50 Books Every Kid Should Read

Author: Jerry Pinkney
Best for ages 4 to 6

Wordlessly retelling Aesop’s beloved fable of the same name, this Caldecott Award-winner makes a powerful case for random acts of kindness. A fierce lion spares a tiny mouse that he’d planned to eat, and the rodent later repays that good deed by springing the king of the jungle from a hunter’s snare. Showcasing panoramic illustrations of Africa’s Serengeti Plain, it’s a quiet book that speaks volumes. —Chris Lee

Author: Dr. Seuss
Best for ages 4 to 6

After Theodor Geisel’s editor, Bennett Cerf, made a bet that the author couldn’t write a book with 50 words or less, the man known as Dr. Seuss took that bet—and ultimately created one of his most memorable works. With an easy-to-learn rhyme scheme and plenty of silly imagery, it’s a perfect introduction into the Seuss-ian world for any child just beginning to read. In its simplicity, Green Eggs and Ham also urges kids to expand their horizons and not be afraid to try new things. —Jonathon Dornbush

Author: Michelle Knudsen
Best for ages 4 to 6

In this quirky, gently told tale, a book-loving beast learns the hard way that sometimes rules are meant to be broken. Specifically, the literary lion of title fame—who enjoys nothing more than listening to story time and helping stack books—must violate the library’s strict ”no roaring” policy when head librarian Miss Merriweather breaks her arm. —Chris Lee

Author: Russell Hoban
Best for ages 4 to 6

At some point or another, every child will have a fraught relationship with food. Enter Frances, an adorable bear who decides to declare war on eggs (”Sunny-side-down eggs just lie on their stomachs and wait”), string beans, and every other nourishing edible her mother gives her. All she wants—and all she gets—is bread and jam morning, noon, and night. The story’s a simple way to teach youngsters that it is, in fact, possible to have too much of a good thing. —Hillary Busis

Author: Chris Van Allsburg
Best for ages 4 to 6

Growing up, there comes a certain point when kids split off into two camps: Santa Claus deniers, and those who continue to believe in Kris Kringle and the general magic of Christmastime. The Polar Express‘s protagonist is surrounded by people in the first camp, and he is even skeptical himself—that is, until he gets whisked away on a train journey where he meets Santa and receives the first gift of Christmas. By the end of his journey, he learns that what he believes is more important than what others believe. Wonder doesn’t have to disappear when childhood does. —Ariana Bacle

Author: Jan Brett
Best for ages 4 to 6

Jan Brett’s wintertime story, adapted from a Ukrainian folktale, about a lost white mitten that becomes a home and/or communal sleeping bag for several forest creatures isn’t exactly a fable (unless you count its warnings against wearing gloves the same color as the snow as life lessons). What The Mitten lacks in teachable moments, it makes up for in simple delights: Brett’s gorgeous illustrations add funny subtext to her prose, and the happy concept of fuzzy, friendly animals snuggling with one another is always delightful. Just ask the Internet on any given weekday afternoon. —Ashley Fetters

Author: Maurice Sendak
Best for ages 4 to 6

Maurice Sendak claimed to be obsessed with one question, How do children survive? In just 10 sentences, Where The Wild Things Are gives this answer: imagination, rage, and the daydreaming fueled by the interplay of the two. After the unruly (and eminently relatable) Max is sent to his room, his mind transforms it into a strange forest ”where the wild things are.” Max becomes their leader—and the most wild thing of all. They play and play, but as each wild thing acts out, Max mourns having to send them away and, feeling lonely, eventually wishes to return to be with his loving, if un-wild, mother. —Madison Vain

Author: Ludwig Bemelmans
Best for ages 4 to 6

In the first book of Bemelmans’ series, even appendectomies look fun when the author introduces sassy, unafraid student Madeline. After the pain of her emergency operation subsides, she’s left in a hospital room full of toys and treats—something that inspires her roommates to later fake their own illnesses in hopes they’ll get the same treatment. But life beyond the hospital isn’t too shabby either: Madeline lives in Paris, and the book is filled with illustrations of French landmarks that give kids a taste of life outside their own homes. —Ariana Bacle

