11 More Essential Children’s Books

A couple of years ago, in October of 2024, I posted the 111 Essential Children’s Books. Since then, my little guy has turned 2, and we’ve been gifted, discovered, or rediscovered many other wonderful books. Here are 11 more to add to your collection, in the same categories as before:

 

For Younger Children and Classics

 

Leo the Late Bloomer – Robert Kraus and Jose Aruego

Illustrations: 3/5. Story: 3/5. Lesson: 5/5.

A sweet book about the late-blooming child. Leo struggles: he can’t eat neatly, write, speak, draw… For a kid who is having a hard time, this gentle story is a blessing for the whole family.

 

Mother Goose: Volland Edition – Frederick Richardson

Illustrations: 5/5. Story: 2/5. Lesson: 3/5.

Beautiful illustrations elevate these traditional Mother Goose rhymes. Many are, of course, well-known, but there is also the pleasure, as a reader, in discovering the off-beat, forgotten, rhymes.

 

We Don’t Eat Our Classmates – Ryan T. Higgins

Illustrations: 4/5. Story: 4/5. Lesson: 5/5.

When my son started preschool, this became one of his favorite books – a T. Rex who is stuck going to school with a bunch of delicious children. A delightful work on impulse control (and empathy).

 

Captivating Illustrations

 

Benjamin Bounces Back – Alan Baker

Illustrations: 4/5. Story: 4/5. Lesson: 1/5.

Long out-of-print, this odd little book was a favorite as a kid. A guinea pig inexplicably ends up in a bizarre obstacle course. ...That’s it. With few words, it’s just a fun visual treat.

 

We Are Going to Be Friends – Jack White and Elinor Blake

Illustrations: 4/5. Story: 3/5. Lesson: 2/5.

Using the White Stripes’ lyrics, Blake creates a delightfully surreal take on a pair of children going to school – of course set in the band’s trademark red and white. Amusing and strange.

 

Great Stories and Laughs

 

Shark Lady – Jess Keating and Marta Alvarez Miguens

Illustrations: 3/5. Story: 5/5. Lesson: 5/5.

A nice story of overcoming obstacles and changing paradigms, this tells of Eugenie Clark, who showed the world that sharks aren’t mindless monsters. For a certain young boy who likes sharks, it’s a hit.

 

Tacky the Penguin – Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger

Illustrations: 3/5. Story: 4/5. Lesson: 5/5.

I’d forgotten about this one, and picked it up on a whim – the lesson of embracing the oddball was well-done, and the humor genuinely funny. Child-approved, and frequently reached-for.

 

10 Minutes till Bedtime – Peggy Rathman

Illustrations: 3/5. Story: 5/5. Lesson: 3/5.

Officer Buckle and Goodnight Gorilla are also great, but the humor of 10 Minutes puts it over the top, for me. A nice, silly little tale of the responsibilities of getting ready for bed. With hamsters.

 

Important Lessons and Learning

 

Curious Creatures in Peculiar Places – Amy Goldman Koss

Illustrations: 4/5. Story: 3/5. Lesson: 5/5.

Another out-of-print book! But well worth tracking down: In wonderful, rhyming, verse, the story of various creatures is told such as pangolins, tarsiers, okapis, and fire-bellied toads.

 

Old Rock (is not boring) – Deb Pilutti

Illustrations: 4/5. Story: 5/5. Lesson: 5/5.

I love this book. It tells the story of a rock and deep geologic time in a compelling, child-friendly, way. The illustrations are strong, and the ideas are superb – a strong recommendation.

 

Walk This Wild World – Kate Becker and Sam Brewster

Illustrations: 4/5. Story: 4/5. Lesson: 5/5.

One of my son’s favorites – this lift-the-flap book takes you through different biomes to learn about the plants and animals that live there, from the Eurasian steppe to the Bornean swamps.