Books
Find truly great children's books. Sort our 8,000 titles by age, genre, series, award, editions, and sequels. Select our 3,500 All-Time Great Children's Books.
Edward, Hoppy, and Joe (1952)

An inquisitive little rabbit named Edward and his friends Hoppy Toad and Joe Possum learn about automobiles, canoeing, roller skating, the circus and other things important to the safety and pleasure of growing animals.
Shoelace Robin (1945)

Little Michael O’Malley comes to the rescue of a small bird and receives some step-by-step instruction from a robin in the art of lacing shoes. With illustrated endpapers showing how to tie a shoelace and a shoe to practice with at the back of the book.
Five Little Firemen (1948)

“The finest fire is the fire that’s out,” sing the five little firemen. Later editions have fewer pages.
Edith Thacher Hurd
Angus Lost (1932)

Always curious, Angus runs away from his house to seek new adventures. But will he make it back home?
The Little Moon Theater (1981)

Jo Jo, Jip and Nicolette traveling about in their caravan presenting plays and granting wishes, are shivering in the winter’s cold until a little old fairy godmother grants their wish.
The Story of Pancho and the Bull with the Crooked Tail (1942)

Pancho captures the wild bull with the crooked tail and earns the reward of a silver mounted saddle, a purse of gold, and the biggest hat in all Mexico.
Elmer Hader
Elmer Hader
The Terrible Twins (1913)

A pair of twins, brother and sister, terrorize the community of Little Deeping, to say nothing of the cats. Read online at archive.org.
The Varmint (1910)

Adventures at a boys’ boarding school - more football than baseball. Read online at archive.org.
Clever Bill (1926)

Soldier Bill Davis is left behind in Mary’s rush to be off to visit her aunt, but he manages to find a way to get to the train station ahead of her.
And to Think that I Saw it on Mulberry Street (1937)

Marco imagines an elaborate fantastical parade traveling along Mulberry Street.
The Kingdom of Carbonel (1960)

When Carbonel must make his visitation to the Great Cat King, he leaves his two royal kittens under the protection of Rosemary and John who have almost more than they can manage to keep them safe.
Brendon Chase (1945)

Three English boys, tired of ‘petticoat government,’ take to the woods.
Mistress Masham’s Repose (1946)

Maria, the mistress of Malplaquet, is ten years old and under the opression of a wicked guardian and her governess, then she discovers a settlement of Lilliputians living in Mistress Masham’s Repose on an island in the middle of her private lake.
The Growing Summer (1966)

Four children spend the summer in the south of Ireland with a Great Aunt of the right sort.
The Moffats (1941)

The Moffats live on New Dollar Street with their widowed mother who is a seamstress.
The Adventures of Arab (1946)

Arab is a merry-go-round horse who seeks his freedom. He and a coach horse strike a bargain and trade places and what happens next is rather unusual.
The Hobbit (1981)

Having been retained as a burglar by a group of dwarves, Bilbo Baggins sets out one fine spring day for the Lonely Mountain.
J. R. R. Tolkien
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat and Other Nonsense Poems (1995)

The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea in a beautiful pea-green boat. Here they are accompanied by many of the delightful Lear Limericks and some of the longer nonsense poems.
Fisherman (1987)

An otter goes fishing.
Fire House (1981)

The alarm bell rings and the firemen are off!
The Gingerbread Man (1953)

The Gingerbread Man runs as fast as he can -- but can he outrun the fox?
Richard Scarry’s Great Big Air Book (1971)

From flying a kite to flying to the moon, we live in an ocean of air.
Under the Tent of the Sky (1937)

This is a collection of poems about animals, large and small.
Pinocchio (1946)

Pinocchio the wooden puppet learns from his mistakes and at last becomes a real boy.
Freddy the Detective (1932)

Freddy discovers a talent for detective work and is soon on the case of the missing toy train.
Mother Goose for Christmas (1973)

