When a person reads, they do so on their own terms. They read at a different level, a different rate, and with different interests. But for parents who want to help their kids become interested in reading, sometimes the best place to start is by looking at the best children's books by age. When you look at kids' books by age, you can share developmentally appropriate titles and help the youngest readers figure out what they like to read. This way, you can also help them figure out what they like to read.

You can find below a list of children's books based on their age group We'll start at birth and work our way up to 8th grade, offering a few books for each age group and links to longer lists for those ages.

Books For Babies and Books for 1-Year-Olds

Even though babies can't read on their own, it's important to read to them and help them learn how to read. Starting with some early literacy strategies and resources, look for some of the following books for them, then teach them how to use them to improve their skills.

For babies, board books are gold. They're made of durable materials and have a lot of images, which are good for young eyes. It doesn't matter if you buy them new or used. Board books are usually cheap, too.

A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Na

Il Sung Na, a Korean author and illustrator, has a style that is very different from what you usually see in board books. There is very little text, but it's beautiful. It works well with unique illustrations to make a story that is easy to read and beautiful to look at."

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

There wouldn't be a list of board books without this one. A favorite of parents and babies, this book has a timeless story, beautiful art and die-cut pages that make it a favorite of both.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

"The Snowy Day first broke the color barrier in mainstream children's publishing in 1962 when it introduced us to Peter, a brown boy in a red snowsuit who was having a lot of fun in the snow." Keats has worked hard to make all of his characters different, so he gets all of the points.

You may have to change your selection to "board book" on each link in order to get to that edition.

It's also a good idea to show babies and toddlers how to read with soft books. If a book is soft, it might have crinkly pages made of fabric, but it might also have other sensory features that make it fun for young people to read.

Earlyears Farm Friends — Crinkle Book Baby Toy

"This soft book is a mix of a stuffed animal and a book."

Color Me: Who’s in the Water? by Surya Sajnani

She was Surya Sajnani, and she wrote this book.

This is so clever! When the pages are wet, they change color! There are a lot of animals to choose from.

Books For Toddlers

Ah, the days when you were a child. Here are some of the best books for 1-year-olds, 2-year-olds, and 3-year-olds. Depending on your child, they may be ready to read picture books on their own. Even if they aren't yet, reading picture books with your toddlers is important for literacy, developing a love for books, and bonding with your child.

These are some of the best books for young children:

Bear Moves by Ben Bailey Smith (Doc Brown) and Sav Akyüz

This dancing bear will get kids moving, with moves like Furry Breaking and Running Bear that are sure to get them moving. This will be a book you want to read again and again because of the bright colors and fun pictures.

Hip-Hop Lollipop by Susan Montanari and Brian Pinkney

During her bedtime routine, an energetic little girl dances her way through it. This is something that I can certainly relate to. The way I brush my teeth can sometimes turn into a little dance. I pace myself while I do it. Brian Pinkney, a Caldecott Honor winner, did the illustrations for this story. They go well with the energy of the story.

I Am Actually A Penguin by Sean Taylor and Kasia Matyjaszek

Funny story about being yourself, with the main character being a little girl who decides to live like a penguin when she gets a penguin costume for her birthday.

Books for Preschoolers

It's so much fun to find books for preschoolers. Books for 3-year-olds and books for 4-year-olds range from board books to picture books that make great read-alouds and picture books that help kids learn to read on their own. If your preschooler can read each word or just look at the art, now is a great time to show your readers how many different ways they can read.

Here are some of the best preschool books you should read:

Be Boy Buzz by bell hooks

"I'm a child. All happiness, boy. All is well. All of him is beautiful. Beautiful’

Bell Hooks, a well-known author, has written a short, fun story about what it's like to be a boy.

Round is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes by Roseanne Thong

There are ice cream carts, stone metates, and triangles all over the place in this fun picture book. " Many of the objects in this show are from Latin America, but they all have a universal appeal. Children will learn about the shapes they see every day thanks to this fun concept book. It has rich illustrations, an easy-to-read rhyme, and a glossary with important information.

Swimmy by Leo Lionni

Happy fish live deep down in the sea. A lot of fun things happen in their watery world, but there is also a lot of danger. The little fish are afraid to come out of hiding until Swimmy comes along. "Swimmy shows his friends how to think outside the box and work together to get through any obstacle," says the teacher.

Books for Kindergarteners

Books for 5-year-olds and books for 6-year-olds are what you want. These books for kindergarteners are a great way to get kids to read more on their own and with their friends.

Kindergarteners are the perfect age for reading aloud, so start by reading some of these great books:

Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts

"The rhyme scheme in this book is so fun, and the illustrations are so beautiful." Tiny Ada Twist has too many questions for her parents to answer, so she asks them all herself. As they get used to her, they realize that she's a super curious scientist kid who shouldn't be stifled! Iggy Peck, Architect and Rosie Revere, Engineer, the other two books in this series, are both great.

Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio and Christian Robinson

"This book is a great way to learn about how different people are." Gaston doesn't look like his three poodle siblings: Fi-Fi, Foo-Foo, and Ooh-La-La. He doesn't look like them. At the park, he meets a family of dogs that he doesn't look like. They have a dog that looks like his family. The mismatched puppies switch places, but something doesn't feel right about it.

Maybe Something Beautiful by F. Isabel Campoy, Theresa Howell, and Rafael López

"A heartfelt, beautiful story about a young girl who wants to use art to make her neighborhood less gray." "It's based on the true story of how San Diego, California, came to have the Urban Art Trail. It's really a great story."

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