30 Best Children’s Books for 2023

Reading is a great way to spend some magical time with your little ones and allows parents to take some time off from their busy schedules and unwind with their children. Reading books to your child can help them to improve their imagination, to remove your struggle to find which book your kid will like most? We have selected the 30 Best Children’s Books for 2023 among different genre.

Here are, some tips for a more joyful reading experience. . We hope these tips will help you maximize the joy of reading to your children and nurture in them, a life-long love for books.

Let your child decide

Let your little ones decide which book they want to read and for how long. It is very natural for children to get bored and distracted very easily. Do not let that bother you. The aim is to slowly inculcate in your child a love for reading.

Show children the cover page

A great way to start off a book is by looking at the cover page. However, for older children, one could also ask them to guess what the story will be based on the cover page.

Let your child turn the pages

A great way to make your child enjoy reading is to involve them in the whole process. Build up the excitement on what to expect on the next page of the story.

Connect what’s on the page to your child’s world

Most books for children come with a lot of pictures and fewer words. A great way to bring the book to life is by labeling familiar objects around the house to the objects in the book.

Make the characters come to Life

Create voices for all the characters in the story. Also, use a lot of actions while reading out the story. Make reading fun for your child!
Show children the words. Run your finger along with the words that you read.

Reading as a routine

Always remember to make reading a part of their daily schedule. Reading for even 10 – 15 minutes every day, can go a long way!

Here are the 30 Best Children’s Books to start your little ones off on their fantastic journey of books and stories.

For Babies and Toddlers (9 months +)

1. Bath one Baby by Melanie Joyce and Claire Henley

Discover what one baby does during bath-time, splashing in the water and playing with a duck. Babies who are starting to become more aware of their surroundings will love this colorful book.

2. Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt

The timeless classic “Pat the Bunny” offers interactive fun. This beloved touch-and-feel book creates special moments and cherished memories between parents and their children.

3. Look, Look! by Peter Linenthal

This book features high-contrast black-and-white art perfect for the youngest babies. With its simple red text describing each scene engages both young and older babies, making it an ideal first book for visual development.

4. Where is Baby’s Mommy by Karen Katz

Is Mommy behind the chair? Is Mommy behind the plant? Join baby as he plays hide-and-seek with Mommy. The sturdy format and easy-to-lift flaps in this delightful interactive book are perfect for parents and children to share.

 5. Dear Zoo, by Rod Campbell

Young children will love lifting the flaps in “Dear Zoo” to discover the animals sent by the zoo, from a monkey to an elephant. With bright artwork and sturdy pages, this book is perfect for small hands.

6. Orange Pear, Apple Bear by Emily Gravett

Orange Pear Apple and Bear, it’s fun how four words create a series of playful, intensely engaging book. The loose energy of the pencil and watercolor illustrations will captivate both adults and children.

7. The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle

The journey of a tiny caterpillar who eats his way through a variety of foods before transforming into a beautiful butterfly. With its vibrant illustrations and simple text, this classic book captivates young readers and teaches them about the life cycle of a caterpillar.

For Preschoolers (3+ years)

8. Good night, Gorilla , by Peggy Rathmann

“Good night, Gorilla,” says the zookeeper, but the mischievous gorilla isn’t ready for bed and secretly follows, releasing the other animals. This nearly wordless bedtime romp is filled with expressive art and adorable, hilarious details.

9. Things to learn with Bruno, by Sterling Publishers

Six easy-to-read stories, where Bruno shares his childhood adventures. He recounts what he did when he found a ball, got lost, didn’t clean his room, and painted on the wall. Read on to plant the first seeds of knowledge!

10. The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper

Created for toddlers, this large die-cut board book features a fun locomotive shape, vibrant illustrations, and a straightforward retelling of the original story, perfect for reading aloud.

11. Sparkly Day by Helen Stephens

Sparkly day is a book about a boy who chooses different outdoor activities based on the weather, from flying a shiny kite on a windy day to playing in the glistening snow.

12. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

This soothing bedtime story, cherished by generations, is perfect for sharing at bedtime. In a cozy green room, a little bunny is snugly tucked in and says goodnight to all the familiar things around him, one by one.

13. Let’s Play by Gina Ford

Tom and Ella have a collection of wonderful toys to enjoy, including a fluffy teddy bear, a shiny plane, and a scaly dinosaur. Children will delight in discovering the various textures and picking their favorite toy.

14. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, by Mo Willems

When a bus driver takes a break, an unlikely volunteer—a pigeon—jumps in to drive. Mo Willems’ hilarious picture book debut captures a preschooler’s tantrum perfectly.

15. Spot goes to a party, by Eric Hill

A fun book with interactive flaps to enhance motor skills and a story that sparks curiosity, this book is ideal for early learning and play. The story is about Spot who is invited to his friend Helen’s fancy-dress party and the excitement that surrounds around dress up.

16. Monkey Puzzle, by Julia Donaldson

A clever, funny, and charming tale of Little Monkey who is lost in the jungle and longs to find his mother.

17. Elmer, by David Mckee

Elmer the Elephant is a delightful story about a colorful patchwork elephant who learns to embrace his uniqueness. Through vibrant illustrations and a heartwarming tale, Elmer discovers that being different is something to celebrate.

18. Giraffe can’t Dance, by Giles Andreae

“Giraffes Can’t Dance” tells the touching story of Gerald the giraffe, who overcomes his awkwardness and learns to dance with encouragement from a friend. With playful rhymes and vibrant illustrations, this book gently inspires children to follow their dreams.

19. We are going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen & Helen Oxenbury

Helen Oxenbury’s charming illustrations and captivating and playful tale, “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” follows a family’s adventurous journey through various landscapes to find a bear.

20. Green Eggs & Ham, by Dr Suess

With unforgettable characters and classic rhymes, Dr. Seuss’s beloved book remains a staple of children’s literature. Your little one will delight in the playful tongue twisters and the ever-expanding list of places to enjoy green eggs and ham, and they might even develop a taste for something new!

For Early Readers (5+ years)

21. The snail and the whale, by Julia Donaldson

With brilliant, characterful illustrations, a tiny snail and a humpback whale journey to far-off lands. When the whale swims too close to shore, the snail must find a way to save her new friend.

22. Wacky Wednesday by, Dr Seuss

How wacky can a Wednesday become? With shoes on walls, tortoises in trees, pigs without legs, and teachers on roller skates, children will enjoy counting the bizarre items on each page. Combining hilarious stories, zany illustrations, and riotous rhymes, this book is sure to entertain.

23. The Gruffalo

“The Gruffalo” is a children’s picture book which narrates the tale of a mouse walking through the woods and cleverly outwitting various predators, including the Gruffalo.

24. The Tiger who came to Tea, by Judith Kerr

When the doorbell rings as Sophie and her mummy are having tea, they’re surprised to find a big, furry, striped tiger at the door. This warm and funny picture book is ideal for reading aloud or for young children to enjoy on their own.

25. Up, Down, and Around by Katherine Ayres

From seeds sprouting in the soil to corn growing on stalks, and children chasing butterflies to ants digging underground, this lively picture book is full of vibrant illustrations and rhythmic text celebrating nature’s backyard bounty.

26. Goldilocks & The Three Bears

Crafted with simple language and accompanied by engaging illustrations, this book is tailored to the target age group to enhance reading skills and expand vocabulary.

For Elementary School (7+ years)

27. Story of Sea Shells

Join Sue and her friends as they collect shells for her Grandma’s birthday gift, with each new shell appearing along the side of the page for kids to count. Watch out for live mollusks—Sue and her friend return a mollusk to the ocean when they discover it still inside its shell.

28. The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalt

Duncan just wants to color, but finds a box of crayons saying they’ve had enough. What can he do to satisfy all the crayons and get them back to their best work? Children will enjoy imagining their own funny crayon conversations and coloring away after sharing the laughs.

29. Where the Wild Things Are

A must for every child’s bookshelf, this iconic story has inspired a movie and an opera. When Max, dressed in his wolf suit, is sent to bed for causing havoc, he imagines sailing to an island of Wild Things who make him their king. This classic tale is brought to life with stunning new reproductions of Maurice Sendak’s artwork, capturing the original’s vibrant color and detail.

30. Why Elephant has a trunk, by Ladybird

One of the best children’s book is Why Elephant has a Trunk. The story follows Elephant’s transformation from a smelly, dirty beast with a stubby nose to a long, wiggly, and incredibly useful feature.