The Best Kids’ Books for Every Age (from 1 to 15)

This book is mostly about feeling textiles (ooh, cotton tail, scratchy sandpaper beard), so the earlier, the better.

It’s a classic for a reason. (Don’t forget to look for the mouse hiding on each page.)

So far, your kid just eats and sleeps, so he’ll totally identify with this adorable insect.

Is your kiddo brushing up on her animal sounds? She’s gonna love this one.

Your baby probably can’t grasp how special he is yet, but after reading this book, he’ll begin to understand how loved he is.

We will read it on a boat. We will read it with a goat.

And if she likes this one, there’s always If You Give a Moose a Muffin and If You Give a Pig a Pancake.

Teach your kiddo that confidence is great, but so is the ability to stay humble.

If your toddler is struggling with bedtime (hellooo, terrible twos), give this guy a read.

There are no words in this gorgeous picture book, so your kid can “read” it on her own.

Have him chant “I think I can, I think I can” along with you.

Get ready for adorable giggles when you read this story of cows who find an old typewriter and learn to write.

Uh-oh. Drama ensues when Trixie and Daddy go to the Laundromat, accidentally leaving Knuffle Bunny behind.

This gorgeous picture book about two friends that bond over painting is a work of art in itself.

She’s precocious, she’s loud, she’s a pig and we love her anyway.

Aww, a stuffed bear at a department store goes on a pilgrimage to find his lost button.

Read it on a rainy day when it’s “too wet to play.”

Your child won’t cry through this one, but you probably will.

Some four-year-olds are totally ready for a trip to the jungle, but if it’s too scary the first time around, hold it for a few more months and try again. 

It’s never too early to learn about being cautious and careful (and that yellow hats are awesome).

In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines…

This cheeky picture book is a great one for your kiddo to start learning to read by himself.

Whether you’re city or country dwellers, this one is a must-read.

Make sure to do a scary voice for Miss Viola Swamp.

This offbeat read will be just as entertaining for you, too.

Warning: After reading this, your child will want a dog.

Get your best British accent ready.

Guaranteed to be a favorite all through elementary school.

Read this when she wakes up on the wrong side of the bed.

…And read this during a thunderstorm.

Terrific! Radiant!

If he likes this one, there are ten more in the series.

Sigh, we still dream of living at the Plaza Hotel.

Prediction: Your daughter will be begging to go as Pippi for Halloween.    

This 1908 novel about four animal friends in Edwardian England stands the test of time.

Let’s face it: Ramona is still our role model.    

For kids with huge imaginations (oh wait, that’s every kid).    

Because the cartoon just isn’t the same.    

Beware Miss Trunchbull, the scariest villain in history.    

It’s the compelling true story that started the whole Little House series.

The first in the Fudge series will have him (and you) hooked.

Read the story of this auburn-haired spitfire before the Netflix series comes out.    

Hard to believe this enchanting tale was written in 1911.

The pros and cons of living forever. Discuss.

An out-of-the-box fantasy that’s perfect for little adventurers.

The 1971 movie is great, but the book is even better.    

Read this one with an entire box of tissues.

This new hit about an extraordinary boy with a facial anomaly will be devoured in a day, guaranteed.

Because living in the Metropolitan Museum of Art is the coolest thing ever.

Introverts (and detectives-in-training) will love this one.    

If your daughter always wanted sisters, this epic is for her.

Required reading before the equally excellent movie.

Try this one together (it’s even weirder when you revisit it as an adult).    

He’s been begging to read Harry Potter books for years, and he’s finally the perfect age to read ‘em on his own.

This collection of stunning stories about a young Latina girl growing up in Chicago is a must-read.

Before The Hunger Games, there was this old-school dystopian fantasy about a boy with extraordinary powers.

She’ll stay up all night reading this sweet story about a girl searching for her missing mother.

Buy him his own copy of this monumental classic. Buy two.

The story about a girl’s determination to survive will help your daughter appreciate the little things (and maybe stop complaining about not having a cell phone).

A world war with bunnies. What’s not to love?

Kooky fantasy at its finest.    

He’s probably already seen the movies, but the books are so much better.    

This 1970s coming-of-age novel is definitely dated, but the themes (um, training bras and periods) are timeless.

Brave Liesel’s tales of living in Nazi Germany will enthrall your teen, guaranteed.

Part mystery, part family drama, this gripping, out-of-the-box novel is in a genre of its own.

Warning: He will cry through the entire last half. And for several days afterward.

They’re the new generation’s Romeo and Juliet.

This quick read will teach your teen to celebrate what makes her different. Individuality rocks.

Whoa, this 1951 staple still feels like it was written yesterday.    

So much more than just a beach read.

This new, impossible-to-put-down story inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement is an instant classic.

Did she love The Hunger Games? Time to try this masterpiece.

A celebrated epic that will convert any reader into a fantasy lover. 

It’s a gritty read about a girl who refuses to tell anyone the secret of what happened to her…until one day, everything changes.

It’s jaded teen required reading (that your kid will revisit a few dozen more times as an adult).