There are so many great books to read to a child. We will only be looking at only a small selection today. Ten children’s books, old and new, that you can share with your little ones.

Choosing age appropriate reads

These books are aimed at a variety of ages and reading levels.

Use trial and error to determine which books your child can understand. Don’t be scared to introduce them to trickier books than they are used to.

If your child is not engaged, it might be because the plot or characters are too complex for where they are right now. Checking in with your child occasionally, and talking about the story, will help you gauge how much they are following.

Whether the content is age-appropriate is a different matter. There is much debate about whether you should censor what your children read. Reading can be a great way for children to begin exploring the bigger topics from a safe distance. Of course, discretion is important. A six-year-old, no matter their reading level, shouldn’t be reading a horror book.

As children age and become more independent, however, allow them to read what they feel they can handle. Keep an open dialogue. Often, a book can offer a gateway to discussing important issues.

Great books to read to your child

There are so many books out there, that I had to limit the scope. Therefore, I have only included chapter books. I have also cheated slightly and listed a few series.

There are of course many amazing shorter books for younger readers. I hope to explore these at a later time.

Recommended age: 5-8 years

This is a beautiful story of kindness and friendship. It tells of a prince, or rather, the statue of one. The prince loves the people of his city, more than his own vanity. With the help of a swallow, he gives all he has to help the poor people he has seen around him.

Written in the late 19th century, the message is still relevant.

It is often published alongside Wilde’s other children’s stories, which are just as beautiful, such as “The Selfish Giant.”

Recommended age: 5-8 years

Jill Tomlinson is probably best known for ‘The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark.’ ‘The Cat Who Wanted to Go Home’ is another beautiful story from her animal collection.

The main character, Suzy, lives with a fisherman and his four boys in a little seaside village in France. When she accidentally crosses the channel in a hot air balloon, Suzy will do all it takes to get back home to the family that she loves.

This story would be a great choice for any little animal lover. The short chapters, and little repetitions also make it perfect for younger readers.

Recommended age: 7-10 years

It is impossible to list the greatest children’s books without including something by David Walliams. Walliams is a master at mixing humour with wonderful storytelling.

In ‘The Boy in the Dress’, we meet Dennis. Living with his father and brother, Dennis has to hide his love for fashion. That is till he develops a friendship with Lisa, a want-to-be designer, who encourages him to step outside of the box and have fun.

As well as being a cracker of a story, it makes an easy World Book Day costume.

Recommended age: 9-12 years

This is another older one, originally having been published in 1905. Don’t be put off by it’s age. Like many of the older classics, this is still a great book to read to a child.

The Railway Children follows the lives of three children. After their father is mysteriously called away, they are told they have to leave their home and move to a cottage with their mother.

Their new home is near a railway, where the children soon spend most of their days, making friends and having adventures.

The story is both uplifting and fun. It is a classic for a reason. Very much worth a read.

Recommended age: 7-9 years

Some of the greatest books I read as a child were by Roald Dahl. He writes funny and engaging stories that little people love. In fact, I could have easily filled this list with just the works of Dahl and Blyton.

‘Danny the Champion of the World’ is about a father and a son. When Danny realises that his dad is a long-time poacher, he wants to go poaching, too.

The plot is quite simple, but the characters are so cleverly portrayed, that this book truly is a gem. On a personal note, this may be my favourite thing that Dahl wrote.

Recommended age: 8 to 12 years

This is where I start to cheat slightly. This is not one, but 13 great books to read to your child.

The first page of the first book will warn you that this is not a series about happy endings. There is loss and sadness in all of the books. They are, however, wonderful stories.

Snicket has a distinct writing style and a dry sense of humour, which I am sure many adults will enjoy, too. He also takes the time to add definitions to words that children might not know.

Recommended age: 7-12 years

Again, this is a series rather than an individual book. The Chronicles of Narnia has been a classic for years.

Lewis takes his readers to Narnia, a world of magic and adventure, where children are kings, queens and heroes.

The Chronicles of Narnia were the first chapter books that I read independently as a child, and will always have a special place in my heart.

If Aslan was part of your world growing up, too, sharing this series with your little one may feel like sharing a bit of your childhood.

Recommended age: 5-8 years

Enid Blyton has got so many great child-level books, that you could probably read just her work for a year and not get through it all.

The wonder of Enid Blyton is that, despite the amount she has written, she doesn’t have a bad book out there. Or if she does, I am yet to find it.

The Faraway Tree collection is a great book for younger children. They meet fantastical characters like Silky the fairy, The Saucepan Man and Moonface whilst exploring the different worlds that arrive at the top of the tree.

Recommended age: 8 years +

The Harry Potter books were what moved me to include series in this list. Although you can read each book alone, they are best read as a series.

Although some of the themes throughout the series are a little darker, the depth and complexity of the characters is brilliant. The Potter books are a great choice to read to a slightly older child. The world of Hogwarts, along with the excitement and danger, offers a way to embrace the places between black and white.

Recommended age: 9 years +

‘Goodnight Mister Tom’ is the story of an eight-year-old boy Willie. Willie is evacuated during World War Two, and finds friendship and kindness in his new guardian, Mister Tom.

This is a fantastic read for any child with an interest in history. It is heartwarming, moving and full of hope.

Why you should read to your child

Reading with children is more than just a way to pass the time. It can be a bonding experience and has a wealth of developmental benefits for your child.

A child who is read to will have a greater vocabulary and be more linguistically developed. Books can also help a child with their cognitive, social and emotional development. (Sheldon-Dean, 2023)

Most importantly, reading can be a lot of fun, and help build beautiful memories with your little one.

How to find other great children’s books

There are millions of children’s books out there. The choice can seem overwhelming.

There are, however, some fun ways to hunt out new books. You could take your child to a charity shop or second-hand book shop and see if they find any new books that they want to pick up.

Perhaps you could organise a book swap with some of their friends.

There are also some more inclusive children’s book lists which are worth checking out, like this one.

Final note

Whatever you read, enjoy it.

I would love to hear about your favourite book or author. Feel free to leave a comment below.

I wish you all the peace,

Hannah Louise

References

Culture, B. B. C. “The 100 Greatest Children’s Books of All Time.” Www.bbc.com, 23 May 2023, www.bbc.com/culture/article/20230522-the-100-greatest-childrens-books-of-all-time.

Hentschel, Ronel. “How Books Can Help You Read between the Lines with Children’s Emotions.” Washington Parent, 27 Jan. 2024, washingtonparent.com/how-books-can-help-you-read-between-the-lines-with-childrens-emotions/.

Sheldon-Dean, Hannah . “Why Is It Important to Read to Your Child?” Child Mind Institute, Child Mind Institute, 19 Jan. 2023, childmind.org/article/why-is-it-important-to-read-to-your-child/.

Vissing, Yvonne, and Melissa Juchniewicz. “Children’s Book Banning, Censorship and Human Rights.” Globalisation, Comparative Education and Policy Research, 2023, pp. 181–201, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15896-4_12. Accessed 9 Feb. 2023.