50 Children's Books for Early Childhood (0-8 years)

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What better way to summarize the fall semester than with a list of children's books!

Over the course of fall semester, I analyzed a total of 50 children's books that are appropriate for children 0-8 years old. These books cover a variety of genres, formats, subjects, and styles that create a foundation for a diverse book collection! 

So, I thought it would be fun to share this list of children's books with all of you!

In this post, I categorize my list by genre. I will provide the appropriate age group that is associated with each book along with a link to Amazon to purchase each book.

*However, if possible, I encourage you to purchase these books through your favorite small business book store! (link to independent bookstore search engine provided in the "Sources/Additional Resources" section of this post)*

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Poetry and rhyming books

Several studies have proven the benefits of daily exposure to poetry at a young age. Read more about the benefits of poetry to young readers by clicking here (link to Huffpost article).

Our Big Home: An Earth Poem

Author: Linda Glaser
Illustrator: Elisa Kleven
Summary: This poetry book describes the natural elements of the Earth shared by all living beings.
Age Range: ​2-4 years
​

Edward Lear's "A" Was Once an Apple Pie

​Author: Suse MacDonald
Illustrator: Suse MacDonald
Summary: This alphabet book explores different animals that start with a certain letter with fun rhyming words.
Age Range: 2-4 years
​

Happy in our Skin

Author: Fran Manushkin,
Illustrator: Lauren Tobia
Summary: This book follows families and analyzes the roles of skin and differences one might see in skin, but it ends with a message that you are unique!
Age Range: 2-5 years
​

All are Welcome

Author: Alexandra Penfold
Illustrator: Suzanne Kaufman
Summary: This book takes readers through a day in a classroom where all children are welcomed, promoting themes of diversity and inclusion. 
Age Range: 3-8 years
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The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk

Author: Kabir & Surishtha Sehgal
Illustrator: Jess Golden
Summary: This book follows the same rhythm of “Wheels on the Bus” but is worded with vocabulary within the context of Indian culture.
Age Range: 2-4 years
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A Child's Garden of Verses

Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
Illustrator: Susan Bonners
Summary: A collection of poems centered on nature-related subjects.
Age Range: 3-5 years
​

Informational books

Informational books are "those which explain known facts about specific topics. These texts must not only be accurate but they must also present the information so that it is easily understood. Illustrations are often included to extend the concepts as described in the books" ("Genre Definitions").
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Over and Under the Snow

Author: Kate Messner
Illustrator: Christopher Silas Neal
Summary: While a young girl and her father go cross-country skiing in the winter, the father teaches her about the animal world underneath the snow.
Age Range: 3-7 years
​

She Persisted Around the World:
​13 Women Who Changed History

Author: Chelsea Clinton
Illustrator: Alexandra Boiger
Summary: This book identifies thirteen women from around the world that made a difference.
Age Range: 5-7 years
​

The Elephant

Author: Jenni Desmond
Illustrator: Jenni Desmond
Summary: For the ultimate elephant enthusiast, this book provides an in-depth study into elephants, including a comparison between the Asian and African elephant species, behaviors, and anatomy.
Age Range: 5-8 years
​

Biblioburro: A True Story from Columbia

Author: Jeanette Winter
Illustrator: Jeanette Winter
Genre: Biography
Summary:  Luis Soriano and his burros, or donkeys, bring books to children in remote Columbian villages. This book includes some vocabulary words in Spanish.
Age Range: 4-8 years
​

Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré

Author:  Anika Aldamuy Denise
Illustrator: Paola Escobar
Genre: Biography
Summary: Pura travels from Puerto Rico to New York City where she becomes a librarian’s assistant before creating Puerto Rican folk stories
Age Range: 6-8 years
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Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreno Played the Piano for President Lincoln

Author: Margarita Eagle
Illustrator: Rafael López
Genre: Biography
Summary: Teresa Carreno, a former child prodigy, used her gift of music to play for President Abraham Lincoln and bring her country of Venezuela together after war.
Age Range: 4-8 years

*Spanish version available (Manos que bailan: Cómo Teresa Carreno tocó el piano para el presidente Lincoln)
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Global Baby Bedtimes (board book)

