Top 100 Children’s Picturebooks of All-Time

Developing a love of the written word can begin while your child is an infant. Babies who are read to are much more likely to read earlier, understand concepts better, and be faster learners than babies who do not have the chance to experience books. It is never too early or too late to begin reading to and with your children.

Choosing a variety of well written, colorful, and entertaining stories from some of the best children’s books ever will help develop a love of reading and a love of learning in your child. Sharing that time together and cuddling up with a story to share will also help build a bond between you and your child like nothing else can.

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The very best children’s books

When a child opens a book for the first time, magic happens. Children’s books are doorways to delight, information, engagement and empathy. They don’t just dare young readers to imagine wondrous lands through wardrobes or magic beneath our noses; they challenge kids to imagine the lives of people different from themselves and make learning about the world feel less like education and more like an adventure.

To round up these all-time best children’s books, we combed through bestseller lists and asked teachers, librarians and parents to name the beloved books that should be on every child’s shelf. Our list includes Newbery Medalists, Caldecott Medalists and titles that top many an award and “best of” list. These books span the ages, ranging from 19th-century classics to modern reads that represent important and vital storytelling. You’ll find novels, nonfiction titles, poems and picture books for every age.

But don’t stop with this list. Regale young ones with popular fairy-tale stories, nonfiction books for kids and children’s books about diversity. If your brood is a bit older, stock their shelves with must-read classic books, the best books for teens and the best books of all time. There’s nothing quite like a good book, so let’s get reading!

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