Author: Tomie DePaola
Best for ages 4 to 6

Almost three decades after her first outing, Strega Nona is now a full-blown franchise with enough sequels (including 2011’s Strega Nona’s Gift) to make a Marvel superhero jealous. Still, the original picture book remains the best place to start. In it, Strega Nona leaves a dim-witted village boy named Big Anthony in charge of a magical pot that cooks endless pasta. Big Anthony fails to follow one key element of Strega Nona’s recipe, accidentally flooding the entire town with noodles. Young readers learn that not paying attention to direction has consequences—delicious as they may be. —Ashley Fetters

Author: Michael Bond
Best for ages 6 to 8

Every budding Anglophile should read A Bear Called Paddington, which will reaffirm a child’s need for a fantastic duffle coat and introduce him or her to various Britishisms. Paddington, of course, is a Peruvian bear named after the London train station where he’s found by the Brown family. While the story is packed with the kind of hijinks that one might expect from a book about a bear hobnobbing about London, Paddington himself is an exceedingly genteel creation. —Esther Zuckerman

Author: Jeff Kinney
Best for ages 6 to 8

As Diary of a Wimpy Kid‘s Greg Heffley will tell you, there are few things stranger about growing up than middle school—and he’s absolutely right. A charming and very funny look at the strange purgatory we put kids through while they wait for puberty, this Diary is all about what it’s like to try to fit in during one of life’s weirdest times. Plus, there are cartoons! —Joshua Rivera

Author: Jean de Brunhoff
Best for ages 6 to 8

Like many great children’s tales, there’s tragedy at the beginning of The Story of Babar, whose adventures start with his mother being shot by hunters. Still, this elephant tale is timelessly charming—thanks largely to de Brunhoff’s gorgeously simple illustrations of this debonair title character, who develops a taste for suits and shoes with spats during his time in the city. There has been controversy over whether the books have a colonialist message, but taken at face value they’re a kid-friendly introduction to art history. —Esther Zuckerman

Author: Mary Pope Osbourne
Best for ages 6 to 8

Shh! Don’t tell your kids the books in this long-running serial are educational. Reliably blending fantasy with historical fact in far-flung settings, they follow resourceful pre-teen siblings Jack and Annie on a quest to solve a quartet of ancient riddles. Along the way, the two encounter ninjas and pilgrims, sea serpents and dinosaurs, earthquakes and erupting volcanoes—witnessing earth-changing events while endeavoring to become Master Librarians. —Chris Lee

Author: Beverly Cleary
Best for ages 6 to 8

In her eponymous series, Ramona Quimby discovers the ups and downs of life as she endures several common but difficult struggles—her dad loses his job, she has to switch schools, and her pet cat dies, to name a few. The books are funny while also showing readers that it’s okay if things aren’t always perfect. Readers can grow along with Ramona, whom readers will love thanks to her spunky attitude and enthusiasm for, well, everything. —Ariana Bacle

Author: Faith Ringgold
Best for ages 6 to 8

Stunningly illustrated, Tar Beach interweaves autobiography, African-American history, and magical realism to encourage dreaming without limits. Eight-year-old protagonist Cassie Louise Lightfoot takes off on flights of fancy across the nighttime sky from her apartment building rooftop in 1939 Harlem. From on high, she commands a unique perspective of certain social injustices—economic inequality, unemployment, racism—nonetheless fostering hope and demonstrating the power of imagination. —Chris Lee

Author: Shaun Tan
Best for ages 6 to 8

Each pencil-drawn image in this graphic novel could hang as artwork. Without dialogue or text, it conjures the longing and upheaval that accompany an immigrant’s journey to a foreign land. In place of words, Tan uses powerful visual metaphors to address lofty topics including totalitarian suppression, industrial over-run of the natural order, and otherness. A kind of hyper-real fantasy as social critique. —Chris Lee

