Dr. Catherine Bilow's List of Children's Books

A Constantly Updating Attempt at Finding the 1,000 Good Books

Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam

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Catherine's List Of Children's Books

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This list will be updated periodically to reflect my own list of 1,000 good books that children should consider reading. The goal is to list them alphabetically by author.

As is evident from the title, I was not the original author of this list, but I have received verbal permission to publish it here. The work was also done in concert with other teachers from my school whose efforts to collect and appreciate good literature should be noted. A casual reader will notice that there are readings listed by grade-level, but some of the books listed may be above or below the expected readings level for that age group. The original contributors to this list thought that these books were appropriate for students in these ages but did not necessarily think that every student would enjoy each of the books listed in their grade. Please keep this in mind when reading through the list. In the future, I hope to have links for easier access to these books from the list. If you have any notable exceptions that you would like to bring up, please leave a comment!¹

Kindergarten

1. The ABC Bunny by Wanda Gag

2. Aesop's Fables by Aesop, illustrated by Arthur Rackham

3. An Alphabet of Saints by Robert Hugh Benson

4. And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street by Dr. Seuss (and other titles by this author)

5. Andersen's Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen

6. Beauty and the Beast by Jan Brett

7. Brother Francis and the Friendly Beasts by Margaret Hodges (and other books by this author)

8. A Child's Rule of Life by Robert Hugh Benson

9. The Complete Mother Goose by Ethel Franklin Betts, illustrated by Blanche Fisher Wright

10. Corduroy by Don Freeman (and other titles from this series)

11. Daniel in the Lion 's Den, Arch Book Series

12. The Farmer and the Clown by Marla Frazee (and the two other books in The Farmer series)

13. First Verses by John Foster

14. The Gingerbread Boy retold and illustrated by Paul Galdone (and other tales by this author

15. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

16. The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norman Juster

17. Henny Penny by Paul Galdone

18. Hercules: The Story of an Old-Fashioned Fire Engine by Hardie Gramatky (and Sparky books)

19. Homer and the Circus Train by Hardie Gramatky

20. The Lady of Guadalupe by Tamie De Paola (and other saints' books by this author)

21. The Language of Flowers by Kate Greenaway

22. Let's Play: Traditional Games of Childhood by Camilla Gryski

23. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans (and other titles in the Madeline series)

24. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton

25. Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag

26. Saint Jerome and the Lion by Rumer Godden

27. Stone Soup by Marcia Brown

28. The Story of Easter by Aileen Fisher

29. Old Testament Rhymes by Robert Hugh Benson

30. The Oxford Treasury of Children 's Stories edited by Michael Harrison

31. The Oxford Treasury of Children's Poems edited by Michael Harrison

32. Up, Up, and Away: A Book about Adverbs by Ruth Heller (and other stories in this series)

33. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, author and illustrator (and other books by Carle)

    First Grade

34. Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish (and other titles in this series)

35. The Berenstain Bears by Stan and Jan Berenstain (and other titles in this series)

36. Biscuit by Alyssa Satin Capucilli (and other titles in this series)

37. The Boy Who Cried Wolfby Aesop; retold by B.G. Hennessey, illustrated by Boris Kulikov

38. The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss (and other books by this author)

39. A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams

40. The Children's Book of Virtues by William J. Bennett

41. Clifford by Norman Bridwell (and other titles in this series)

42. A Coat for Anna by Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Anita Lobel

43. Dewey: There's a Cat in the Library by Vicki Myron and Bret Witter

44. Duck for President by Doreen Cronin (and other titles in this series)

45. Elephant and Piggie by Mo Willems (and other titles by this author)

46. Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel (and other books in this series)

47. Henny Penny by H. Werner Zimmermann

48. Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant (and other titles in this series)

49. If You Give A Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff (and other titles in this series)

50. Jack and the Beanstalk by Steven Kellogg (and other classic stories illustrated by this author)

51. Little Bear by Else Holmelund

52. The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper

53. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder (and other titles in this series)

54. Llama Llama Loves to Read by Anna Dewdney and Reed Duncan (and others in this series)

55. Look Out for Turtles by Melvin Berger

56. Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne

57. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary (and other titles in this series)

58. Mouse Soup by Arnold Lobel

59. Mouse Tales by Arnold Lobel

60. Nate the Great by Marjorie Sharmat (and other titles in this series)

61. Owl Moon by Jane Yolen

62. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allberg

63. The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant

64. Rumpelstiltskin retold and illustrated by Paul 0. Zelinsky

65. Stuart Little by E.B White

66. The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Paul Galdone (and other classic stories by this author)

67. Additional recommendations for First Grade include books by these authors and sources: Eric Carle

68. Tomie dePaola

69. Jan Brett Patricia Polacco

70. Saint Joseph Children's Picture Books by Catholic Publishing Company

    Second Grade

71. The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids by Marcia T. (and other titles in this series)

72. The Adventures of Bob White by Thornton Burgess (and other titles in this series)

73. Amelia Bedilia by Peggy Parish (and other titles in this series)

74. Amos and Boris by William Steig

75. Arthur by Marc Brown (and other titles in this series)

76. The Bobbsey Twins by Laura Lee Hope (and other titles in this series)

77. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner et al. (and other titles in this series)

