Are you looking for classic picture books to read to your child? You’re in the right place!
I’ve compiled a list of what I believe are some of the best picture books that should be a part of every child’s read aloud time.
The Importance of Reading Aloud
It’s no secret I’m a huge advocate for family read aloud time, whether your kids are toddlers or tweens.
In fact, I think it’s the most important thing you can do for your kids. Especially in the early years.
From teaching your kids to love reading and increasing their vocabulary to the family bonding it can create, reading aloud is a powerful activity.
The Importance of Quality
There are so many beautifully written picture books that it was tough to narrow down this list to just 50. At the same time, there are a ton of really poorly written picture books.
With limited bookshelf real estate, I’m really serious about collecting the best children’s books I can find and keeping out anything that’s mediocre. I also know that any book I bring into the house I’m going to have to read about 5,123,154,097 times, so it had better be good!
50 Classic Picture Books
Below is a list of classic picture books that should be a part of every childhood. These are the books that you probably remember from your own childhood that have stood the test of time.
Looking at these titles, I’m filled with nostalgia, and I’ve added them to my own kids’ book collection so they can have the same warm memories of the stories I (and most likely you!) grew up with.
If you’re just starting to build your collection of children’s books or you want to find the perfect picture book to give as a gift, take a look at these 50 classic picture books.
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1. Corduroy
2. Madeline
3. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
4. Curious George
The Complete Adventures of Curious George by Margret and H.A. Rey
5. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury
6. Make Way for Ducklings
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
7. Blueberries for Sal
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
8. Where the Wild Things Are
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
9. Goodnight Moon
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
10. The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
11. The Story of Ferdinand
The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
12. The Cat in the Hat
The Cat in the Hat by Dr Seuss
13. Caps for Sale
Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
14. Love You Forever
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
15. The Doorbell Rang
The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins
16. The Little House
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
17. I Want My Hat Back
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
18. The Poky Little Puppy
The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowery
19. Amelia Bedelia
Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
20. Guess How Much I Love You
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
21. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
22. The Tale of Peter Rabbit
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
23. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
24. The Napping House
25. Jamberry
26. How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You
How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
27. Dear Zoo
28. Spot Goes to the Farm
Spot Goes to the Farm by Eric Hill
29. The Runaway Bunny
The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
30. Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site
Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Tom Litchenheld and Sherri Duskey
31. Giraffes Can’t Dance
Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees
32. Little Bear
Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik
33. The Snowy Day
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
34. Owl Moon
35. A Sick Day For Amos McGee
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead
36. Green Eggs and Ham
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
37. The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses
The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble
38. There’s a Monster at the End of This Book
The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone and Michael Mollin
39. The Story of Babar
The Story of Babar the Little Elephant by Jean de Brunhoff
40. Little Blue Truck
Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
41. The Going to Bed Book
The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
42. Llama Llama Red Pajama
Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
43. Mother Goose
The Original Mother Goose by Blanche Fisher Wright
44. Clifford the Big Red Dog
Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell
45. The Little Engine That Could
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
46. Goodnight Gorilla
Good Night Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
47. The Velveteen Rabbit
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
48. Miss Rumphius
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
49. All the World
All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon
50. Millions of Cats
Do you already have most of the books on this list? Take a look at my list of classic British picture books for wonderful classics that aren’t as well known in North America.
For my recommendations of first read aloud chapter books for preschoolers, check out my top favorites here!