Author: William Steig
Best for ages 6 to 8

”Be careful what you wish for” is the moral of many a story—but it’s rarely communicated as charmingly as it is in the Shrek author’s Caldecott Medal winner, which introduces kids to a whimsical, colorful world of anthropomorphized animals. Our hero is Sylvester, a young donkey who comes across a pebble capable of granting wishes; naturally, things don’t go quite as planned when he actually uses it. —Hillary Busis

Author: E.B. White
Best for ages 6 to 8

White’s story has been making kids feel guilty about eating bacon for more than 60 years. Joking aside, the tale of Wilbur, the runt of a litter, and his spider pal Charlotte deals seriously with mortality in a way that’s authentic and organic rather than emotionally manipulative. Charlotte also champions the act of writing itself—the spider herself has an excellent vocabulary—and is a fantastic appetizer for White’s equally wonderful adult work. —Esther Zuckerman

Author: Dav Pilkey
Best for ages 9 to 11

Not only does Captain Underpants encourage creativity—after all, he’s brought to life after two boys draw him in a comic book—it’s also a great introduction to the world of comedy, especially for reluctant readers. Additionally, it’s a consistently funny, fresh take on the superhero that’s easier to read than many of the usual suspects on required-reading lists. —Samantha Highfill

Author: Roald Dahl
Best for ages 9 to 11

Roald Dahl’s classic should be mandatory for any adventurous lad or lass who’s pining for life—or at least literature—outside of the ordinary. Dahl weaves a fantastical tale that showcases the triumph of the human spirit in the book’s hero, James. The book also creates charming characters from the litany of magical creepy crawlers who accompany James in the titular giant peach as he travels to the center of the universe: New York City. While some of the book’s subject matter may be a little macabre for younger audiences, it’s a perfect segue into more mature children’s books. —Teresa Jue

Author: Rita Williams-Garcia
Best for ages 9 to 11

With its kid’s-eye view of 1968’s Black Power movement, this Newbery Medal winner engagingly examines the bonds of sisterhood and family reconciliation. Three school-age sisters travel from Brooklyn to Oakland, Calif., to reconnect with the poet mother who abandoned them. Instead of visiting Disneyland as they hoped, they are dropped off at a youth program run by the Black Panthers. Alternately funny and poignant, One Crazy Summer underscores how the political can become personal and history shapes individual lives. —Chris Lee

Author: Walter Farley
Best for ages 9 to 11

The Black Stallion is the story of Alec Ramsay, a young boy who comes face-to-face with a ”wild stallion” that eventually becomes his best friend. When the two are shipwrecked on an island together, they lean on each other for survival. It’s a story about the important bond that can be formed with animals, but, more than that, it’s about not judging something—or someone—before you know them. Sure, the stallion is a ”wild” beast, but who says that means it’s dangerous? —Samantha Highfill

Author: Scott O’Dell
Best for ages 9 to 11

Based on the true story of a Native American girl stranded on a Pacific island, the narrative of young Karana’s survival for 18 years conveys the beauty and value of nature. What’s more, for ladies-in-the-making, it portrays a truly self-reliant young woman. —Carolyn Todd

Author: Kate DiCamillo
Best for ages 9 to 11

This wry, suspenseful, and heartrending underdog fairy tale begs to be read aloud. Briskly paced and packed with cliffhangers, Despereaux tells the intertwining stories of a trio of nonconformists: a mouse who falls in love with a beautiful princess, a conniving rat living in darkness, and a slow-witted servant girl with delusions of grandeur. —Chris Lee

Author: Wilson Rawls
Best for ages 9 to 11

Rawls’ boy-and-his-dogs story is a last breath of childhood for young readers. Ten-year-old Billy saves up, buys two coonhounds, names them Old Dan and Little Ann, raises them, and embarks on a series of adventures—each increasingly dangerous—with his beloved companions. A battle with a mountain lion eventually vanquishes Old Dan, and Little Ann dies shortly after of a broken heart. Billy finds consolation after his first brush with death only once he looks between their graves and spots a red fern, which Native American legend dictates could only be planted by an angel. —Madison Vain