78. The Bremen Town Musicians by Ruth Belov Gross, illustrated by Jack Kent

79. Cam Jansen and the Stolen Diamonds by David A. Adler (and other titles in this series)

80. Dandelion by Don Freeman

81. Daniel's Duck by Clyde Robert Bulla

82. Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective by Donald J. Sobol (and other titles in this series)

83. First Confession by Mother Mary Loyola (and First Confession by the same author)

84. First Communion Days: True Stories for First Communicants by Sister Julie du St. Esprit

85. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes (and other stories by this author)

86. If You Lived at the Time of the American Revolution by Kay Moore (and others in this series)

87. Jesus of Nazareth: The Story of His Life Written for Children by Mother Mary Loyola)

88. Julius and Gloria by Ann Cameron (and other titles in this series)

89. Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie by Peter Roop

90. The Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne (and other titles in this series)

91. The Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall, illustrated by Barbara Cooney

92. Paul Bunyan retold by Stephan Krensky, illustrated by Craig Orback

93. Rabbit Hill written and illustrated by Robert Lawson

94. A Rainforest Habitat by Molly Aloian

95. The Sword in the Tree by Clyde Robert Bulla

96. Today Was a Terrible Day by Patricia Reilly Giff (and other titles in this series)

97. Children in Grade 2 are encouraged to read Science information books as well as fairy tales (especially those originally told by Charles Perrault) and fables (especially those by Aesop).

    In addition to the titles above, stories by these authors and publishers are recommended:

98. Steven Kellogg

99. Arnold Lobel

100. Leonard Kessler

101. Tomie dePaola

102. Patricia Reilly Giff

103. James Marshall

104. Cynthia Rylant

105. Joe Lasker

     Third Grade

106. Abraham Lincoln by Ingri and Edgar Perin d 'Aulaire

107. A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond (and other titles in this series)

108. Children of Odin by Padraic Colum

109. The Children's Homer by Padraic Colum

110. D 'Aulaire 's Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar Perin d 'Aulaire

111. Fauja Singh Keeps Going by Sirman Jeet Singh, illustrated by Baljinder Kaur

112. The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm

113. Freddy the Detective by Walter R. Brooks (and other titles in this series)

114. From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

115. The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived before Achilles by Padraic Colum

116. The Golden Treasury of Poetry: Commentary by Louis Untermeyer

117. Half Magic by Edward Edgar

118. Handel, Who Knew What He Liked by M.T. Anderson

119. Have a Hot Time, Hades by Kate McMullen

120. Heavenly Hosts: Eucharistic Miracles for Kids by Kathryn Swegart

121. Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate

122. Homer Price by Robert McCloskey (in addition, the sequel)

123. The Kitchen Madonna by Rumer Godden

124. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein

125. Living Color by Steve Jenkins

126. Moonwalk: The First Trip to the Moon by Judy Donnelly

127. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary (and other titles in this series)

128. Norse Gods and Giants by Ingri and Edgar Perin D'Aulaire

129. Old Possum 's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot

130. Our Lady's Juggler: A Medieval Tale by Anatole France, retold and illustrated by Tomi daPaola

131. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

132. Roses in the Snow: A Tale of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary by Dessi Jackson

133. The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White

134. The Weight of a Mass: A Tale of Faith by Josephine Nobisso

135. Wet Cement: A Mbc of Concrete Poems by Bob Raczke

136. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

     Fourth Grade

137. All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor

138. And Now, Miguel by Joseph Krumgold, illustrated by Jean Charlot

139. Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace (and other titles in this series)

140. The Black Stallion by Walter Farley (and other horse stories by this author)

141. The Book o/Three by Lloyd Alexander (and other volumes of The Prydain Chronicles)

142. Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry

143. Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes (and other stories by this author)

144. The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis

145. The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

146. King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry (and other horse stories by this author)

147. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

148. Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers (and other titles in this series)

149. The Matchlock Gun by Walter D. Edmonds

150. Me and Caleb by Franklyn E. Meyer

151. Me and Caleb Again by Franklyn E. Meyer Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry Onion John by Joseph Krumgold

152. Our Lady's Wardrobe by Anthony DeStefano

153. Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis

154. The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

155. Out of the Silent Planet  by C.S. Lewis

156. The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

157. Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski

158. Tales of Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb

159. Thimble Summer by Elizabeth Enright

160. The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene duBois

161. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

162. The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

163. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

164. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

165. The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

166. You Come Too: Favorite Poems for Young Readers by Robert Frost

167. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien

     Fifth Grade

168. Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Gray

169. The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland by Louis Carroll Illustrations by John Tenniel

170. All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot (and other books by this veterinarian-author)

171. Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates

172. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery (and other titles in this series)

173. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

174. The Box of Delights by John Masefield

175. The Boys' King Arthur by Sidney Lanier, illustrated by N.C. Wyeth

176. Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham

177. The Dark Frigate by Charles Boardman Hawes

178. The Erie Canal by Peter Spier

179. Fairy Tales by The Grimm Brothers

180. Freckles by Gene Stratton-Porter

181. Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Statton-Porter

182. The Good Dog by Avi

183. The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald (and other titles in this series)

184. Harry Dee, or Working it Out by Father Francis (or any of the many other books by this author)

185. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (and other stories by this author)

186. Heidi by Johanna Spyri

187. Hitty: Her First Hundred Years (Rachel Field)

188. Kim by Rudyard Kipling

189. A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich

190. Little Men by Louisa May Alcott

191. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

192. The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle

193. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George (and other titles in the Mountain series)

194. Percy Wynn, or Making a Boy of Him by Father Francis Finn

195. Redwall by Brian Jacques (and other titles in this series)

196. Shackleton's Stowaway by Virginia McKeman

197. The Shadow of a Bull by Maia Wojciechowsk

198. The Swiss Family Robinson by Johanna Wyss

199. Tom Playfair, or Making a Start by Father Francis Finn

200. The View from Saturday by Ellen Raskin

201. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

202. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

203. The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnans Rawling

     Sixth Grade

204. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

205. Banner in the Sky by Leon Uris

206. Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace

207. The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth Speare

208. Confessions by Saint Augustine

209. Coronado's Children: A Tale of Lost Mines by J. Frank Dobie

210. Crispen: Cross of Lead by Avi

211. Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand

212. "The Great Carbuncle" by Nathaniel Hawthorne

213. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

214. "The Great Stone Face" by Nathaniel Hawthorne

215. The House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton

216. The House of Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne

217. The Joy of Creation: The Story of Clara Schumann by Sandra H. Shichtman

218. Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling

219. The Light in the Forest by Conrad_Richter

220. Outlaws of Ravenhurst by Sister Mary Imelda

221. A Penny's Worth of Character by Jesse Stuart

222. Saint Francis of the Seven Seas by Albert J. Nevins (and other saints' biographies by Nevins)

223. Saints of the American Wilderness: The Eight North American Martyrs by John A. O'Brien

224. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

225. The Shadow of a Bull by Maia Wojciechowska

226. Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb

227. The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong

     Seventh Grade

228. Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt

229. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

230. Art of War by Sun Tzu

231. Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney

232. Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank Bunker Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey

233. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain

234. The Crucible by Arthur Miller

235. Daddy Long-Legs by Jean Webster

236. The Dark Frigate by Charles Boardman Hawes

237. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

238. Fighting Father Duffy by Jim and Virginia Lee Bishop

239. Gallic Wars by Julius Caesar

240. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift

241. The Innocence of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton (and all five Father Brown compilations)

242. A Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne (and other adventure tale by this author)

243. The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper

244. Life with Father by Clarence Day

245. The Lion of St. Mark: A Story of Venice in the 14^th C. by G.A. Henty (and others by this author)

246. The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien

247. Mamas BankAccount by Katherine Forbes

248. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

249. The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

250. Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith

251. The Silver Branch and The Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliff (follow Eagle of the Ninth)

252. The Story of My Life by Helen Keller

253. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Lewis Stevenson

254. So Big by Edna Ferber (also Cimarron)

255. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

256. The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

257. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (and other stories by this author)

258. Trianon: A Novel of Royal France by Elena Maria Vidal (also Madame Royale, the sequel)

259. Two Years Before the Mast by Charles Dana

260. Water Babies by Charles Kingsley

     Eighth Grade

261. Agamemnon by Aeschylus (also The Libation Bearers)

262. Animal Farm by George Orwell (also 1984)

263. Antigone by Sophocles (also Oedipus Rex)

264. Evangeline by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

265. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

266. Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley

267. Gallic Wars by Julius Caesar

268. Histories by Herodotus

269. The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides

270. How Green was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn

271. The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

272. The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

273. A Man for All Seasons, A Play in Two Acts by Robert Bolt

274. Moby Dick by Herman Melville (also Typee)

275. Mutiny on the Bounty by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall

276. Othello by William Shakespeare

277. Paradise Lost by John Milton

278. Purgatorio by Dante Alighieri (also Paradiso)

279. Shadows on the Rock by Willa Cather (also 0, Pioneers! and My Antonia)

280. The Symposium by Plato

281. Theogony and Works and Days by Hesiod Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis

282. Utopia by Saint Thomas More

283. The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells (and The Time Machine)

1. Note that there are several books that will not be on this list including Harry Potter and A Wrinkle in Time. While they may be enjoyable reads, I do not think it right to suggest them for children’s reading due to certain pernicious moral suggestions within the books. For those who enjoy them and will be reading them to their children in the future, I wish you all the best! Please look forward to an article from this substack evaluating the moral quality of these and other books.