Grade-wise Classic Books Recommendations for Kids.
Here are some of the classics which feature on our “must-read” list.
This classic written forty years back introduces tots to a variety of colorful animals and takes them on an adventure full of rhyming words.
[b] Goodnight Moon by Margaret Brown
In a great green room, tucked away in bed, a little bunny says goodnight to all the familiar things that surround him. Children love this soothing rhythmic book at bedtime and beyond.
[c] The Pigeon series by Mo Willems
This series consists of books (about a persistent pigeon) that attract attention of young children by making the bird’s adventures relatable. A fun read for both parents and pre-schoolers.
This book is extremely popular among Kindergartners. The story is about a young caterpillar that evolves into a magnificent butterfly. This classic has been translated into more than 50 languages.
[b] The Story of Babar, The Little Elephant by Jean de Brunhoff
These books exude an old-world charm and effectively depict colonialism. Babar’s kind and hard-working personality and the author’s gentle treatment of darker themes make this colorfully illustrated series worth reading.
[c] McDuff by Rosemary Wells
Set in the 1930s, this vibrantly illustrated series of 10 books follows McDuff, a white Scottish terrier who escapes from a dog catcher truck in search of a loving home. McDuff finds affection as a young couple who takes him in. The little dog’s experiences, struggles and problems are similar to any young boy’s-from dealing with a new baby in the house to causing a ruckus at a relative’s house.
This classic cautionary tale reminds naughty little rabbits to stay out of the neighbour's lettuce patch. Published in 1902, it was Beatrix Potter's first of 23 animal tales for children.
[b] The Boy Who Loved Words by Roni Schotter
In this Parents' Choice Gold Award-winning book, Selig collects words, ones that stir his heart and ones that make him laugh. But what good are so many luscious words? After helping a poet find the perfect words for his poem, he realizes that his purpose is to spread the word among others. And so he begins to sprinkle, disburse, and broadcast them to people in need.
[c] Max’s Words by Kate Banks
This is a beautiful story in both concept and execution. The book follows a boy who wants to start a collection like his older brothers’ and so begins to collect words. He starts off small and the collection soon grows until he has thousands and thousands of words. Max's fascination for words becomes contagious to his brothers and also the readers.
This 1964 Caldecott Medal Winner is a wild romp for both kids and adults alike. The readers join Max who's wearing a wolf suit and dreaming of sailing away to a colorful world of Wild Things.
[b] Mr. George Baker by Amy Hest
The book focuses on the importance of literacy. Mr. George Baker is a 100-year-old man who is learning to read alongside his seven-year-old friend Harry. It urges us to accept and respect people regardless of their age, race or the challenges in their lives.
[c] Painted Dreams by Karen Lynn Williams
This is a story of a little girl which promotes strength through all odds. The girl finds a way around her financial difficulties depicting how creativity and imagination can create magical things.
Dick and Sally have the rainy day blues — until the Cat in the Hat shows up and leads them through a magical and messy adventure.
[b] Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
Beautifully written, hauntingly nostalgic, and adventure-filled, Peter Pan is not a story that can be forgotten and that has made itself live on in childhood literature since its conception.
[c] Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
This is a classic tale of Charlie, a poor boy who gets to visit Willy Wonka's fabulous chocolate factory along with four other children. The other children meet unfortunate accidents due to their own behavior until only Charlie remains. He is rewarded for his good behavior as Willy Wonka has been looking to groom an heir.
Think of this heartwarming book as Philosophy 101 for kids. It's about the gift of giving and the capacity to love told throughout the life of a boy who grows to manhood and a tree that selflessly gives him her bounty through the years.
[b] Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
This is a fantastic read for kids and fun for adults too. Clementine is a riot. The illustrations are so detailed but simple at the same time. The drawings bring out the contrast between disheveled artistic Clementine and her perfectionist best friend.
[c] The Spiderwick Chronicles series by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi
The best-selling book of Spiderwick Chronicles tells the story of the three children. Before you know it, they've discovered a magical world with Arthur Spiderwick's ‘Field Guide to the Fantastical World around You’.
Some books imprint themselves on your mind and stay with you. You can remember vividly where you were when you first read them. And this book is everything mentioned above.
[b] The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Hailed as “a classic, humorous, full of warmth and real invention” (The New Yorker), this beloved story, first published more than fifty years ago, introduces readers to Milo and his adventures in the Lands Beyond.
[c] Sir Cumference and the First Round Table: A Math Adventure by Cindy Neuschwander
This book draws from the romance of King Arthur legends, spinning out a rather shallow story in order to introduce basic math concepts. In this book, King Arthur's knights need to meet together to plan their defense against their enemies, but they cannot hear each other from both ends of their rectangular table
1. Pre-school:
[a] Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill MartinThis classic written forty years back introduces tots to a variety of colorful animals and takes them on an adventure full of rhyming words.
[b] Goodnight Moon by Margaret Brown
In a great green room, tucked away in bed, a little bunny says goodnight to all the familiar things that surround him. Children love this soothing rhythmic book at bedtime and beyond.
[c] The Pigeon series by Mo Willems
This series consists of books (about a persistent pigeon) that attract attention of young children by making the bird’s adventures relatable. A fun read for both parents and pre-schoolers.
