100 best children's books

Mr Gum is an extremely nasty man who hates everyone and lives in a disgusting tip of a house.

With beautiful illustrations of babies born all over the world and gentle rhyming text, this charming book is perfect for sharing with little ones.

In this much-loved picture book, a little mouse walks through the woods and encounters a fox, an owl and a snake.

Dogger is Dave’s special toy. So when Dogger gets lost at the funfair, Dave is desolate. Will they find each other again? Exploring concepts of love, loss and kindness, this classic tale will be cherished by the entire family and will particularly appeal to any child who has a favourite toy.

The first book in David McKee’s iconic series about a friendly, fun elephant and his adventures, Elmer is a true ambassador of inclusion, acceptance and celebrating difference. 

In Dr Seuss’ rhyming classic, Sam-I-Am’s decided he’s going to invite his friend to try a very unusual dish: green eggs and ham! But his friend is decidedly against the idea…

This appealing story, in lift-the-flap, board-book format has been a favourite with toddlers ever since it was first published in 1982.

Little fingers will love to follow the very hungry caterpillar as he munches his way through the pages of this classic, colourful, interactive picture book.

Beautifully illustrated poems for young children by two Children’s Laureates

Sophie and her Mummy are having tea in the kitchen when in walks a hungry tiger who asks to stay to tea.

This hilarious rhyming story follows Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy, as he sets off for a walk in town

The Little Princess hates nappies, and thinks there must be something better. This is classic picture book entertainment, which will be especially appreciated by any children who are learning to love their potty!

When Peter wakes up one winter morning to find the world has turned white, he can’t wait to put on his snowsuit and get out into the snow.

One by one, family members drop by on a mum and her tot – all wanting to squeeze, kiss and give undivided attention to the baby. An adorable picture book, which is high-spirited, vibrant and fun. 

With its gruff hero, vibrant, strong colours, bold design and spare text, this story about looking beyond appearances has a satisfying punchy simplicity and jazzy feel.

It’s bathtime for Harry the dog – but he hides his brush and runs away on an adventure! But he gets very, very mucky in the process – will his family recognise him when he comes home?

A classic for children, Would You Rather… presents an alternative to a traditional story by imagining a mixture of fantastical and real-life choices. It’s great for building confidence with little ones about making their own choices for their own reasons. 

Award-winning illustrator and artist Oliver Jeffers has teamed up with film writer and director Drew Daywalt to create this gorgeously colourful picture book.

George wants his cardboard house all to himself. But when he goes to the loo, his friends fill his house to bursting point.

A bear sets out in search of his hat – he loves his hat and he wants it back

Max is being naughty, and his mother sends him to bed without dinner, calling him a ​“wild thing.” As Max sits in his fury, a boat appears, taking him to a world of monsters and wild things with big claws and teeth. A classic picture book and one of the first to explore a child’s feelings of anger.

Mrs Large the elephant just wants five minutes of peace away from her three boisterous children… but that proves to be a bit of a challenge! This funny, charmingly observed portrayal of family life is sure to resonate with parents and children alike.

When a rich and powerful man decides he wants to visit the stars, he stops at nothing to build a rocket that will take him there. When he blasts off, however, he wakes up the dinosaurs – who are horrified at all the rubbish he’s left on the planet.

When Julian spots three women in lavish mermaid costumes, it fires his imagination and all he can think about is becoming a mermaid himself – with a little help from his nana’s soft furnishings.

This huggable treat of a book is a gorgeous and heartfelt celebration of weddings, as Chloe learns that just because her Uncle Bobby is marrying his boyfriend, it doesn’t mean he’ll love her any less.

Dave is thrilled when he finally gets his first wobbly tooth although, despite much wiggling and waggling, it seems reluctant to come out. A marvellous book with broad appeal, with a wealth of thoughtful, humorous detail.

The Great Big Book of Families is about the diversity of families. The simple message is that every family is unique and special and that there is no such thing as ​‘normal’ or ​‘abnormal’. Books simply don’t get much more inclusive than this.

Charlie tricks his younger sister, Lola – an extremely fussy eater – into eating all her least favourite foods.

Cyril the Squirrel is so lonely that, when he finally makes a friend, he doesn’t seem to notice that ​“Pat” might not be quite what he seems. A colourful, rhyming story about friendship against the odds.

Ferdinand the bull doesn’t want to butt heads or fight the Matador – he just wants to sit quietly and smell the flowers. Munro Leaf’s gentle picture book about simply being yourself is just as poignant and powerful today as it has ever been.

Rocket loves visiting her Grammy and Grampy in the Caribbean, especially splashing in the waves with her cool surfing Grammy – but when Rocket finds a baby turtle washed up on the shore, tangled in plastic, she decides something must be done. It’s time to clean up!

Joe just wants to play pirates, but the other children notice that he only has one leg and start asking him a barrage of questions. A stunningly clever book with a clear message that someone who happens to be disabled is not a teaching tool, with practical advice for parents on handling questions about this.

