Book challenges and awards
Common Sense Media must-read books for kids (first 20, by age)
Common Sense Media keeps a list of 50 must-read books for kids. The first 20 entries shown on the page run from ages 2 to 8 and are listed here with the age ratings Common Sense gives.
Copied from Common Sense Media's 'must read books for kids' list, Oct 2026; only the 20 entries visible on the page were used, so the full 50 is on their site. Checked 2026-10-25. Nobody paid to be here. The buy links are plain search links, not affiliate links, so Peabody earns nothing from them.
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
Mo Willems · Ages 2+
Age 2+ on the list.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
Goodnight Moon
Margaret Wise Brown · Ages 2+
Age 2+ on the list.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site
Sherri Duskey Rinker · Ages 2+
Age 2+ on the list.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
Harold and the Purple Crayon
Crockett Johnson · Ages 2+
Age 2+ on the list.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
The Snowy Day
Ezra Jack Keats · Ages 2+
Age 2+ on the list.
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Eric Carle · Ages 2+
Age 2+ on the list.
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Where the Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak · Ages 2+
Age 2+ on the list.
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Last Stop on Market Street
Matt de la Peña · Ages 3+
Age 3+ on the list; 2016 Newbery medal and Caldecott honor.
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We Are Water Protectors
Carole Lindstrom · Ages 3+
Age 3+ on the list; 2021 Caldecott medal.
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Big
Vashti Harrison · Ages 4+
Age 4+ on the list; 2024 Caldecott medal.
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Julián Is a Mermaid
Jessica Love · Ages 4+
Age 4+ on the list.
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Knight Owl
Christopher Denise · Ages 4+
Age 4+ on the list; 2023 Caldecott honor.
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Madeline
Ludwig Bemelmans · Ages 4+
Age 4+ on the list.
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The Cat in the Hat
Dr. Seuss · Ages 4+
Age 4+ on the list.
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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Roald Dahl · Ages 6+
Age 6+ on the list.
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Ivy + Bean, Book 1
Annie Barrows · Ages 6+
Age 6+ on the list.
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Stuart Little
E.B. White · Ages 6+
Age 6+ on the list.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
Where the Sidewalk Ends
Shel Silverstein · Ages 6+
Age 6+ on the list.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
Charlotte's Web
E.B. White · Ages 7+
Age 7+ on the list.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths
Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire · Ages 8+
Age 8+ on the list.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
More lists
Newbery Medal winners, 2017 to 2026
The Newbery Medal goes each year to the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children, chosen by a committee of librarians.
Newbery Honor Books, 2023 to 2026
Honor books are the runners-up the Newbery committee also names.
Newbery Medal winners worth reading before middle school
Newbery winners go back to 1922, and many older ones feel dated.
Caldecott Medal winners, 2017 to 2026
The Caldecott Medal honors the most distinguished American picture book for children, judged on the illustrations.
Caldecott Honor Books, 2022 to 2026
Honor books are the Caldecott committee's runners-up, and many of them are the ones children ask to hear again.
Caldecott Medal winners from 1980 to 2016 that are still shelf favorites
Older Caldecott winners are the ones many families already own.
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winners, 2019 to 2026
The Geisel Award goes to the best book for beginning readers each year.
Geisel Honor Books, 2023 to 2026
The Geisel committee also names honor books, which is where many of the funniest early readers show up.