It’s the day before Christmas and two strangers have locked Mother Goose and Goosey Gander in the old Queen of Hearts Bakery. What are the concerned villagers to do?
The Owl and the Pussy Cat (1961)

The Owl and the Pussy-Cat set out to sea with some honey and plenty of money, but where is the ring and the runcible spoon?
When I Have a Little Girl; When I Have a Little Boy (2000)

A flip book that is really two books in one. A boy and a girl imagine what it will be like to have children of their own. The original illustrations have been colored for this edition.
Stories from Hans Christian Andersen (1972)

A selection of Hans Christian Andersen’s greatest tales.
Little Fur Family (1946)

The little fur child explores his world.
Roger Mouse’s Wish (1949)

Roger Mouse likes to play Indian, and now he has his own Indian outfit!
My Bedtime Book (1964)

This collection includes “Animal Friends,” and “Mister Dog,” and poems from “The Friendly Book.”
Jane Werner Watson
Chester Cricket’s New Home (1983)

When his stump is destroyed by an overweight picnicker, Chester Cricket begins an odyssey to find a new one, with some help from his friends.
Anthology of Children’s Literature (1940)

An immense anthology with everything from Mother Goose to Eve Curie.
Carrie E. Scott
Lucky Bucky in Oz (1942)

Lucky Bucky and the Wooden Whale have a series of adventures in the Nonestic Ocean on their way to the Emerald City.
Piccadilly Jim (1917)

Jimmy Crocker’s father has married into money and he gets too large an allowance for his own good. Fortunately Ann Chester arrives from America and takes him in hand. Read online at Hathitrust.
Psmith Journalist (1915)

Mike and Psmith travel to America. While Mike is playing exhibition cricket matches in Philadelphia, Psmith stays in New York and goes to work at a newspaper, Cosy Moments. While the editor is away, Psmith and the acting editor decide to spice things up a bit with an anti-slumlord campaign. Gunplay ensues, but Psmith comes smiling through and returns with Mike to Cambridge. Published as a serial in 1910, the plot was combined with a love story to produce The Prince and Betty. This was the first independent book publication. Read online at Hathitrust.
Tales of St. Austin’s (1903)

A dozen ‘public school’ stories set at St. Austin’s. Read online at gutenberg.org.
E. F. Skinner
T. M. R. Whitwell
The Code of the Woosters (1938)

Bertie is commanded by his good aunt Dahlia to obtain, at all costs, including skulduggery, a silver cow creamer. At the same time he must guide the nuptials of Gussie Fink-Nottle and Madeline Bassett to a successful conclusion. Affairs are further complicated by Stiffy Byng, Stinker Pinker and assorted villains, including the infamous Spode. When all seems lost, Jeeves rides to the rescue.
The House of Arden (1908)

Edred and Elfrida travel into the past to search for the lost treasure of the House of Arden and succeed in finding their lost father. Read online at Gutenberg.org.
The Lady of Shalott (1881)

One of the poems making up the cycle of Idylls of the King. Read for free online at Internet Archive.
The Pooh Story Book (1965)

Selections from Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner with new illustrations in color.
Dream Days (1902)

This is the second volume of Kenneth Grahame’s reminiscences of childhood. It includes the well known story of The Reluctant Dragon. The illustrations by Maxfield Parrish were in color and so printed in the periodical printing in The Illustrated London News in the 1910’s. John Lane, the book publisher was not satisfied with the original color plates for the book edition and instead published them in black and white by photogravure. There are variant bindings and even a version with only six plates. Read online at archive.org.
Betsy and Joe (1948)

The events of Betsy Ray’s senior year (1909-1910) at Deep Valley High School in Deep Valley, Minnesota.
Little Women or Meg, Beth, Jo and Amy (1915)

The story of four girls growing up during the Civil War. Read online at archive.org.
The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes (1911)