Author: Norton Juster
Best for ages 9 to 11

Every kid loves fairy tales, and The Phantom Tollbooth offers that same appeal. The story of a bored young boy named Milo who receives a magic tollbooth that transports him to the Kingdom of Wisdom is about adventure and all that the imagination has to offer. Add in a bevy of playful puns and idioms turned topsy-turvy, and the book serves as more than just a good story—it’s also an essential touchstone for any budding young word nerd. —Samantha Highfill

Author: Sydney Taylor
Best for ages 9 to 11

What first grabs you about Sydney Taylor’s series about a Jewish family on New York’s Lower East Side are the author’s descriptions of day-to-day minutiae, which make history fascinatingly relatable. (There’s an entire chapter in the first book devoted to Mama’s clever trick, involving hidden buttons, to get her five girls excited about dusting.) Taylor, who was writing from personal experience, illuminates a world now long gone; these days, you’ll have to wait two hours for a table before you can eat lox in Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte, and Gertie’s neighborhood. Jewish children will see their own families on the page; for others, the books are a welcoming introduction to the religion and culture. —Esther Zuckerman

Author: Mary Norton
Best for ages 9 to 11

This series may tell the story of tiny people, but it has a big message: Don’t just accept the world into which you were born. Question your parents, venture into the scary unknown, and experience life for yourself—even when faced with larger-than-life challenges —Carolyn Todd

Author: Ingri and Edgar D’Aulaire
Best for ages 9 to 11

It’s tough to make Greek mythology child-friendly, but Ingri and Edgar D’Aulaire’s book of tales manages the task. The gorgeously illustrated collection gives foundational knowledge on the Olympian gods and goddesses, telling timeless tales about the foolishness of Narcissus, Persephone’s misfortunes, and the rancor between an assortment of temperamental deities. Give the kids a leg up on the classics with this classic, which has slyly entertained and educated kids for more than five decades. —Teresa Jue

Author: R.J. Palacio
Best for ages 9 to 11

Auggie looks different. He was born with severe facial deformities that make him a target of taunts when he starts fifth grade at a new school. Palacio’s debut novel is a masterwork in empathy, and she shifts narrators to provide multiple points of view as Auggie’s uphill effort to be accepted causes an uproar at his upscale Manhattan private school. Children can be cruel, but young readers will quickly be won over by the power of kindness as they fall in love with Auggie and his feisty sister, Via. —Jeff Labrecque

Author: Pam Muñoz Ryan
Best for ages 9 to 11

It’s a Mexican-American Cinderella tale told in reverse, weaving political unrest and cultural upheaval into a coming-of-age story set in the Great Depression. Sudden tragedy forces 13-year-old Esperanza Ortega and her mother to flee their life of wealth and prestige in Mexico, resettling in a California work camp for impoverished migrant laborers. Over the course of her riches-to-rags journey, Esperanza changes from snobby to sympathetic, discovering newfound compassion for those poorer than she. —Chris Lee

Author: Raina Telgemeier
Best for ages 9 to 11

Call it orthodonture as affirmation: Telgemeier’s graphic memoir/dental drama uses cartoons to capture the common teenage struggle with appearance and identity. When shy sixth grader Raina trips, falls, and injures her front teeth, she requires extensive surgery. So, in addition to grappling with middle school’s ordinary indignities—boy trouble, frenemies, puberty’s onset—she must deal with headgear, metal mouth, and never-ending ”dontist” appointments. It’s a singular story about the universal experience of trying to fit in while keeping one’s sense of self intact. —Chris Lee

Author: Louise Fitzhugh
Best for ages 9 to 11

Unlike many kid-lit heroines, Harriet M. Welsch isn’t friendly or agreeable. She’s a rude, impatient, arrogant, selfish little grumpus who wears her glasses and scowl like badges of honor. In short, she’s a jerk—but a smart, perceptive, lovable jerk who’s wholly relatable whether you’re 11 (like her) or several times that age. Fitzhugh’s story is a frequently hilarious cautionary tale that doesn’t shy away from examining tough topics like loneliness or betrayal—and it doubles as a sort of junior introduction to the antihero trope that will inevitably confront any pop culture-loving 21st century kid. —Hillary Busis