​Author: Maya Ajmera
Illustrator: Keren Su (Photographer)
Summary: This book takes readers around the world and explores different bedtime traditions with images and simple text.
Age Range: infants (birth-18 months)
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Starstruck: The Cosmic Journey of Neil DeGrasse Tyson

Author:  Kathleen Krull & Paul Brewer
Illustrator: Frank Morrison
​Genre: Biography
Summary: This book follows the challenges and accomplishments of Neil DeGrasse Tyson, one of the most well-known astrophysicists
Age Range: 4-8 years
​

Our Big Home: An Earth Poem
(view information under "Poetry and Rhyming Books" section)

Concept Books

"A concept book is a picture book that teaches a broad concept to young readers. Examples? Alphabet books, number books, books about colors, opposites, books about feelings and emotions" ("What is a Concept Book?").

Tally Cat Keeps Track

Author: Trudy Harris
Illustrator: Trudy Harris & Andrew N. Harris
Subject: Math
Summary: Tally McNally is an ally cat that tries to make comparisons and find the best of the best in each category.
Age Range: 5-8 years
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Missing Math: A Number Mystery

Author: Loreen Leedy
Illustrator: Loreen Leedy
Subject: Math
Summary: All of the numbers in a town disappear. A detective captures a number thief who is trying to create the largest number, infinity.
Age Range: 5-8 years
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One Watermelon Seed

Author: Celia Barker Lottridge
Illustrator: Karen Patkau
Subject: Math
Summary: Max and Josephine plant a garden and harvested several types of seeds. This book introduces counting to 10 and counting by 10s.
Age Range: 4-6 years
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Edward Lear's "A" Was Once an Apple Pie
Information provided under "Poetry and Rhyming Books" section
​

I'm Dirty

Author: Kate McMullan
Illustrator: Kate McMullan & Jim McMullan
​Subject: Math
Summary: A small truck takes readers to his job of moving garbage while counting down from the number 10.
Age Range: 3-5 years
​

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes (board book)

Author: Mem Fox
Illustrator: Helen Oxenbury
​​Subject: Math
Summary: This book follows several babies from around the world who all have the same number of fingers and toes.
Age Range: birth-2 years
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The Feelings Book

Author: Todd Parr
Illustrator: Todd Parr
Summary: This book explores a variety of different emotions and feelings through colorful illustrations.
Age Range: 3-7 years
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When Sophie Gets Angry -- Really Really Angry

Author: Molly Bang
Illustrator: Blue Sky Press
Summary: When Sophia gets really angry, she leaves the house to calm down in a tree before returning home to a loving family.
Age Range: 4-8 years
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Families (board book)

Author: Rena D. Grosman
Illustrator: Rena D. Grosman
Summary: This book finds similarities between all forms of families, including animal families
Age Range: birth-2 years
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Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?

Author: Bill Martin Jr.
Illustrator: Eric Carle
Summary: This book follows a sequence of different animals hearing different animals. Each page starts with “[animal name, animal name], what do you hear?” and ends with “I hear a [animal], [sound action] in my ear.”
Age Range: 2-4 years

*Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? ​is also a predictable book.
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Wordless Books

"Wordless picture books are told entirely through their illustrations — they are books without words, or sometimes just a few words. Sharing wordless books with a child provides an opportunity for literacy-rich conversations" ("Sharing Wordless Picture Books").
​

Journey

Author: Aaron Becker
Illustrator: Aaron Becker
Summary: This wordless book takes readers on a journey with a young girl who uses a red marker to explore a magical world.
Age Range: 4-8 years
​

One Little Bag: An Amazing Journey

Author: Henry Cole
Illustrator: Henry Cole
Summary: This book follows the story of a little paper bag from it being a tree to being handed to a little boy. This book teaches a lesson on sustainability.
Age Range: 3-8 years
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I Walk with Vanessa: A Story About a Simple act of Kindness

Author: Kerascoët
Illustrator: Kerascoët
Summary: Vanessa is a young girl who is bullied at the bus stop until a friend walks with her to school.
Age Range: 4-8 years
​