Timmy is imprisoned in a hollow tree on suspicion of stealing nuts. He is consoled by Chippy Hackee, a chipmunk. Read online at Hathitrust. Or at wikisource. Or at Gutenberg.
Who’s Upside Down? (1952)

A kangaroo in Australia does not like the thought that she is upside down.
Ship (1992)

The story of a Spanish caravel and its excavation.
Cecily G. and the 9 Monkeys (1942)

Cecily giraffe wants some one to play with and Curious George (in his first book) and his eight friends are happy to oblige.
Madeline: A Pop-Up Book (1987)

In an old house in Paris
That was covered with vines
Lived twelve little girls …
The smallest one was Madeline.
The Golden Bunny and Seventeen Other Stories (1953)

A collection of stories and poems.
The Golden Egg Book (1947)

When a curious bunny finds a blue speckled egg, he can’t wait to find out who, or what, is inside it.
The Little Fat Policeman (1950)

A day in the life of a very busy policeman. Later editions have only 28 pages.
Edith Thacher Hurd
Martin Provensen
Anno’s Counting House (1982)

One by one, ten children move from their old house into their new house with all their possessions. At each step, how many children are in each house?
Big Box of Boynton (2005)

A wonderful introduction to the world of Boyntonsquare: dancing pigs and sheep, wide-eyed dinosaurs, and a sleepy, PJ-clad menagerie.
Consists of three volumes:
- Barnyard Dance!
- Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs!
- Pajama Time!
Blue Hat, Green Hat (1984)

Three earnest animals and one misguided turkey learn colors and clothes in this Sandra Boynton classic.
The Black Stallion’s Courage (1956)

When a devastating fire destroys the brood barn Alex Ramsay takes the Black back to the track to earn the money to replace it.
Jack the Giant Killer (1888)

One of his juvenilia, drawn in 1842, this was published after the artist’s death. Read for free online at HathiTrust.
Manners and Customs of Ye Englyshe (1849)

Humorous drawings and texts explaining Victorian Britain to itself. Read online at archive.org.
A Tree for Peter (1941)

Peter’s life is changed when he meets Peter King in shantytown
The Three Mulla-Mulgars (1919)

Thumb, Thimble and Nod set out to find their royal father and the earthly paradise of Tishnar. Read online at archive.org.
Vice Versa or A Lesson to Fathers (1882)

A boy, on the eve of his return to boarding school, trades places with his father. Read for free online at Internet Archive.
The Mitchells (1945)

The five Mitchell children and their mother stay behind in Washington D.C. as father goes off to war.
Goody Two Shoes (1874)

A tale of two orphans and how they eventually prospered. Read for Free online at Internet Archive.
One, Two Buckle My Shoe (1869)

A counting rhyme. Read for free online at Internet Archive.
Hansel and Gretel (1927)

Lost in the woods, two children come upon a gingerbread house.
Jacob Grimm
Wilhelm Grimm
Elmer Hader
King Arthur and His Knights (1924)

This version of the story of King Arthur is taken from Malory by an expert in medieval literature.
Mead Schaeffer
Almanack for 1925 (1924)

This edition used the illustrations from the 1887 Almanack.
The Complete Verse and Other Nonsense (2001)

This is a scholarly edition of the verse and nonsense annotated by Lear’s biographer.
Botts in War, Botts in Peace: Earthworms Can Take Anything (1944)

This entry in the saga of Alexander Botts, natural born salesman, takes him from 1933 to fighting in World War II.
Penrod: His Complete Story (1931)

This omnibus edition contains the best of Penrod, Penrod and Sam and Penrod Jashber.
Gordon Grant
Land of Black Gold (1959)

Tintin and the two T detectives set off for the middle east to investigate a problem with the gasoline supply. It was substantially rewritten for this first English language edition.
Arthur Rackham’s Book of Pictures (1913)

Fairy tale scenes including dwarfs and giants, elves and fairies, well as folkloric figures and Edwardian-era children. Read for free online at HathiTrust.
The Sleeping Beauty (1920)