2. Kindergarten:
[a] The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric CarleThis book is extremely popular among Kindergartners. The story is about a young caterpillar that evolves into a magnificent butterfly. This classic has been translated into more than 50 languages.
[b] The Story of Babar, The Little Elephant by Jean de Brunhoff
These books exude an old-world charm and effectively depict colonialism. Babar’s kind and hard-working personality and the author’s gentle treatment of darker themes make this colorfully illustrated series worth reading.
[c] McDuff by Rosemary Wells
Set in the 1930s, this vibrantly illustrated series of 10 books follows McDuff, a white Scottish terrier who escapes from a dog catcher truck in search of a loving home. McDuff finds affection as a young couple who takes him in. The little dog’s experiences, struggles and problems are similar to any young boy’s-from dealing with a new baby in the house to causing a ruckus at a relative’s house.
3. Grade I:
[a] The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix PotterThis classic cautionary tale reminds naughty little rabbits to stay out of the neighbour's lettuce patch. Published in 1902, it was Beatrix Potter's first of 23 animal tales for children.
[b] The Boy Who Loved Words by Roni Schotter
In this Parents' Choice Gold Award-winning book, Selig collects words, ones that stir his heart and ones that make him laugh. But what good are so many luscious words? After helping a poet find the perfect words for his poem, he realizes that his purpose is to spread the word among others. And so he begins to sprinkle, disburse, and broadcast them to people in need.
[c] Max’s Words by Kate Banks
This is a beautiful story in both concept and execution. The book follows a boy who wants to start a collection like his older brothers’ and so begins to collect words. He starts off small and the collection soon grows until he has thousands and thousands of words. Max's fascination for words becomes contagious to his brothers and also the readers.
4. Grade II:
[a] Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice SendakThis 1964 Caldecott Medal Winner is a wild romp for both kids and adults alike. The readers join Max who's wearing a wolf suit and dreaming of sailing away to a colorful world of Wild Things.
[b] Mr. George Baker by Amy Hest
The book focuses on the importance of literacy. Mr. George Baker is a 100-year-old man who is learning to read alongside his seven-year-old friend Harry. It urges us to accept and respect people regardless of their age, race or the challenges in their lives.
[c] Painted Dreams by Karen Lynn Williams
This is a story of a little girl which promotes strength through all odds. The girl finds a way around her financial difficulties depicting how creativity and imagination can create magical things.
5. Grade III:
[a] The Cat in the Hat by Dr SeussDick and Sally have the rainy day blues — until the Cat in the Hat shows up and leads them through a magical and messy adventure.
[b] Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
Beautifully written, hauntingly nostalgic, and adventure-filled, Peter Pan is not a story that can be forgotten and that has made itself live on in childhood literature since its conception.
[c] Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
This is a classic tale of Charlie, a poor boy who gets to visit Willy Wonka's fabulous chocolate factory along with four other children. The other children meet unfortunate accidents due to their own behavior until only Charlie remains. He is rewarded for his good behavior as Willy Wonka has been looking to groom an heir.
6. Grade IV:
[a] The Giving Tree by Shel SilversteinThink of this heartwarming book as Philosophy 101 for kids. It's about the gift of giving and the capacity to love told throughout the life of a boy who grows to manhood and a tree that selflessly gives him her bounty through the years.
[b] Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
This is a fantastic read for kids and fun for adults too. Clementine is a riot. The illustrations are so detailed but simple at the same time. The drawings bring out the contrast between disheveled artistic Clementine and her perfectionist best friend.
[c] The Spiderwick Chronicles series by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi
The best-selling book of Spiderwick Chronicles tells the story of the three children. Before you know it, they've discovered a magical world with Arthur Spiderwick's ‘Field Guide to the Fantastical World around You’.
7. Grade V:
[a] Hatchet by Gary PaulsenSome books imprint themselves on your mind and stay with you. You can remember vividly where you were when you first read them. And this book is everything mentioned above.
[b] The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Hailed as “a classic, humorous, full of warmth and real invention” (The New Yorker), this beloved story, first published more than fifty years ago, introduces readers to Milo and his adventures in the Lands Beyond.
[c] Sir Cumference and the First Round Table: A Math Adventure by Cindy Neuschwander
This book draws from the romance of King Arthur legends, spinning out a rather shallow story in order to introduce basic math concepts. In this book, King Arthur's knights need to meet together to plan their defense against their enemies, but they cannot hear each other from both ends of their rectangular table
8. Grade VI:
[a] Charlotte's Web by E.B. WhiteAfter reading Charlotte's Web, every child will hold a place in her heart for Wilbur the pig. Wilbur's future seems bleak when he discovers that he is destined to be the farmer's Christmas dinner — until his wise spider friend, Charlotte, decides to help him.
[b] A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
This classic page-turner introduces children to the exciting genres of mystery and fantasy. Meg Murry and her friends become involved with unearthly strangers and a search for Meg's father who has disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government.
[c] The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Dive into the glitz and drama of the Jazz Age. This timeless story of Jay Gatsby and his love, Daisy Buchanan, is widely acknowledged to be the closest thing to the "Great American Novel."