Author: Lemony Snicket
Best for ages 9 to 11

Dark but not quite edgy enough to scare off younger readers, A Series of Unfortunate Events is an excellent 13-part crash course in macabre and meta fiction. The tale of the Baudelaires takes a number of ridiculous twists while never losing its incredible pace. Throw in Lemony Snicket’s self-referential and self-conscious narration, and you’ve got a unique and thrilling kids’ series that demands to be read—ideally before streaming Netflix’s adaptation. —Jonathon Dornbush

Author: Madeleine L’Engle
Best for ages 9 to 11

The plot of L’Engle’s masterpiece—a young girl crosses the universe searching for her father, a scientist gone missing after working on a mysterious project called the Tesseract—may not seem too far-fetched in 2014, when science-fantasy reigns supreme, but L’Engle initially struggled to get the novel published. Since it finally made it to print in 1962, the book has given generations of outsiders a relatable, refreshingly ordinary, realistically flawed heroine, as well as a gateway into more grown-up science fiction and fantasy literature. You can trace a line from Wrinkle to The Hunger Games, a sci-fi novel that features a strong heroine, tackles big issues, and is appealing to kids and adults alike. —Madison Vain

Author: E.L. Konigsburg
Best for ages 9 to 11

Running away never seemed more appealing than in this tale of adventure—especially when the destination is New York City. This Newbery Medalist is a grand experiment in self-determination, depicting a sister-brother duo who leave home and reinvent themselves as detectives inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As the two sleuths embark on a quest to find the mysterious origins of a marble statue purchased by the titular Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, the book melds escapism and mystery into one very satisfying mix. —Teresa Jue

Author: Lois Lowry
Best for ages 9 to 11

Promise you won’t let the woefully substandard film adaptation sour you on Lowry’s timeless classic, a lyrical story that was doing dystopias before dystopias became cool. (One reason that movie worked so poorly? It was imitating films that were themselves originally inspired by The Giver.) Modern-day sci-fantasy stories tend toward the bloated and mythology-heavy; Lowry’s Newbery winner, on the other hand, is mercifully slim and sparing, thoughtful and introspective rather than high-octane. It remains a skillfully written Brave New World for the elementary school set, as well as an introduction to the beauty of ambiguous endings. (Just pretend the ”companion” books and sequel don’t exist.) —Hillary Busis

Author: Mildred Taylor
Best for ages 9 to 11

Taylor’s poignant tale starts as a slice-of-life story about a group of black children growing up in Depression-era rural Mississippi, a powerful hook in and of itself. It gradually grows into a painful examination of racism and the destructive legacy of slavery. Heavy topics, to be sure—but they’re explored with a deft hand, through indelible characters and strong but simple prose. Perhaps even more so than classics like To Kill a Mockingbird, Roll of Thunder gives readers an unsparing, essential look at America’s troubled past. (Spoiler alert: There are no happy endings here.) —Hillary Busis

Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Best for ages 9 to 11

Living as an orphan in Flint, Mich., during the Depression, Bud has a rough life—especially compared to the generation reading his story today—but remains unfailingly optimistic and perseverant in his search for the father he never met. His faith is rewarded when he finds family in an unexpected place. (You will, however, want to advise your kids not to get into cars with strange men, like Bud does.) —Carolyn Todd

Author: Louis Sachar
Best for ages 9 to 11

Louis Sachar’s Newbery winner really should be a rite of passage for every young bookworm. Its wide-reaching story—involving Latvian curses, star-crossed lovers, and vengeful outlaws—poignantly, humorously, and skillfully intertwines numerous threads into a succinct narrative. The humor comes from perpetually unlucky protagonist Stanley Yelnats, who has an overgrown, typically preteen sense of awkwardness that makes him a relatable protagonist for tweens. —Teresa Jue