It's here: the  best books for kids of all ages! Every type of reader can find a book that fits their needs.

It includes classics from your childhood and new books that will be read for years to come.

Favorite picks include winners of both the Newbery and Caldecott awards as well as bestsellers that every child should read. There are also weird books that you didn't even know existed!

These books are full of characters that will make kids think. They include goofy kids, taco-eating dragons, legendary spacegirls, spooky urban legends, mischievous boy robots, and more. Our advice is: Make a list of the books that you want to read. Then, go to the best libraries for kids in NYC, go to storytimes for kids, or go to your local indie to find out more about the coolest book clubs for kids in your area.

Your child should be proud if they get under the covers with one of these books and a flashlight. You should wait a few minutes before "caught" them.

Best Books for Kids

Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon

It's hard for Dory to keep her fantasy life to herself. Her imaginary best friend (a monster named Mary), her imaginary enemy (Mrs. Gobble Gracker), and her fairy godmother (Mr. Nugy, who she calls on a banana) are all just as real as her real family and friends at school. This five-volume series is a lot of fun, and it gets into the wonders and fears that run through every young person's mind. These books will speak to your child. When Dory goes on adventures, you and your child will both have a lot of fun with them, too. Ages 5 to 10.

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin

A lot of kids know that dragons love tacos, but they don't like spicy salsa because it makes them sick. This silly, fun, imaginative book has become a modern classic and a favorite at storytime. Then, when you're done with this, be sure to get the even weirder Dragons Love Tacos 2! In some other world, dragons love diapers! People who are 7 and under.

The Book with No Pictures by B. J. Novak

There are no pictures in this book. How can it be fun? Easy. In every children's book, the grownup has to read every word on the page, no matter how silly. In this book, the words get very silly, which will make your child very happy. The Book with No Pictures makes the phrase "Ba-DOONGY FACE!" come to life in a new way. People who are 7 and under.

New Kid by Jerry Craft

Having to be the new kid at school is always a pain, but being from Washington Heights in New York City and going to an elite private school across town can make it even worse. For the first time, the New Kid shows Jordan's first year at Riverdale. It deals with racism and other difficult issues head-on. This thoughtful book won the Newbery Medal in 2020, making it the first comic book to win its category. Years 8-12.

Legends of Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke

In the beginning, Zita saves the world. Then she saves her best friend. This is the first book in a three-volume series about Zita, who goes from being a little girl with interstellar dreams to being a hero who is known all over the galaxy. In a later book, she has to face her biggest enemy: a copy of herself. Your child's mind will soar when they go on these imaginative adventures. Years 8-12.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

The streets of New York become a winter wonderland when Peter, who is dressed in red snowsuit, goes outside to play in the snow. You'll love this book, and it's the most-borrowed book at the New York Public Library in its 125-year history. As young as five.

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

When people meet Fudge, Peter will always be his older brother. Fudge is a one-child wrecking team that always gets the attention. Having a loving, imperfect family has never been shown to better effect than in Judy Blume's book. Years 8–12.

Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth by Judd Winick

There are a lot of things Hilo doesn't know about himself. For example, he doesn't know how or why he fell from the sky, or why he can't go to school in only his underwear. In this series, the boy robot can shoot lasers out of his hands and cares a lot about his human friends. It's a lot of fun to read about. Book 6: All the Pieces Fit comes out in February, 2020. Years 5-12.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Unless you tell them, they will not know that this book is good for teaching your kids how to count and how to eat healthily. Their little fingers will be able to poke through all the holes in the story. More reason to admire one of the world's best picture books. The editor of Carle's book convinced him to make the book about a caterpillar instead of Carle's original idea: Willie Worm. This is a good thing. Under 3 years old.

Peter & Ernesto: A Tale of Two Sloths

Peter is a lazy sloth who likes things the way they are. He wants to stay where he is and hang out with other people. In this story, Ernesto is a different kind of sloth. He embarks on a joyful journey that takes him all over the world. He's a real jerk! He doesn't want to be alone anymore. So, he ignores his fear and goes out to find his friend. He finds that the world is wild, kind, and full of wonder. When Peter & Ernesto: Sloths in the Night comes out, it will be in April, 2020. Ages 4 to 8.

The Iliad and the Odyssey by Gillian Cross

This is why the Iliad and the Odyssey have been passed down for so long. Start reading these family-friendly versions and you'll see why. Writing by Gillian Cross makes the stories beautiful and poetic, and Neil Packer's images make them come to life. They make the stories more interesting for kids to read. There are so many good stories in this boxed set that you'll want to put it on the shelf with adult books. As young as eight.

