When it comes to children, one of the few things you would want to inculcate in them from a young age is the habit of reading. Reading helps kids build their perspective of the world and much-needed character traits like empathy. Keeping this in mind we have curated a list of the best children’s books of all time, including books mainly written in English and some of the popular books translated to English from other languages.
1. Winnie the Pooh:
Winnie the Pooh is a short story collection by English author A. A Milne. It revolves around the world of the anthropomorphic teddy bear Pooh and his group of friends named Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Owl, Rabbit, Kanga and Roo.
Set in the fictional hundred-acre wood, this collection of stories tracks Winnie the Pooh and his friends as they take on adventures and teach us along the journey about the importance of friendships, empathy and having fun through simple things in life.
2. Green, Eggs and Ham :
Green, Eggs and Ham is a popular children ‘s book written in the form of a poem by Dr. Seuss. In this, we see the conversations between a jovial character named Sam a Ham and another older man. This is a simple but grappling children’s novel which makes us turn the pages and follow the conversation of the two characters as Sam A Ham relentlessly tries to make the older man try Green Eggs and Ham.
Although it is written in very basic English and is appropriate for children who are just being introduced to words, it certainly touches upon the theme that as we get older, it becomes difficult to try out new things even the ones we may find joyful.
3. Panchtantra:
Panchtantra is an ancient Indian text attributed to be written by Vishnu Sharma. It is said that stories of Panchtantra were created to teach important lessons such as administration, policy-making as well as moral values and duties to sons of an ancient king who were otherwise too uninclined to read and learn.
Panchtantra is a collection of various short stories which depict the real-life emotions of human characters like honesty, cunningness and kindness through characterising them in various animals. Every story contains a moral message which is also a great life lesson for growing up kids(and btw even for adults).
4. The Giving Tree:
The Giving Tree is another great children’s Book that has made it into our list of top 10 children’s books of all time. Written by Shel Silverstein, it depicts the heartwarming story of a kid and a tree. As the kid grows up into a boy, a teenager, an adult and finally into an old man. his relationship with the tree changes. It marvellously portrays the joys of giving in life and how it can make you feel happy and enriched.
5. Matilda :
Matilda, a children’s novel written by Roald Dahl, is about a young girl named Matilda. Matilda stands out from other children’s books largely in its way of portraying sensitive topics such as emotional and physical abuse that sadly children are most vulnerable to.
Matilda although a child is way smarter as she reads a lot and thus understands the world around her much more clearly. She uses her wit to deal with bullies around her and teach them a lesson in her own way.
6. Oh, the Places You’ll Go! :
Oh, the Places You’ll Go is another beautiful children’s book written by Dr. Seuss that sets them up for life. It tells them what living life is like with all its ups and downs, success and failures, moving and waiting and how along the way you may find yourself in one or the other part of it. But when you do, this book might be the one you want to visit to smile and move on with the journey.
7. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs:
Written by, Jon Scieszka, “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” is an interesting take on the classic fable of three little pigs told from the wolf’s perspective. In the original fable, we see how the one pig who has worked the hardest and put in more effort into building his house, benefited the most when an evil wolf strikes.
The author has turned the tables through this book and made the wolf look like a victim of the circumstances who was just minding his own business until things went south.
8. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland:
This is another popular book that we have put into our top 10 children’s books list. Written by Lewis Carroll, it tells the story of Alice who falls through the rabbit into a fantasy world filled with anthropomorphic creatures. This fantasy world is certainly a strange place where apparently you can become a giant in one second and shrink to the size of an ant in the next. But I guess that is why it is so popular as it breaks the dimensions of reality and touches upon the imagination and curiosity in children as Alice explores the absurd wonderland.
9. The Little Prince :
Another name on our list of top 10 children’s books is “The Little Prince”. Written by French author and military pilot, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, it tells us the story of a Prince who leaves his home planet and lands on Earth. The stories he tells the narrator touch upon various ideas of life like love, friendships, relationships and the existence of one’s self into all this. Although it is a children’s book, it certainly carries the theme of adulthood as well.
10. The Secret Garden:
The “Secret Garden” written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, is another one of our top 10 children’s books. It tells the story of a young girl named Mary. Mary is ill-mannered and spoiled and is used to servants flocking around her. But a sudden turn of events changes her life completely as she finds herself orphaned and in her uncle’s Yorkshire state. There she learns about her dead aunt’s secret garden and gets on her quest to find it.
This is a great book on the importance of healing from trauma and how it can change your life forever.