Enjoying life as the mother of three kids, an educator, and more recently a childcare provider means that we always have a lot of books around the house.  Over the years, we’ve read a lot of different kinds of books.  Some have been award winners and others may be known by no one other than the children who enter my home.  One thing I have noticed over the years is that the same books that were my children’s favorites have remained the favorites of the babies and toddlers I care for in my home today.  Today, I’m sharing with you our 10 favorite books for toddlers and kids.  My children are grown now so most of these books have stood the test of time and met the approval of many children spanning two generations.  A couple of them are newer books and sure to be classics in the years to come.

10 Favorite Books for Toddlers and Kids

The first of our 10 favorite books for toddlers and kids is I’ll Always Love You by Paeony Lewis.

Alex breaks one of his mother’s favorite possessions.  Alex wonders if his mother will still love him.  She promises Alex that she will always love him, but Alex has his doubts.  I Will Always Love You is a beautiful story of the unconditional love a mother has for her child.  Get your copy of I’ll Always Love You by Paeony Lewis here.

 The second of our 10 favorite books for toddlers and kids is Love You Forever by Robert Munsch.

Love you forever starts out with an illustration of a mother holding her baby and reciting a poem:

I’ll love you forever,
I’ll like you for always,
As long as I’m living
my baby you’ll be.

The story continues as the baby grows and then becomes a child, a teenager, and a man with a family of his own.  The ending of Love You Forever, much like, I’ll Always Love You, lovingly demonstrates the unconditional and life-long love between a mother and her child.  Children of all ages and adults love reading this book together.  These two books were not only my children’s favorites,  but also mine.  Get your copy of Love You Forever by Robert Munsch here.

The third of our 10 favorite books for toddlers and kids is The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.

The Giving Tree always sort of made me sad.  I always wanted to cry at the end but children love this book.  The Giving Tree is about the life-long relationship between a tree and a boy.  This book teaches the value of giving even to the point of great sacrifice.  It’s sad, but also touching.  You can get your copy of The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein here.

The fourth of our 10 favorite books for toddlers and kids is Arthur’s New Pubby by Marc Brown.

We have lots of Author books.  Author books are based on a children’s animated TV show.  Author brings home a new puppy and plans to train him quickly.  After bringing the puppy into the house, the puppy gets into a bit of mischief.  Training his puppy takes more work than Author anticipates but with a lot of work, he manages to get things under control.  Author’s New Puppy teaches children that it takes a lot of love, hard work, and dedication to take care of a pet and train a pet properly.  Get your copy of Author’s New Puppy by Marc Brown here. 

The fifth of our 10 favorite books for toddlers and kids is Clifford’s Family by Norman Bridwell.

Emily Elizabeth and her dog, Clifford, were both born in the big city but now they live out in a small town.  One day, they take a trip back to the city.  Clifford gets to visit with his father, mother, his brother and two sisters.  Clifford’s brother is a rescue dog at a fire station.  Clifford wants his family to go back to the country and live with him but they all have special jobs to do and special people to take care of them.  Get your copy of Clifford’s Family by Norman Bridwell here.

The Sixth of of our 10 favorite books for toddlers and kids is The Legend of the Three Trees.  The Legend of the Three Trees is based on a screenplay by George Taweel and Rob Loos.  This story is adapted by Catherine McCafferty.

Three young trees – an olive tree, an oak tree, and a pine tree – dream of doing great things.  When the trees are cut down, it seems that all their dreams are lost.   The trees don’t realize that God has a different plan for them that is better than anything they had ever dreamed.  Through The Legend of the Three Trees, children learn that even though things might not go like they plan, God has a special plan and a purpose for their lives and that plan and purpose is better than anything they can imagine.  Get your copy of The Legend of the Three Trees here.

The seventh of our 10 favorite books for toddlers and kids is Biscuit (Storybook Collection) by Alyssa Satin Capucilli.

 There are several editions of the Biscuit Storybook Collection.  We have the first edition.  It’s a “My First I Can Read Book.”  The Biscuit storybook collection is a compilation of much loved Biscuit stories.  Biscuit is a little yellow puppy who has won the hearts of children and their parents for many years.  Get your copy of Biscuit Storybook Collection here. 

The eight of our 10 favorite books for toddlers and kids is a Christmas book, Alabaster’s Song by Max Lucado.

Alabaster is a toothless angel who sings a beautiful song as he sits on top of the family Christmas tree.    His song catches the attention of a little boy.  Alabaster’s Song is a sweet story about the relationship between a little boy and this unusual Christmas angel.  You can get your copy of Alabaster’s Song by Max Lucado here.

The next two books I’m going to share with you are newer books.  I didn’t get the opportunity to enjoy these books with my own children but they are favorites with my daycare and preschool children.

The ninth of our 10 favorite books for toddlers and kids is I’m a Dirty Dinosaur by Janeen Brian and and Ann James.

My preschoolers love this little dinosaur who loves the mud.  Children laugh and repeat the words as the dirty dinosaur gets dirty all over.  He sniffs, snuffs, shakes, and splashes throughout the book.  This one will be loved for a long time.  Get your copy of I’m a Dirty Dinosaur here.

The tenth of our 10 favorite books for toddlers and kids is Secrets of the Apple Tree by Carron Brown.

Secrets of the Apple Tree is a “Shine-A-Light Book.”  Children can shine a light behind the pages to reveal surprises hidden all over and around the tree.  Children discover birds nesting in the branches and worms wiggling around the roots of the tree.  You can get your copy of Secret of the Apple Tree here. 

I hope you get a chance to read all of these books with your kids and I hope you and your little ones enjoy them as much as we have over the years.  I’m collaborating with several other bloggers who have gathered their own collections of favorite books for kids.  Please be sure to visit each one.