There's a short window when children want you to read to them every night. It doesn't last forever. These fifteen books are worth filling it with. None of them is here because it teaches something. They're here because they stay.
Picture books
Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd
A room says goodnight, one object at a time. Quiet, rhythmic, and somehow soothing at every age.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle
Holes in the pages, food on every one, and a butterfly at the end. Small children love touching their way through it.
Harold and the Purple Crayon, by Crockett Johnson
A boy draws his own adventure as he goes. Children get the idea instantly and want to try it.
The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats
A boy, a city, the first snow. It captures the feeling of a perfect ordinary day.
Corduroy, by Don Freeman
A teddy bear in a shop, waiting to be chosen. Tender without being sweet.
The Paper Bag Princess, by Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko
A princess outwits a dragon, wearing a paper bag. Very funny, with an ending children argue about.
Not Now, Bernard, by David McKee
A boy tries to get his parents' attention while a monster eats him. Darkly funny, and quietly good for grown-ups to hear.
Mr Gumpy's Outing, by John Burningham
Everyone wants to get in the boat. Everyone promises to behave. They don't.
Lost and Found, by Oliver Jeffers
A boy tries to return a penguin to the South Pole. Gentle, simple, about friendship and loneliness.
The Snail and the Whale, by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
A tiny snail sees the whole world on a whale's tail. Rhyme that carries you, and a big idea about being small.
Guess How Much I Love You, by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram
Two hares compete over who loves who more. It ends many bedtimes very well.
First chapter books to read aloud
The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark, by Jill Tomlinson
A baby barn owl learns what the dark is for. Each chapter is a small, complete story.
Winnie-the-Pooh, by A. A. Milne, illustrated by E. H. Shepard
Gentle, funny and much wiser than it pretends. Better read aloud than watched.
Pippi Longstocking, by Astrid Lindgren
The strongest girl in the world lives alone with a horse and a monkey. Pure, joyful chaos.
Charlotte's Web, by E. B. White
A pig, a spider and a friendship. Read it aloud slowly, and be ready for the ending.
How to use this list
Don't treat it as homework. Borrow, reread, skip, come back later. A book that doesn't work at four may be perfect at six.
7 Books That Keep 5-Year-Olds Interested
The 10-Minute Bedtime Reading Habit I'd Start Tonight
Which book would you add? Tell me in the comments. The best lists keep growing.
I read, I choose, and I write about the books that stay with me. I also write The Keeper Chronicles.
A weekly letter for people who love books.
Once a week: a short personal note, one article about reading or family life, one practical idea to try, and a question you can answer just by replying. One email a week, never a sales pitch.
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