr.: The Cat in the Hat, The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins, Green Eggs and HamSobol, Donald: Encyclopedia Brown seriesSorensen, Virginia: Miracles on Maple HillSpeare, Elizabeth George: The Sign of the BeaverSperry, Armstrong: Call It CourageSteig, William: The Amazing Bone, Brave Irene and Sylvester and the Magic PebbleStevenson, Robert Louis: A Child’s Garden of VersesTaylor, Mildred D.: Song of the TreesWaber, Bernard: Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile and The House on East 88th StreetWhite, E. B.: Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little, and The Trumpet of the SwanWilder, Laura Ingalls: Little House in the Big Woods (and other books in the Little House series)Williams, Margery: The Velveteen RabbitYolen, Jane: Owl MoonZion, Gene: Harry the Dirty Dog