We asked teachers across the country which book they would share with their students if they were only able to choose one. With over 60 different books on the list, some of the suggestions may surprise you, but all of them are sure to engage young readers. Did your favorite book make the list?
68 Top Pick Children’s Books
- A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck (3rd-6th)
- An Orange for Frankie by Patricia Polacco (Kindergarten-2nd grade)
- Be Good for Eddie Lee by Virginia Fleming (Kindergarten-2nd grade)
- Because of Mr. Terrupt by Rob Buyea (5th grade)
- Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo (3rd/4th grade)
- Big Al by Andrew Clements (Preschool-1st grade)
- The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner (2nd grade)
- Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina (Preschool-1st grade)
- Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White (2nd/3rd grade)
- Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes (Preschool-2nd grade)
- The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau (5th grade)
- Countdown by Ben Mikaelsen (4th grade)
- The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden (1st-3rd grade)
- The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt (Preschool-1st grade)
- Dear Bully of Mine by Vicki Fraser (3rd-5th grade)
- Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller (Kindergarten-2nd grade)
- Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems (Kindergarten-1st grade)
- Duck Rabbit by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (Preschool)
- Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan (4th-5th grade)
- The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce (Preschool-1st grade)
- Fig Pudding by Ralph Fletcher (1st-3rd grade)
- Flawed Dogs by Berkeley Breathed (3rd-5th grade)
- Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick (3rd-5th grade)
- Friendship According to Humphrey by Betty Birney (3rd grade)
- The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (Any age)
- Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson (Preschool)
- Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (4th grade and up)
- Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (4th-6th grade)
- Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud (Kindergarten-4th grade)
- How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor (3rd-7th grade)
- The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown (Preschool-3rd grade)
- Ish by Peter H. Reynolds (Kindergarten-12th grade)
- The Junkyard Wonders by Patricia Polacco (1st-4th grade)
- The King of Mulberry Street by Donna Jo Napoli (3rd-7th grade)
- The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards (3rd-7th grade)
- Listen for the Whippoorwill by Dave Jackson (3rd grade)
- Loser by Jerry Spinelli (3rd-7th grade)
- Love You Forever by Robert Munsch (Preschool)
- Martin’s Big Words by Doreen Rappaport (Kindergarten-3rd grade)
- The Miraculous Journey of Edward Toulane by Kate DiCamillo (2nd-5th grade)
- The Missing Gator of Gumbo Limbo by Jean Craighead George (3rd grade)
- The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary (2nd-4th grade)
- Mr. Peabody’s Apples by Madonna (1st-3rd grade)
- My Feelings are Mine to Have by Melissa Moreno (Preschool-1st grade)
- Nubs, the True Story of a Mutt, a Marine, and a Miracle by Brian Dennis (5th-7th grade)
- Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (5th-6th grade)
- Oh, the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss (Any age)
- One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (3rd-5th grade)
- Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper (5th-9th grade)
- The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton  (High School)
- Pete the Cat by James Dean (Preschool-3rd grade)
- Same, Same, But Different by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw (Preschool-2nd grade)
- Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (3rd-5th grade)
- Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal  (Preschool)
- Stepping on the Cracks by Mary Downing Hahn (4th-7th grade)
- Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume (3rd-4th grade)
- Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
- Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo (3rd-5th grade)
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (High School)
- Today I Feel Silly by Jamie Lee Curtis (Preschool-Kindergarten)
- The Trees of the Dancing Goats by Patricia Polacco (Preschool-3rd grade)
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (Preschool)
- The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis (3rd-7th grade)
- Welcome Comfort by Patricia Polacco (Preschool-3rd grade)
- Where the Red Fern Grows  (3rd-5th grade)
- Wonder by R.J. Palacio (3rd-5th grade)
- A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck (5th-8th grade)
- The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston (Kindergarten-3rd grade)