Billy and her friend Fatcat are enjoying a walk in the woods when they notice that the bunnies and mice have gone missing – and a hungry Beast is collecting ingredients for a terrible soup. An empowering story, full of humour and humanity. 

This picture book autobiography explores the early life of Floella Benjamin, celebrated writer, actress and television presenter. It begins in her childhood home of Trinidad and charts her move to England in 1960 as part of the Windrush generation.

No child’s library could be complete without A A Milne’s stories about Pooh, Christopher Robin and their friends in the Hundred Acre Wood.

Moomintroll is cheerful and chubby and lives in the magical Moominvalley with his mother, Moominmamma, his father, Moominpappa and all of their friends.

This sophisticated cartoon-strip picture book for older children follows one day in the life of Fungus, a morose bogeyman who scares humans – but starts wondering what it’s really all for? This is Briggs at his subversive and entertaining finest.

Blue-haired explorer Hilda has an uncanny ability to find weird and wonderful adventures and befriend peculiar creatures.

Griffiths and Denton create a triumph to engage even the most determined hater of books, which includes hilarious cartoon drawings.

This is the tale of how a little girl named Fern – with the help of a friendly talking spider called Charlotte – saved her pig, Wilbur, from the usual fate of nice fat little pigs.

This joyful collection of more than 50 poems superbly conjures the sights, sounds and rhythms of the Caribbean. 

Follow Pippi Longstocking on her amazing adventures as she moves into Villa Villekulla with a horse, a monkey, and a big suitcase of gold coins.

A fascinating book on holes, from subways to sinkholes, as well as the philosophical concept of a hole and some surprising cultural facts. Any budding archaeologists will really enjoy this original take on the natural and built environment.

Toby is fed up and doesn’t feel like doing anything. So imagine his amazement when a whole new world opens right in front of his eyes…

When Farmer Hogget wins a piglet at the fair, he is amazed that Fly, his sheep-dog, welcomes him as one of her own pups.

Paddington, the brown bear from darkest Peru, is found by the Brown family on Paddington Station with his hat, duffel coat and marmalade sandwiches.

Judy and Peter are bored and alone – until they discover a mysterious board game, Jumanji, that comes to life as soon as they start to play

The BFG stands for Big Friendly Giant, who unexpectedly spirits a little girl named Sophie out of bed, and into the land of the child-eating giants.

Life with a very naughty little sister is both funny and excruciating in the six complete stories that make up this classic chapter book for newly independent readers.

Dog Man, created by Captain Underpants’ Dav Pilkey, is a comic masterclass, perfect for the surreal sense of humour of the average six- to nine-year-old.

A perfect book for young children interested in their cultural heritage or for those with a passion for travel and geography, this would also make a gorgeous gift for anyone interested in Africa.

Princess Smartypants is rebellious, independent, and very happy being single – but her parents want her to get married and settle down! This hilarious picture book has a subversive protagonist and a strong message about choosing your own destiny.

Coelho follows in a noble tradition headed by Agard, Ahlberg, McGough and Rosen, who turn everyday life into memorable poetic miniatures.

When Joe, Beth and Frannie move to a new home, an Enchanted Wood is on their doorstep. And when they discover the Faraway Tree, it proves to be the beginning of many magical adventures! Join them and their friends Moonface, Saucepan Man and Silky the fairy as they discover which new land is at the top of the Faraway Tree.

This is the story about how four classmates have a massive impact on the life of Ahmet, a boy that comes to their school as a refugee from Syria. An inspiring and sweet tale that should help children be the best they can be and realise the power of kindness.

What is it like to leave everything behind and travel somewhere strange? This incredibly poignant story introduces the concept of refugees with straightforward language, tackling this difficult subject with truth, clarity and strikingly beautiful illustrations.

This well-loved fantasy story has delighed readers ever since its first publication in 1937.

In this unusual book, we follow a young man as he packs his bags and leaves his family to go and start a new life in another country

In New Mexico in the late 1800s, the wolves that had once roamed the landscape of the Old West were becoming scarce because of the rising number of settlers to the area. 

Planet Omar has all of the everyday life family drama and silly humour of Tom Gates and Sam Wu, and it’s wonderful to read a funny book for kids featuring a Muslim family.

First published in the 1930s, this classic story of three very different girls who work hard to master their talents has captivated children’s imaginations for decades

All the girls in Margaret’s new neighbourhood are interested in boys, wearing makeup, and getting their period – but Margaret hasn’t done any of those things yet. To assuage her worries, Margaret begins to talk to God in her mind, asking him to help her grow up.

Pedigree cat Varjak Paw lives in a luxurious mansion with his family, but when trouble comes to their door, he’s forced to escape to the streets to enlist the help of a sworn enemy. A modern adventure which considers what it is to be persecuted for coming from a different culture, and, at the same time, find strength in the wisdom passed down from our ancestors.

August (‘Auggie’) Pullman can’t help but stand out – he was born with a severe facial deformity. Written in the first person, Wonder follows Auggie as he experiences more than the usual ups-and-downs of friendships, family and school.

