Books For Children

Literacy is an essential skill that strongly impacts a child's future. Reading to and with your child not only creates a strong parent-child bond, but it also forms good habits and teaches a child that reading can (and should) be a fun experience. The Association of American Publishers cites various findings about the impact of reading on a child's development here . While you are probably already aware of the importance of literacy in a child's development, the findings are worth taking a look.

Books By Age

Children of different ages have different needs when it comes to reading. Below, some suggestions for what to look for. You can  find suggestions below from the National Education Association (compiled by teachers across the country) and from About.com . Up-to-date children's book releases are listed by The Children's Book Council , and the New York Times .

All-Time Best Sellers
From Publishers Weekly

  1. The Poky Little Puppy  
  2. The Tale of Peter Rabbit  
  3. Tootle  
  4. Green Eggs and Ham  
  5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire  
  6. Pat the Bunny  
  7. Saggy Baggy Elephant  
  8. Scuffy the Tugboat  
  9. The Cat in the Hat  
  10. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets  
  11. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban  
  12. Where the Sidewalk Ends  
  13. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish  
  14. The Giving Tree  
  15. The Littlest Angel  
  16. Hop on Pop  
  17. Oh, the Places You'll Go!  
  18. Dr. Seuss' ABC  
  19. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone  
  20. The Very Hungry Caterpillar  
  21. The Children's Bible  
  22. A Light in the Attic  
  23. The Tale of Benjamin Bunny  
  24. Are you My Mother?  
  25. The Rainbow Fish  
  26. The Cat in the Hat  
  27. Richard Scarry's Best Word Book  
  28. Disney's the Lion King  
  29. The Tale of Jemina Puddle-Duck  
  30. The Little Engine That Could  
  31. Fox in Socks  
  32. Goodnight Moon (board book)  
  33. The Real Mother Goose  
  34. Go, Dog. Go!  
  35. How the Grinch Stole Christmas  
  36. The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin  
  37. The Tale of Tom Kitten  
  38. Macmillan Dictionary for Children  
  39. Winnie-the-Pooh  
  40. My Book About Me (by Me, Myself)  

Magazines for Children

Babies & Infants

It's never too early to introduce a child to reading.  Soft books are best for babies so they can bang them on the table or chew on them without hurting themselves or the book. Sturdy, yet lightweight books are good for toddlers. Some good subjects to choose from for this age group are ABC's ,  colors ,  numbers ,  picture books ,  bedtime stories ,  and nursery rhymes . 

For the most up-to-date releases in this category, see Barnes and Noble's best-selling Baby and Preschool books right now.

Children 4-8 years old

At this stage, choose books with more text and less pictures.

For the most up-to-date releases in this category, see Barnes and Noble's best-selling books (ages 4-8) right now.

Children 9-12 years old

Children at this age can advance to chapter books with longer, more involved plots in order to continue their progress in reading.  Here are some classics to choose from:

For the most up-to-date releases in this category, see Barnes and Noble's best-selling books (ages 9-12) right now.

Foreign Language Books

Bilingual Books for Kids   are a great resource for children studying a foreign language whether it's in or out of school. Bilingual books are especially helpful in families that are trying to raise bilingual children. Choose the level according to the child's exposure and skill level. The American Library Association offers a thorough list of bilingual children's books.

Book Alternatives

External Links