The Best Classic Books for Babies and Toddlers

Little caterpillar, BIG appetite! As the caterpillar takes the journey to become a butterfly, your little one will learn foods, numbers and days of the week (and the valuable lesson that lots of junk food = an upset tummy).

Parenting = unconditional love and a bond that lasts a lifetime. This classic affirmation of the bond between parent and child makes a great sentimental story for bedtime or any time.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? may very well be the most popular way for even the youngest babies to learn their colors (and a few key animals). Brown bears, purple cats, white dogs and even diverse children have made it a favorite for nearly 40 years.

Max is a wild boy with a wild imagination, and when he goes to find where all the Wild Things are, he’s crowned king of them all! But what should he do when he starts to feel lonely? This book encourages little ones to explore their imaginations (and that sometimes, a quiet time-out can help you discover some amazing things).

This classic tale of learning to share remains close to the hearts of many adults and children alike. Rainbow Fish’s journey from being a selfish miser to becoming the most friendly, generous fish in the sea holds a lesson for all little ones who are learning to make friends: sharing is caring.

Who doesn’t love a sweet teddy bear? Even the youngest readers can enjoy this story of a stuffed bear’s adventure in looking for a home.

This beloved bedtime story has been gently lulling children to sleep for nearly 80 years. The natural softness of the words combined with the adorable vintage illustrations will make this a nighttime go-to on your bookshelf.

If you’re Gen Z, there’s a chance you might’ve used this newer classic to learn your first words. Covering everything from colors to pets to common household items, this book is full of bright colors to capture baby’s attention (and keep it). With these first words in their arsenal, you’ll have a little chatterbox in no time.

Giggles abound for any toddler who reads this book! Who knows what can happen when you do something as innocent as give a mouse a cookie? (Spoiler: a lot can happen.)

Well-loved by parents for its inspiring (and tear-jerking) message, and well-loved by kids for its silly made-up words, Oh, The Places You’ll Go is one of those classic books that’ll stick with your little one their whole life. Parent tip: Get this book for your baby and have all their teachers and caregivers write messages in it up until they graduate high school, resulting in a precious gift that goes beyond just a book.