Subway by Christoph Niemann

The New York subway isn't easy to love, unless you're a little boy or a girl. This picture book by designer Christoph Niemann is a love letter to the MTA. It's full of fun illustrations that your child will love and that will make you look at your commute in a new way. As young as five.

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson

In the beginning, Room on the Broom looks like a silly witch story. It's a great story with lots of twists and turns that will keep your child interested. It also has one of the most happy endings in all of broomish literature.

At bedtime, you'll want to read Room on the Broom. As young as five.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

One time, kids said, "I hate reading!" People thought every child on the planet was charmed into reading books when Harry Potter came out. The first book in the Harry Potter series is one of the best-selling books of all time because it has secrets, magic, flying, and a young underdog who kicks butt. As young as eight.

How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen

They will fall asleep with the help of the rhythm and rhymes, while the silly scenes will make them smile as they go to sleep. This book is a sure thing for bedtime: It's a modern classic that should be on every child's bedside table. Under 6 years old.

Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein

Anyone who reads "Ickle Me," "Pickle Me," or "Tickle Me Too" in Where the Sidewalk Ends is sure to laugh. There are 130 poems for kids in the book. With the help of a companion book called A Light in the Attic, you can find the same epic tongue-twisters and fun illustrations. These two books should be on every child's shelf. Years 6–12.

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander

African-American culture is celebrated in this prose poem called The Undefeated. It talks about the people who have made this country what it is today. This book takes a hard look at slavery, the Civil Rights movement, and racism in the modern world. If you want to solve a problem, you have to face it head on. There is a 2020 Newbery Honor Book called The Undefeated, and Kadir Nelson won the 2020 Caldecott Medal for his illustrations in the book. Years 6-12.

Scary Stories To Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz

You might not want to turn off the lights after reading Alvin Schwarz's scary and fantastic stories. We were scared to death by folklore stories that the author studied for years. Then he put a dark twist on three books of retellings. Make sure you don't forget the black and white sketches that come with each piece. They might scare you before you even read the text! Halloween parties can use some extra excitement, and we think storytime is a great way to get it. There are mysterious bloody hooks and scary scarecrows to choose from, as well as everything else in between. As young as eight.

My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero

It looks like the girl and her father are flying across the roads of a California town that's changing with the times: old stores are closing, and whole neighborhoods are getting new look. Thoughtful: This book about childhood is a celebration of Mexican-American culture, but it's also about how a child grows up and learns about the world because of the love of a family. Ages 4 to 8.

It’s Only Stanley by Jon Agee

He's an industrious but quiet dog who spends his time making things around the house. This will be a big surprise to his sleepy owners. You might think this picture book is clever, but you'd be wrong. The adults who try to decipher the illustrations will be surprised by how clever it is. Kids, on the other hand, enjoy the story, the rhymes and the big HOWOOO! Under 6 years old.

This Beach Is Loud! by Samantha Cotterill

People have a lot of fun at the beach. However, there are too many people. Sand is too itchy, and sea water is too sticky. A dad knows just how to help his little one get back on track and enjoy the trip to see. This book is for kids who have trouble with sensory processing. It also talks about topics that are good for any child. Years 4-6.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

In Tolkien's book, the idea of leaving your cozy home for adventure and even death is shown very well. This story, which includes trolls, orcs, a smooth-talking dragon, hungry spiders, giant eagles, and more, is more kid-friendly than the later Lord of the Rings series. It's a good mix of literature and action. As young as eight.

Kuma-Kuma Chan by Kazue Takahashi

In the mountains, there is an animal that lives a very quiet and contemplative life. This animal is Kuma-Kuma Chan, a bear who lives in a small house. When he makes a salad, he takes his time and thinks about the sound of the rain on the roof. The elegantly simple illustrations are a big part of this book's charm. Under 6 years old.

Asterix by René Goscinny, Albert Uderzo and Jean-Yves Ferri

As far back as 1959, kids have been laughing and snorting at this classic series about silly Gauls and Romans. If you've been reading this book since then, it has been translated into 111 different languages and languages. Asterix has been a part of kids' lives for a long time, and it will be for a long time to come. Volume 38, Asterix and the Chieftain's Daughter, came out last year. Years 6-12.

Amulet: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi

Emily, a young girl, finds an amulet in her great-library. grandfather's She puts it on by accident, but it works. This happens later, when Emily and her brother Navin go into another world to save their mother with the help of a robot bunny named Miskit. It's only then that the amulet's power is revealed. This is a series of graphic novels with 8 volumes and counting that will make kids' minds go wild. As young as eight.

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