BookRank
Where to start

Children’s books to read

Not sure which children’s books to read? We ranked 183 of them using 56,382 reader ratings; the average is 7.9/10. Below: three books to start with, then short reads, series starts, and classics.

If you read only one, make it Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein (8.6/10). If you prefer a series: Bartimaeus Sequence starts with The Amulet of Samarkand.

Start here

Three children’s books that many readers rate highly — each one a first volume or a book that stands alone.

  1. Where the Sidewalk EndsShel Silverstein · 1974 · 176 pages8.6/10 · 1,051 ratings“Where the Sidewalk Ends” gathers children’s poems made for reading aloud.
  2. MatildaRoald Dahl · 1988 · 240 pages8.5/10 · 1,447 ratingsDahl gives a brilliant small girl a set of dreadful adults and lets her get even, first with pranks and then by stranger means.
  3. Anne of Green GablesLucy Maud Montgomery · 1908 · 308 pages8.4/10 · 1,172 ratingsAnne of Green Gables · book 1 of 9

Short reads: under 300 pages

For a weekend or a commute. 120 of the rated children’s books are this short; these score best.

  1. A Light in the AtticShel Silverstein · 1981 · 176 pages8.5/10 · 368 ratings
  2. Winnie-the-PoohA. A. Milne · 1926 · 159 pages8.4/10 · 511 ratingsWinnie-the-Pooh series · book 1 of 2
  3. Oh, the Places You'll Go!Dr. Seuss · 1990 · 48 pages8.4/10 · 438 ratings
  4. Where the Wild Things AreMaurice Sendak · 1963 · 42 pages8.3/10 · 920 ratings

Series worth starting

The first volume of each series, with the full reading order one click away.

  1. The Amulet of SamarkandJonathan Stroud · 2003 · 462 pages8.0/10 · 583 ratingsBartimaeus Sequence · book 1 of 4 · Reading order →
  2. The GruffaloJulia Donaldson · 2000 · 32 pages8.3/10 · 143 ratingsGruffalo · book 1 of 3 · Reading order →
  3. The One and Only IvanKatherine Applegate · 2012 · 336 pages8.2/10 · 178 ratingsThe One and Only Ivan · book 1 of 3 · Reading order →
  4. Gregor the OverlanderSuzanne Collins · 2003 · 311 pages7.9/10 · 204 ratingsThe Underland Chronicles · book 1 of 5 · Reading order →

Classics from before 1976

Still read, still rated: the older books that hold up best.

  1. The Giving TreeShel Silverstein · 1964 · 57 pages8.4/10 · 1,080 ratings
  2. The LoraxDr. Seuss · 19718.4/10 · 309 ratings
  3. The Phantom TollboothNorton Juster · 1961 · 256 pages8.3/10 · 703 ratings
  4. The Very Hungry CaterpillarEric Carle · 1969 · 28 pages8.3/10 · 491 ratings

Liked this? Try that

Pairs from our similarity data: the same kind of story, a different author.

If you likedtry
MatildaRoald DahlMore like this in “Find a book” →Haroun and the Sea of StoriesSalman Rushdie · 8.0/10
Artemis FowlEoin ColferMore like this in “Find a book” →The Amulet of SamarkandJonathan Stroud · 8.0/10

How long are the rated children’s books?

Under 300 pages120
300–499 pages45
500 pages or more5

170 of 183 rated titles with a known page count. Largest group: under 300 pages.

Narrow it down with “Find a book”

“Find a book” holds 112 children’s books. Pick a shortcut — the filters are already set:

Children’s books in a series50Standalone children’s books63Short children’s books (under 220 pages)78Children’s books, mood: adventurous60Children’s books with a film or series23Award-winning children’s books22
All children’s books in “Find a book” →

Questions readers ask

What children’s books should I read first?

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein: 8.6/10 from 1,051 ratings, and it needs no earlier book. Next on our list: Matilda and Anne of Green Gables.

What is a good children’s book under 300 pages?

A Light in the Attic (176 pages, 8.5/10) is the highest-rated one under 300 pages.

Which children’s book series should I start?

Bartimaeus Sequence: begin with The Amulet of Samarkand, the first of 4 books. The reading order page lists every volume.

How are these books chosen?

Only books with enough reader ratings to be ranked (at least 50) are picked. The score is a weighted average across independent rating sources, pulled toward the category average when ratings are few.

Go further

Other genres: where to start

Young adultMiddle gradeBooks to read →