All Time Best Picture Books for Children

Youngsters are hooked by the symphony of the truck's beeps and the animals' sounds in this story about a truck and his barnyard friends, and wind up with a lesson about kindness and helping others.

This story by Bill Martin Jr., accompanied by the incomparable collage artwork of Eric Carle, is a real classic. The board book edition for babies has simple, high-contrast illustrations with an emphasis on color identification, animals, repetition, and alliteration.

Alexandra F. said:  This is my 2-year-old's favorite book to read together, and we probably read it 4-5 times a sitting! All of my kids have loved this one, and I think they especially love it because the familiar repetition makes it easy for them to memorize and "read" along with me. "Little Blue Truck" is another favorite - one or the other is never far away!

Kelly R said:  This is the original page-turner for little ones, and a story they are eager to help tell. Something about the way the momentum builds, and the interactive way the pages are designed, makes them eager to partake in the ravenous caterpillar's adventure. This is a good one to add to your collection of favorite board books, so the sturdy pages can stand up to little hands!

The Monster at the End of This Book (starring lovable, furry Grover) is a classic, funny book that will have your kids giggling and asking to read again. Grover learns that there is a monster at the end of the book, and is so afraid he begs readers NOT TO TURN THE PAGE! Of course, kids love defying Grover's instructions and the silly, surprise ending never gets old.

Kelly R said:  Kids love this story by Laura Numeroff about the iconic mouse who was given and inch and took a mile. Filled with silliness, fun illustrations, and a little learning about cause and effect.

A soothing bedtime story that follows various construction vehicles as they wind down after a busy day and prepare for sleep. Through gentle rhymes and warm illustrations, the book lulls young readers into a peaceful slumber alongside the hardworking trucks.

Erynn said:  This gorgeously illustrated book is a must-have for every child who loves their Tonka toys and is obsessed with machines of any sort! An ideal going-to-bed book, because the machines are settling down for the night too.

Using Dr. Seuss's trademark rhymes and silliness, Sam-I-Am tries to convince a friend to eat green eggs and ham, suggesting that he try them in various places and circumstances to make them more appealing. The fun, simple story offers a great lesson for kids about the importance of trying new things.

Michael Farina said:  This book is so fun to read! I challenge myself to do it as fast as I can, and rather mess ups are just as fun as the successes!

A New York Times Bestseller, The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt is a popular read over and over choice in our house! The book tells the story about the day Duncan opens his crayon box to color and instead finds a series of humorous letters from his crayons about why they are unhappy and quit. Duncan is challenged to find a creative solution to make his crayons happy.

Stephanie W. said:  The Pout-Pout Fish is an adorable story about a grumpy fish in need of the right friend to turn his frown upside down. By far the best thing about this book is the amount of times you'll have an excuse to SMOOOOCH your little one!

A sleepy and melodic rhythm, paired with a silly story and adorable animal illustrations, make this one of the best bedtime books for kids.

Vanessa M. said:  Kids get a real kick out of following Harry the Dirty Dog through all of his dirt-filled adventures. He gets dirty, dirtier, and dirtiest of all! Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion has been a family classic since it was originally published in 1956. This adorable and fun story is a must have for every child's bookshelf.

A brilliantly illustrated bedtime book that shows that good little dinosaurs go right to bed. Your little dinosaurs may also like other books in this series!

Alexandra F. said:  We love this one at our house, and the illustrations are the best. We spend just as much time naming all the different kinds of dinosaurs pictured in the front/back covers as we do reading (and rereading) the story!

Kelly R said:  Kay Thompson's Eloise is an inspiration for independent and spirited girls of all ages who march to the beat of their own drum. Even kids who don't skibble about The Plaza Hotel can enjoy the lighthearted tale of her (sometimes misguided) adventures, with its approachable style and iconic illustrations that perfectly capture the personality of the six-year-old heroine.

Kelly R said:  This was my sister's favorite book as a child, and my kids instantly fell in love with it when she bought it for them many years later. Grandma Tildy welcomes all sorts of animals into her home, but has a strictly no-elephant rule. Until...

Alexandra F. said:  The First Discovery Books series by Scholastic are some of my toddler's absolute favorite picture books. I am always amazed by how captivated he is looking at the pictures of everyday objects - vegetables, bugs, vehicles - and learning about them in simple language he can understand and explain back to me. The sturdy pages have also held up remarkably well over more than 12 years and four kids.

This Vegetables book is a favorite, but we are also big fans of Fruit, Ladybug and Construction.