Goodnight Moon by Margaret Brown (1947)
Age Range: 0-3 years
Listed by School Library Journal as the ‘Top 100 Picture Books’ of all time in 2012 and one of teachers’ top 100 books for children by National Education Association, Goodnight Moon is a simple but lovable children’s picture books that has been well-appreciated by children as a bed time story. In it, a personified bunny ritualistically goes through a process of saying goodnight to everything visible to him from his room. “Goodnight Moon . . . Goodnight Air. Goodnight noises everywhere”.
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (1963)
Age Range: 2-6 years
1963’s most distinguished American picture book for children, Where the Wild Things Are won Sendak the Caldecott Medal and is a delight for both kids and adults. The story revolves around a boy named John Max who, dressed in his wolf outfit goes to his bedroom and sails away into an unknown island where he encounters ‘wild things’ or creatures.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J. K. Rowling (1997)
Age Range: 8-14 years
The first of the seven-part series written by J. K. Rowling is not only a novel but a legacy that will live on for many years to come. Harry Potter has been adapted into blockbuster films, won numerous British and American awards and reached New York Times’ best-seller list. The plot involves the boy himself, Harry Potter who discovers he is a wizard and begins his life at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White (1952)
Age Range: 8-11
Inspiring animations, live-action films, direct-to-video sequels and a video game, E. B. White’s Charlotte’s Web is counted as classic in children’s English literature and one of the best selling paperback of all time. The story is about a pig named Wilbur and a spider named Charlotte; when the farmer is about to slaughter Wilbur, Charlotte uses her web-making skills to create praise-worthy words for Wilbur to save him from slaughtering.
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss (1957)
Age Range: 3-8 years
Regarded as one of the best-selling children’s books of all time and adapted into animation and film, Theodor Geisel wrote and illustrated The Cat in the Hat under the pen name of Dr. Seuss. This children’s story revolves around an anthropomorphic cat who shows up at Sally’s house, makes a mess while entertaining her and her brother and cleans up with the help of his friends, Thing 1 and Thing 2 just before Sally’s mother comes home.