Taking place in a believable urban, multicultural environment that will be familiar to many young readers, Polly Ho-Yen’s debut is an impressively moving and thought-provoking story that will touch children and adults alike.

A funny, thought-provoking collection of poems for older children from Britain’s best-loved rap poet, Benjamin Zephaniah, which cover a diverse and sometimes difficult range of topics but are full of fun and imagination. 

In the chaos of World War II, Ruth, Edek and Bronia are separated from their parents, and left alone to fend for themselves, hiding from the Nazis in the ruins of their city.

After the misery of life with his ghastly aunt and uncle, Harry Potter is delighted to have the chance to embark on an exciting new life at the Hogwart’s School of Wizardry and Witchcraft.

A classic, touching and very funny coming-of-age story about an unusual science project that teaches the boys in 4C so much more than just science.

When Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy – step through a wardrobe door in the strange country house where they are staying, they find themselves in the land of Narnia.

The Borrowers are tiny people who live in the secret places of old houses – behind the mantlepiece, inside the harpsichord, under the kitchen clock.

Eve Garnett’s brilliant depiction of a large, close-knit family and their hilarious escapades is every bit as funny and charming today as it was when it was published in the 1930s.

When Bastian hides in an antique bookshop to escape bullies, he stumbles across a mysterious leatherbound book which carries him into adventures beyond his wildest dreams. 

One night, a bag containing £229,370 falls from the sky and flattens the hermitage. Damian is convinced it is a gift from God.

Ten-year-old Emil is excited to be taking the train to Berlin on his own for the first time – but he doesn’t like the look of his fellow passenger, the man in the bowler hat.

Written by an astrophysicist and illustrated by the phenomenally talented Chris Wormell, Planetarium explores the solar system and universe as we know it. A beautiful and wonderful book and a real treasure for any child.

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was an incredible sword-fighter, dragon-whisperer and the greatest Viking hero who ever lived.

Inspired by Nina Bawden’s own experiences of living as an evacuee in a Welsh mining valley as a child, Carrie’s War is now considered a modern classic. Funny, sad and thought-provoking. 

Engagingly told in alternate chapters by four-foot, thirteen year-old Andi, in the UK, and her eight-foot, sixteen year-old half brother Bernardo, in the Philippines

This is a brilliant adventure story that manages to give young readers a really important insight into slavery without being so upsetting that it’s impossible to read: a very fine balance, masterfully achieved.

This extraordinary fantasy is the first book in Philip Pullman’s multi-award-winning His Dark Materials trilogy

Willie Beech, a lonely and deprived child, is evacuated to a tiny English village just before the Second World War, and finds himself living with reclusive widower Thomas Oakley.

Exploring a ramshackle garage with his new-found friend Mina, Michael discovers a strange, magical creature who needs his help. A contemporary classic.

This is a moving yet unsentimental account of two children coming to terms with their mother’s depression, mental instability and alcohol problem.

This is a beautifully written tale of an exceptional friendship which survives beyond the boundaries of culture and language.

A story of adventure, trauma and courage set in India and England against a backdrop of imperialism, a world war and the violent unrest that followed the partition of India. 

Morris Gleitzman brings heart and humour to the difficult subject of the Holocaust in this ground-breaking children’s book.

In 1930s Mississippi, the Logan family are forced to live their lives in fear simply because they are black. A classic, compelling story that is as relevant and important today as ever.

To everyone around her, George is a boy – but George longs to be like Charlotte, the wise and gentle hero of Charlotte’s Web. This short, sweet story of embracing your true self and trusting those around you is a timely addition to the growing awareness of transgender identification in children and young adults. 

Connor’s mum has cancer and life is changing. There is the nightmare, then there is school, where people avoid him, or persecute him. And then there is the immense, mythic Monster.

This empathetic account of the process of bereavement, a month’s diary, reassures readers that we grow from our experiences, however painful they are.

The first in a classic series of fantasy novels, A Wizard of Earthsea follows a young boy’s development from goat herder to magician. Flawlessly written and by turns exciting, insightful and thought provoking, Ursula Le Guin’s story has a timeless, mythical feel – a truly wonderful book.

When Alison finds a curious dinner service in the attic, the discovery sets off a strange chain of events that look set to affect everyone’s lives. This extraordinary and powerful story is a modern classic, blending together mystery, adventure and history.

From fast-paced football matches to school and family drama, this novel written in verse has something for everyone and will grip reluctant readers from page one.

Callum is a Nought but his best friend Sephy is a Cross – the daughter of one of the most influential politicians in the country.

Now widely regarded as one of the most important pieces of historical literature of all time, Anne Frank’s diary is a poignant and powerful insight into the life of a child in hiding from the Nazi occupation.

At school Lemar, also known as Liccle Bit due to his height, is like any teenage boy. He’s in love with a girl who barely notices him, he mucks about with his best mates and he spends a lot of time doodling in his work books. However, at home…