The 5 Best Children’s Books of All Time

Reading is a highly productive activity and it sharpens the analytical abilities, imagination, and critical thinking of the readers. It has even greater importance for children; however, it is not always easy getting your children to develop a reading habit. Children like to read very specific kind of literature; something that combines masterful story-telling and fanciful imagination.

Millions of books and stories have been written for children till date but only a handful of these books have managed to win the title of “children’s classic”. The following list comprises of 10 such children’s classics that are adored by children all over the world. In no particular order, here is our list of the 5 best children’s books of all time.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

‘The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe’ is the first book in a 7 part series by C.S. Lewis. It is widely regarded as a classic in children’s literature. It ranks on the 9th spot on BBC’s “The Big Read” and has been included in The 100 best Novels of All Time by Time magazine. The story revolves around four children who access a magical land though their wardrobe closet.

Little Women by Louis May Alcott

Little Women is a classic book adored by children and adults alike. It is a masterful combination of adventure, family drama, and romance. The central characters of the book are all women and each woman has a unique identity of her own. A Japanese anime and several English movies are based on this book. The story focuses on four sisters and their journey from childhood to puberty. Many people believe that the story is inspired from Alcott’s own life experiences.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is one of the greatest children’s books of all time. It is the life story of a caterpillar who eventually transforms into a beautiful butterfly. Along with being an amusing story for children, the book educates them about the lifecycle of a butterfly, different types of food, and days of the week. This book is so popular that according to Amazon, a copy of this book is sold somewhere in the world every 30 seconds.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J. K. Rowling

This is the first book in the ground-breaking seven part series written by J. K. Rowling. It was written in 1997 and laid ground for a legacy that continues till date. Multiple movie adaptations are based on this book series and it has won numerous awards in the UK and USA. The central character of the story is Harry Potter, a young boy who discovers that he is a wizard and gets enrolled in Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a masterpiece in children’s literature; written by the famous British author, Roald Dahl. The book has seen a movie adaption and has won multiple awards and accolades. J. K. Rowling, the world-renowned author, listed this book as one of her favorite ten books as a child. The story revolves around Charlie, a young boy who lives with his parents and grandparents in poverty. Charlie has a great desire to see Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory from inside. Little did he know that one day, he will become an heir to Wonka’s chocolate factory.