The princess who slept for a hundred years and how she awakened. Read for free online at Internet Archive: this edition, and the limited edition with extra plate in color.
Crab Cat (1984)

A cat imagines what it would be like to be a crab.
The Nightingale (1965)

The classic tale of the Emperor who could not treasure the real over the artificial, until death came for him.
Eva Le Gallienne
Jeeves, Jeeves, Jeeves: Three Novels (1976)

An omnibus volume containing How Right You Are, Jeeves, Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves and The Tie That Binds.
At the Back of the North Wind (1871)

Diamond is visited by the North Wind who takes him on magical journeys. Read online at Hathitrust.
The Story of Siegfried (1931)

A retelling of the Norse and German myths of the hero warrior Siegfried.
The Enchanted Book Stories From Many Lands (1947)

This is a fairy tale anthology.
The Children’s Bible Selections from the Old and New Testament (1922)

Familiar stories from the Bible, both the Old Testament and the New. Read online at archive.org.
Henry A. Sherman
Robin Hood (1928)

A retelling of the adventures of Robin Hood based on the history and real life of the people of his time, including their Catholic faith.
The Night Before Christmas (1948)

First published in 1946, two songs were added for this third edition of the Christmas classic.
The Book About Moomin, Mymble and Little My (2001)

In a delightful, curious game of what comes next, Moomintroll travels through the woods to get home with milk for Moominmamma. A simple trip turns into a colorful adventure as Moomintroll meets Mymble, who has lost her sister, Little My. Along the way, they endure the hijinks of all the charming characters of the Moomin world, including the Fillijonks and Hattifatteners. Will Moomintroll ever make it home safe and sound?
Rewards and Fairies (1910)

Puck returns to take Dan and Una on further magical journeys into the past. Read online at Hathitrust.
C. S. Forester’s Hornblower One More Time (1978)

Three uncollected Hornblower short stories and two essays by C. S. Forester. Fifty copies were accompanied by a pamphlet called ‘Hornblower’s Birthplace.’
Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross (1884)

This R. Caldecott picture book contains two traditional rhymes. Read online at archive.org.
Aesop’s Fables (1911)

A large collection of traditional fables. Read for free online at HathiTrust.
The Log of a Cowboy (1903)

A history of the cattle drives north from Texas after the Civil War. Read for free online at Internet Archive.
Donald Duck in The Ghost in the Grotto (1984)

This volume includes Barks stories from Donald Duck Four Color Comics sixty-two through one hundred fifty-nine.
Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories 125-145 (1983)

This volume includes Barks stories from Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories numbers one hundred twenty-five through one hundred forty-five.
Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories 254-277 (1990)

This volume includes all the Barks stories from Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories number two hundred fifty-four through two hundred seventy-seven.
The Calvin and Hobbes Lazy Sunday Book (1989)

Running for ten years, from 1985 to 1995, the adventures of Calvin and his tiger friend Hobbes was one of the most popular comic strips of all time.
Little Lulu Volume 5 (2005)

The fifth volume in a black-and-white reprint of the John Stanley Little Lulu comics.
John Stanley
Irving Tripp
The Complete Steve Canyon Dailies and Color Sundays Volume 1 1947-1948 (2012)

This is the first volume in a reprinting of the adventure strip written and drawn by Milton Caniff beginning in 1947 until his death in 1988 and includes the dailies and color Sundays.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (2011)

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Sam and the Tigers (1996)

A retelling of Little Black Sambo.
Julius Lester
The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (1966)

The adventures of a fourteen year old boy who has been turned into a tomten - a Swedish elf- and set off on the back of a goose to see the sights of Sweden. This abridged edition includes material from both The Wonderful Adventures of Nils and Further Adventures of Nils.
Arabian Nights (1946)

Tales selected from The Thousand Nights and a Night.