Rainstorm

Author:  Barbara Lehman
Illustrator: Barbara Lehman
Summary: During a rainstorm, a boy discovers a treasure chest. He climbs into the treasure chest and discovers a light house filled with children from different backgrounds.
Age Range: 3-5 years
​

The Tortoise & the Hare (almost wordless)

Author: Jerry Pinkney 
Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney 
Summary: This book retells the story of the tortoise and the hare through detailed drawings and minimal words.
Age Range: 3-5 years
​

Flotsam

Author: David Weisner
Illustrator: David Weisner
Summary: A boy takes pictures of under water fantastical lands and examines them.
Age Range: 5-8 years
​

​Realistic fiction

"Realistic fiction creates imaginary characters and situations that depict our world and society. It focuses on themes of growing up and confronting personal and social problems. This genre portrays characters coming to understand themselves and others" ("Genre Definitions").

Four Feet, Two Sandals

Author: Khadra Mohammed & Karen Lynn Williams
Illustrator: Doug Chayka
Summary: Two young Afghani girls share a pair of sandals brought by relief workers. Includes author's note about refugees. 
Age Range: 6-8 years
​

Heather Has Two Mommies

Author: Lesléa Newman
Illustrator: Diana Souza 
Summary: One of the first pieces of LGBTQ+ children's literature, this book tells the story of Heather, who has two mommies. At school realizes that all families are different, and "the only thing that matters about a family is that 'the people in it love each other.'" 

Taken from the New York Times article, "Heather Has Two Mommies is Still Relevant 30 Years Later"

Age Range: 3-7 years
​

Paulie Pastrami Achieves World Peace

Author: James Proimos
Illustrator: James Proimos
Summary: Paulie Pastrami is “nothing special,” but he achieves world peace through being kind to small animals, tending to the earth, reading to trees, made his sister a doll, sharing his lunch, and singing.
Age Range: 3-8 years
​

The Invisible Boy

Author: Trudy Ludwig
Illustrator: Patrice Barton
Summary: Bryan is neglected by his classmates until a new student arrives and he starts to make new friends and be appreciated.
Age Range: 6-8 years
​

I Like Myself!

Author: Karen Beaumont
Illustrator: David Catrow
Summary: A young girl and her dog explore everything they like about themselves.
Age Range: 2-4 years
​

My Heart

Author: Corinna Luyken
Illustrator: Corinna Luyken
Summary: A girl explores self-acceptance through describing all the things her heart can do and be.
Age Range: 3-8 years
​

The Night Tree

Author: Eve Bunting
Illustrator: Ted Rand
Summary: Children place food on a decorated Christmas tree to feed all of the woodland animals.
Age Range: 4-6 years

​* In my complete book collection, I would include books that address all winter holidays. 
​

Last Stop on Market Street

Author: Matt de la Peña
Illustrator: Christian Robinson
Summary: As CJ and his grandma ride the bus home after Church on Sunday, CJ wonders why he doesn’t have the luxuries that surround him, and his grandma answers with a few wise and encouraging words.
Age Range: 3-6 years
​

Alma and How She Got Her Name

Author: Juana Martinez-Neal
Illustrator: Juana Martinez-Neal
Summary: Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela learns the story behind her long name. This book includes some Spanish vocabulary. 
Age Range: 3-5 years
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The Dancers

Author: Thomas Peacock
Illustrator: Jacqueline Paske Gill
Summary: A young girl and her mother support her aunt who was injured during a war. Her aunt learns to dance in a powwow through her heart.
Age Range: 5-8 years
​

All are Welcome
Information provided under "Poetry and Rhyming Books" section
​

Beautiful Oops!

Author: Barney Saltzberg 
Illustrator: Barney Saltzberg
Summary: This interactive book shows several examples of how mistakes can become something beautiful.
Age Range: 2-3 years
​

Your Name is a Song

Author: Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
Illustrator: Luisa Uribe
Summary: Kora Jalimuso asks her mom why no one at school can say her name. Her mother gives her advice on how to approach her name like a song.
Age Range: 3-8 years
​

Be You!

