When children develop the habit of reading, they want more books as they love to explore. They are introduced to new concepts and ideologies, and they gain knowledge from books like nowhere else. So, it is the responsibility of the parents to introduce their children to the best books. The world has countless books published till today, and you want to figure out the good books for children to read. So here we enlist some of the best books for children to read.
#1. Tinkle Comics
When we talk about must-read children’s books, foreign writers come first to our minds. But in India too we have some of the best books for children to read. And amongst those is the Tinkle Comics which was founded by the renowned Anant Pai aka Uncle Pai. Tinkle is a children’s anthology comic published fortnightly. It is available in English, Hindi, Bengali and Malayalam languages.
#2. Amar Chitra Katha series
Amar Chitra Katha is another comic series company that Anant Pai established. Amar Chitra Katha was established before Tinkle in 1967. The comics are based on Indian mythology, Indian history from the ancient, medieval and modern times, and the enriched Indian literature with its folktales, legends, fables, and lore.
#3. Champak Comics
Champak comics are another well-known comic series of India. It was established in the year 1969 by Delhi Press Magazine. The Champak comics are published twice a month and are available in English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
#4. Grandma’s Bag of Stories – Sudha Murty
The book is a mixture of a novel and 20 short stories. In the book, the grandchildren visit their grandparents and befriend the neighbour’s children. And the favourite activity of all seven children in the whole day is to listen to the stories by their grandparents. It is a delightful book with colourful illustrations.
#5. Malgudi Days – R. K. Narayan
Malgudi Days by R. K. Narayan was first published in 1943 and republished in 1982. The 32 short stories in the book take place in the fictional town of Malgudi. The book is still relevant for a good read due to its simple stories, and the everyday problems faced by the ordinary yet relatable characters in the book.
#6. The Blue Umbrella – Ruskin Bond
The Blue Umbrella is one of the most famous works of Ruskin Bond for children. It tells the story of a girl named Binya who is fascinated by the Blue Umbrella, and how the local shopkeeper wants to appropriate the umbrella from Binya.
#7. How I Taught My Grandmother to Read – Sudha Murty
Another prominent book by Sudha Murty is How I Taught My Grandmother to Read. The book follows the story of a 62 years old illiterate lady Krishtakka, and her determined efforts to read a Kannada novel on her own. In the quest, her only help and teacher is her young granddaughter.
#8. Great Stories for Children – Ruskin Bond
Another fascinating book for children by Ruskin Bond is the Great Stories for Children. The book has a total of 18 short stories which explore themes like friendship, kids’ life and nature, ghosts, animals, and pets.
#9. Harry Potter Series – J. K. Rowling
If your child is now 12 years old, you must let them explore the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling. The first book is easy to read, but the theme and tone get grim as the story develops in the following books. And these themes are easier to understand for children of age 12 and above.
#10. The Velveteen Rabbit – Margery Williams
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams is a profound book for children that follows the story of a stuffed rabbit and his relationship with a young boy who owns it. The book dwells on the rabbit’s question of if he is real or not and who he is.
#11. Percy Jackson series – Rick Riordan
The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan is a fantasy adventure children’s book. It is a story about a 12-year-old boy named Percy Jackon who finds out that he is the son of Poseidon. The boy is flawed, but he is a hero who tries to fit in between the demigods.
#12. Harold and the Purple Crayon – Crockett Johnson
The book is about a four-year-old boy who creates his own reality by drawing with a purple crayon. Harold wants to walk in the moonlight, but there is no moon, so he draws one. He draws a path when he wants to walk a particular way. The book captures the imaginative reality of the boy Harold.
#13. The Mystery of the School on Fire – Ravi Subramanian
The acclaimed author of the best thriller book Ravi Subramanian has brought detective fiction for young children. The story is about three young Super Mystery Solvers who try to solve the mystery of their school, which was set on fire not once, but twice.
#14. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl
The story is about the fantasy world inside the chocolate factory, which finally opens for the public. But the owner Willy Wonka allows only five children from across the globe inside the factory. Among those five children is the honest kid Charlie Bucket who with his Grandpa visits the factory and experiences the journey of a lifetime.
#15. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – L. Frank Baum
The classic book was first published in 1900 and has been a favourite of children since then. The story is about Dorothy and Toto, who find themselves on the land of Oz and embark on the adventurous journey to the Emerald City, where lives the powerful Wizard of Oz.
#16. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll
The book has been children’s favourite ever since its first publication in 1865, due to its fantasy tales, riddles, and illustration by John Tenniel. Alice is a little girl who follows a White Rabbit into the Rabbit Hole, from where she reaches Wonderland. And there, she experiences bizarre and wondrous adventures.
#17. Matilda – Roald Dahl
Matilda is yet another well-known work for children by author Roald Dahl. This book revolves around a young girl named Matilda, smart, intelligent but neglected by her parents and bullied in the school by the headmistress. She discovers her extraordinary abilities and later turns the tables around.
#18. The Chronicles of Narnia – C. S. Lewis
The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of seven books written by C. S. Lewis. The series is said to be a classic fantasy adventure read for children. The book is about the magical land of Narnia found by four children through the back of a wardrobe, and with the help of the lion Aslan, the children try to save Narnia.
#19. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer – Mark Twain
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was first published in 1876, but it is one of the most loved works of the author Mark Twain. The book is about the childhood adventures of the schoolboy Thomas Sawyer who lives with his Aunt Polly. The reputation of the boy is that of a mischievous, trouble-maker.
#20. The Famous Five series – Enid Blyton
The Famous Five is a series of adventure novels for children. A total of 21 books are written by the author Enid Blyton. The story is about cousins Anne, Dick, George, Julian and the dog Timmy. The five are always able to find exciting adventures beginning with a treasure island.
#21. The Mouse and the Motorcycle – Beverly Cleary
The book is a story about a mouse named Ralph, who is curious to ride the red toy motorcycle of Keith. So one day when Keith leaves the toy motorcycle unattended in his room, the mouse rides the bike, but with the bike, there comes a lot of obstacles for Ralph.
#22. Charlotte’s Web – E. B. White
This beautiful book brings the story of animals to life through a pig and spider. The book, first published in 1952, tells the tale of the pig Wilbur who wants the love of a girl named Fern. The pig’s beloved friend Charlotte, the spider, saves the pig’s life by writing some beautiful words about the pig in her web.
#23. The Tale of Peter Rabbit – Beatrix Potter
The Tale of Peter Rabbit is a classic children’s book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter and was first published in 1902. The book is about the mischievous and disobedient Peter Rabbit and the trouble he encounters in the vegetable garden of Mr McGregor.
#24. A Wrinkle in Time – Madeleine L’Engle
A Wrinkle in Time is a novel for children published in 1962 that tells the story of the adventures through time and space, from universe to universe, of the high school-aged girl named Meg Murry, her younger brother Charles Wallace, and her friend Calvin O’Keefe. The trio goes on an adventure to save the girl’s father from the evil forces on another planet.
#25. Mahabharata Stories – Deepa Agarwal
The book is a collection of selected stories for children from the epic Mahabharata. The book has stories including how the Mahabharata began, the Mritasanjivani story, the birth of Devavrata, the palace of lac, and many other such compelling stories.
Conclusion
These were the 25 books for children to read. Ensure you make your child read every one of these books because the more knowledge they acquire, the more they will crave for it. You can give your child additional learning with the online classes of the Real School Of Montessori to encourage them to become better readers and writers. Real School’s Of Montessori practical approach to education prepares your children to face real-life challenges like true problem solvers. Join the masterclasses and experience for yourself.
