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'Charlotte's Web' by E.B. White -

With valuable lessons about friendship and death, 'Charlotte's Web’ remains a timeless read. It follows a little girl who lives on a farm and befriends the runt of a local pig litter who, after growing up, is at threat of slaughter.

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'Black Beauty' by Anna Sewell -

Anna Sewell sought to teach young readers about respect for animals with this autobiographical memoir set in England during the 1800s and told by the horse Black Beauty himself. He shares how he was passed from person to person, and teaches important lessons about work ethic, responsibility, the power of kindness, and hope.

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'The Hobbit' by J.R.R. Tolkien -

Priming your kids to enjoy 'The Lord of the Rings' is just one of the many perks of reading this classic, which is wonderfully imaginative in scope and style.

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'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' by Roald Dahl - You could put so many of Roald Dahl's incredible books here, but the everlasting magic of 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,' which teaches kids great lessons about greed, morality, and the true meaning of happiness, is one you don't want to skip.

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'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' by Eric Carle - Eric Carle’s colorful tale about a very hungry caterpillar who eats and eats until they pupate and emerge as a butterfly has won various literature and graphic design awards since its publication in 1969.

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'Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing' by Judy Blume -

Judy Blume has so many great books to choose from, but 'Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing' is certainly timeless. Published in 1972, the book is about a fourth-grade boy named Peter whose younger brother Fudge makes life difficult for him in every way possible. The siblings have drastically different personalities, but learn to stick together when things get—often hilariously—rough.

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'Winnie-the-Pooh' by A. A. Milne - A. A. Milne's legendary story about a silly, honey-loving bear and his loyal friends has been retold so many times and still remains relevant almost 100 years later.

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'The Chronicles of Narnia' by C.S. Lewis -

This fantasy series has won the hearts and minds of children, adults, and scholars—and for good reason. The series of five books includes ‘The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,’ ‘Prince Caspian,’ ‘The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,’ ‘The Silver Chair,’ and ‘The Horse and His Boy and The Last Battle,’ and introduces you to an enchanted world where four kids learn about courage, friendship, loyalty, and bravery.

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'The Secret Garden' by Frances Hodgson Burnett -

An essential read that appeals to audiences both young and old, 'The Secret Garden,’ written in 1911, follows 10-year-old Mary Lennox who lives in India with her wealthy but neglectful British family. When she's orphaned due to a cholera outbreak, the story centers on Mary's self-healing journey.

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'A Wrinkle in Time' by Madeleine L'Engle -

Madeleine L'Engle’s sci-fi fantasy will expand your children’s minds while teaching them about concepts like good and evil, and how to use their intuition. It follows three children traveling through time and space to rescue one kid’s father.

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'Where the Wild Things Are' by Maurice Sendak -

A great book for kids who complain about being bored, this story follows young Max who imagines up wild creatures and expresses his creativity while also learning about friendship. The illustrations of this book also never leave you!

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'The Magic Treehouse' by Mary Pope Osborne -

First published in 1992, ‘The Magic Treehouse’ series is one of America’s most popular, with currently over 50 novels to delve into. Jack and Annie go on all sorts of adventures from their backyard, taking readers to various countries around the world, as well as from the deep sea to outer space. It holds many good lessons about being a good friend and not judging people who are different from you.

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'Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott -

One of the best ways to set young readers onto a bright literary path is with this classic tale that features strong female characters who deal with weighty problems during the American Civil War while also trying to find their own identities outside of society’s expectations.

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'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' by Mark Twain -

A book that has already been passed down through many families, ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’ details an assortment of escapades in Petersburg, Missouri, and has many lessons about friendship, loyalty, and honesty baked into the emotional and hilarious tales.

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'The Lorax' by Dr. Seuss -

This famed Dr. Seuss tale is not only a joy to read but also has an important message about the plight of the environment bundled into its colorful illustrations and rhyming words—a message which most people know is only ever more relevant, what with business magnates like the story’s Once-ler causing environmental destruction in the real world.

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'The Tale of Peter Rabbit' by Beatrix Potter -

Beatrix Potter's classic tale of mischievous little Peter Rabbit has been in print since 1902 and has delighted generations of children around the world. Peter Rabbit gets into all sorts of trouble, but the story is sure to teach your child the importance of taking responsibility for their actions and dealing with difficult people such as Mr. McGregor and Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle.

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'The Little Prince' by Antoine de Saint-Exupery -

Originally in French, ‘The Little Prince’ is a tale that many adults still resonate with today. It tells the story of a little prince who leaves his home to explore the world, where he meets people from different planets with different lifestyles, though he can’t find someone who understands him as much as he understands them—teaching an important lesson about empathy and connection.

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'The Giving Tree' by Shel Silverstein -

Published in 1964, ‘The Giving Tree’ has remained a beloved children’s picture book that pulls on the heartstrings of even grown adults as it holds valuable lessons about love and sharing.

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The 'Harry Potter' series by J.K. Rowling -

'Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone' was published in 1997, and the world hasn’t been the same since. The series quickly became a hit for kids, even before the films, because it has magic, suspense, and fantastic characters that every kid can relate to in some way or another—plus they’ll love getting to compare the books to the movies.

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'The Velveteen Rabbit' by Margery Williams -

This classic tale follows a toy rabbit who gets worn out but is loved so much by his owner that he becomes real. But the two must still eventually part, which teaches children an important lesson about the power of love and the inevitable moments of letting go.

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'James and the Giant Peach' by Roald Dahl -

Broaden the scope of the whole family's imaginations with this wacky story about a poor orphan who escapes his evil aunts when he meets some insect friends living on a magical giant peach.

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'Anne of Green Gables' by Lucy Maud Montgomery -

The heartwarming 1908 novel set in an old-fashioned farm in a town called Avonlea follows 11-year-old Anne Shirley, who is accidentally sent to two middle-aged siblings who had originally intended to adopt a boy to help them on their farm.

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'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll -

This children's novel about a young girl named Alice who falls through a rabbit hole and into a whimsical fantasy world has been around since 1865, and will surely be around for years to come.

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'The Babysitter's Club' by Ann M. Martin -

This beloved series, which became one of most successful children's book series in publishing history, follows a group of friends as they run their homegrown babysitting business.

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'Nancy Drew Mystery Stories' series by Carolyn Keene -

Nancy Drew is a timeless character who has been adapted and readapted many times. This classic master series, which kicked off in 1930, follows a 16-year-old high school graduate on a series of sleuthing adventures. The books are actually ghostwritten by a number of different authors but published under the collective pseudonym Carolyn Keene.

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The 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' series by Lemony Snicket -

This series of 13 novels, published from 1999 to 2006, takes readers on a turbulent ride following Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire, three recently orphaned siblings.

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'The Wind in the Willows' by Kenneth Grahame -

This timeless book of animal tales takes place in the English countryside and centers Mole, Rat, Badger, and the rich and generous Toad, who work together through adventures and obstacles to save Toad Hall from weasels.

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'Madeline' by Ludwig Bemelmans -

The 'Madeline' franchise is very popular and has 17 books in its series, the first of which dates back to 1939. Set in an all-girls boarding school in Paris, the iconic first book follows the daring Madeline as her appendix bursts. It’s considered one of the major classics of children's literature, and it was adapted into a 1998 film which featured Frances McDormand.

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'Goodnight Moon' by Margaret Wise Brown -

This children's book written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd was published in 1947, and has since become well known and acclaimed worldwide as the ultimate bedtime story.

Sources: (MKE with Kids) (Time)

See also: Celebrities who have published children's books

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