Author: Peter H. Reynolds
Illustrator: Peter H. Reynolds
Summary: This book encourages children to embrace who they are and pushes them to get outside of their comfort zone.
Age Range: 5-8 years
​

The Dot

Author: Peter H. Reynolds
Illustrator: Peter H. Reynolds 
Summary: In this classic story on creativity, Vashti draws a dot after becoming frustrated with her artwork, which begins her creative art adventure.
Age Range: 4-8 years
​

Fantasy Fiction

"Fantasy tells imaginary tales of make believe lands, creatures and people. . .Many of the themes of fantasy can be reflected in the contemporary genre but the setting and the characters extend beyond the confined of realistic fiction" ("Genre Definitions").
​

It Came in the Mail

Author: Ben Clanton
Illustrator: Ben Clanton
Summary: Liam writes a letter to his mailbox and then receives “gazillions” of magical things.
Age Range: 2-4 years
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The Monsters' Monster

Author: Patrick McDonnel
Illustrator: Patrick McDonnel
Summary: Three little monsters create a monster they want to be the biggest and baddest monster of all, but the monster they create is kind and gentle.
Age Range: 3-6 years
​

The Turnip: An Old Russian Folktale

Author: Pierr Morgan
Illustrator: Pierr Morgan
Summary: One by one, a family works together to pull a turnip out of the ground. It isn’t until they ask for the help of a little field mouse that they are able to pull out the giant turnip.
Age Range: 2-4 years
​

A Sick Day for Amos McGee

Author: Philip C. Stead
Illustrator: Erin Stead
Summary: Amos McGee takes care of his animals at the zoo until he gets sick one day, and his animals take care of him. 
Age Range: 2-6 years
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Traditional

"Traditional literature is a genre that started in the oral tradition. Myths, fables, epics, ballads, legends, folk rhymes, folktales, fairy tales,  trickster tales, tall tales, cumulative tales and pourquoi tales are part of this genre" (cited from McKillop Library).
​

Jouanah: A Hmong Cinderella

Author: Jewell Reinhart Coburn, & Tzexa Cherta Lee
Illustrator: Anne Sibley O’Brien
Summary: This story follows Jouanah, a Hmong Cinderella in a traditional Hmong tale.
Age Range: 5-7 years
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La Princesa and the Pea

Author: Susan Middleton Elya
Illustrator: Juana Martinez-Neal
Summary: This book tells the traditional fable of Princess and the Pea through the indigenous Peruvian culture. This book includes some Spanish vocabulary.
Age Range: 4-6 years
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The Rough-Face Girl

Author:  Rafe Martin & David Shannon
Illustrator: David Shannon
Summary: This story tells the traditional tale of Cinderella through the perspective and culture of Indigenous peoples.
Age Range:  5-8 years
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The Turnip: An Old Russian Folktale
Information provided under "Fantasy Fiction" section

The Tortoise & the Hare
​Information provided under "Wordless Books" section

Congratulations! You made it to the end of the post!

I hope this list provided you with a few ideas on how to build a more diverse book collection. There are so many other amazing, high-quality children's books out there. Continue to educate yourself on high-quality children's literature and challenge yourself to build a more diverse collection. 

I have provided a few resources in the "Sources/Additional Resources" section of this post, so you can continue your search for children's books. Happy reading!

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Last week's post: 10 Strategies for teaching english as a foreign language (TEFL)

In this post, I introduce 10 strategies for TEFL that I have learned through my 8-week Spanish internship. Click here to read this post.

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Leave me a comment!

What are your thoughts on this book list? Do you have any other book suggestions? Leave me a comment below!

If you like this post, have any questions, or have ideas on how I can improve my blog, leave me a comment below! Your input is always appreciated. As always, thank you for your support.

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Sources/Additional resources

Click on the links below to explore the sources mentioned in this post!

International Children's Digital Library

"The 10 Best Sites for Reading Free Children's Books and Stories Online"

​Storyline Online

Browse children's books by award

NPR's 100 Favorite Books for Young Readers
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"Genre Definitions"
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Concept Book Definition​

"Sharing Wordless Picture Books"

Traditional Literature Definition
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Find an Independent Bookstore Near You!

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