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Miss Rumphius
Miss Rumphius
K to 3rd grade
Miss Rumphius sets out to make the world more beautiful, and does. A gorgeous classic about leaving your mark.
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Classics Picture Books
The best Classics picture books for parents and teachers, sorted by grade. Read alouds from our channel come first.
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Timeless picture books every child should know.
39 books · 10 with a read aloud on our channel
The Cat in the Hat
The Cat in the Hat
PreK to 2nd grade
On a rainy day, a mischievous cat shows up and turns a quiet house upside down. A Dr. Seuss classic that has helped generations of kids learn to read.
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If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie seriesPreK to 2nd grade
The classic that started it all, one cookie leads to a whole day of requests. Perfect for sequencing and cause and effect.
Corduroy
Corduroy
Corduroy seriesPreK to 2nd grade
A teddy bear in overalls searches a department store at night for his missing button, hoping someone will take him home. A tender classic about friendship and being loved as you are.
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Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum
Mouse Books seriesPreK to 3rd grade
Chrysanthemum loves her name until kids at school tease her. A classic about teasing, self worth, and the teacher who changes everything.
Madeline
Madeline
PreK to 3rd grade
Brave Madeline lives in Paris with eleven other girls and Miss Clavel, and even a trip to the hospital becomes an adventure. A rhyming classic with plenty of spunk.
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Where the Wild Things Are
Where the Wild Things Are
PreK to 3rd grade
Max sails off to be king of the wild things and comes home to a warm supper. A true classic about big feelings and being loved.
Make Way for Ducklings
Make Way for Ducklings
PreK to 2nd grade
Mr. and Mrs. Mallard search Boston for the perfect place to raise their ducklings, and a friendly policeman stops traffic for them. A Caldecott classic kids still adore.
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Frog and Toad Are Friends
Frog and Toad Are Friends
Frog and Toad seriesPreK to 3rd grade
The book that started it all for Frog and Toad. Gentle, funny, and still perfect for early readers.
Millions of Cats
Millions of Cats
PreK to 5th grade
An old man sets out to find one cat and comes home with millions, but only one can stay. A charming classic folktale about pride and humility.
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Harold and the Purple Crayon
Harold and the Purple Crayon
PreK to 2nd grade
Harold draws his whole adventure with one purple crayon. A timeless classic about imagination.
The Snowy Day
The Snowy Day
PreK to 2nd grade
Peter heads out in his red snowsuit to make tracks, snow angels, and a snowball he saves in his pocket. A Caldecott classic that captures pure childhood wonder.
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Is Your Mama a Llama?
Is Your Mama a Llama?
PreK to 2nd grade
A llama asks friends if their mama is a llama. A rhyming classic perfect for guessing games and speech practice.
The Story of Ferdinand
The Story of Ferdinand
PreK to 2nd grade
Ferdinand the bull would rather sit under a cork tree and smell flowers than fight, even in the bullring. A gentle classic about being true to yourself.
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The Carrot Seed
The Carrot Seed
PreK to 3rd grade
A little boy keeps believing in his seed even when everyone says it won't grow. A tiny classic about patience and faith in yourself.
Strega Nona
Strega Nona
PreK to 2nd grade
Big Anthony sneaks a turn with Strega Nona's magic pasta pot but doesn't know how to stop it, and the whole town fills with pasta. A funny Italian folktale about listening.
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Goodnight Moon
Goodnight Moon
PreK to 2nd grade
The bedtime classic that's been settling kids down for generations. Soft, rhythmic, and perfect for the last book of the night.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
PreK
A tiny caterpillar eats his way through the week until he's big, fat, and ready to become a butterfly. A beloved classic for counting, days of the week, and life cycles.
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Frog and Toad Together
Frog and Toad Together
Frog and Toad seriesPreK to 2nd grade
Five short stories about the best friendship in children's books. Perfect for new readers and for reading together.
Grandfather's Journey
Grandfather's Journey
K to 5th grade
Allen Say tells how his grandfather traveled from Japan to America and felt torn between two homes. A Caldecott winner about belonging.
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Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
1st to 4th grade
The d'Aulaires tell Lincoln's life story from his log cabin boyhood to the presidency. A Caldecott winning classic biography with rich, old fashioned art.
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Tar Beach
Tar Beach
K to 5th grade
On hot summer nights, Cassie dreams of flying over Harlem from her apartment rooftop. Faith Ringgold's quilt inspired classic about big dreams and family.
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Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Alexander seriesK to 3rd grade
From gum in his hair to lima beans at dinner, everything goes wrong for Alexander. Kids laugh in recognition, and it reminds everyone that some days are just like that.
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Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday
Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday
Alexander seriesPreK to 3rd grade
Grandparents give Alexander a dollar, and bit by bit he spends it on gum, bets, and fines until nothing is left. A hilarious, painless first lesson in saving money.
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A Bad Case of Stripes
A Bad Case of Stripes
K to 4th grade
Camilla worries so much about fitting in that she breaks out in stripes and wilder things, until she admits she loves lima beans. A vivid classic about being true to yourself.
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The Bunny Book
The Bunny Book
Busytown seriesPreK to 2nd grade
A baby bunny's family imagines what he might become, a farmer, a cowboy, a policeman, but he has his own sweet answer. A tender Little Golden Book about growing up.
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Everyone Poops
Everyone Poops
PreK
From elephants to fish to people, this classic shows that every living thing poops. Simple, matter of fact, and gently funny, it makes potty talk feel totally normal for little ones.
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The Giving Tree
The Giving Tree
PreK to 3rd grade
A tree gives a boy everything she has, from apples to shade, as he grows into an old man. Simple and moving, it opens wonderful conversations about love and giving.
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I Am a Bunny
I Am a Bunny
Busytown seriesPreK to 2nd grade
Nicholas the bunny shares his world through spring, summer, fall, and winter, chasing butterflies and watching snow fall. Simple, soothing, and gorgeous for the littlest listeners.
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A Pocket for Corduroy
A Pocket for Corduroy
Corduroy seriesPreK to 2nd grade
Corduroy wanders off at the laundromat looking for a pocket of his own and gets lost overnight, until Lisa finds him. A sweet, reassuring story about being loved just as you are.
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The Poky Little Puppy
The Poky Little Puppy
PreK to 2nd grade
Five puppies dig under the fence to explore, and the poky one always arrives home last, just in time for dessert. This Little Golden Book has charmed families for generations.
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Richard Scarry's Best First Book Ever
Richard Scarry's Best First Book Ever
Busytown seriesPreK to 2nd grade
Huckle Cat spends a busy day at home, school, and around town, introducing colors, numbers, and everyday words. A wonderful first book for toddlers and preschoolers.
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Richard Scarry's Best Storybook Ever
Richard Scarry's Best Storybook Ever
Busytown seriesPreK to 2nd grade
This big treasury gathers dozens of short, silly stories starring Scarry's beloved animals. Perfect for bedtime, with a quick tale for every night of the week.
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Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever
Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever
Busytown seriesPreK to 2nd grade
Huckle Cat, Lowly Worm, and friends label hundreds of everyday things, from kitchens to farms. Kids pore over the busy pages for hours, learning new words along the way.
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Richard Scarry's Busy, Busy Town
Richard Scarry's Busy, Busy Town
Busytown seriesPreK to 3rd grade
Follow Huckle Cat and Lowly Worm around Busytown as everyone works, builds, and plays. The crowded, funny pages reward every reread with something new to find.
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Richard Scarry's What Do People Do All Day?
Richard Scarry's What Do People Do All Day?
Busytown seriesPreK to 2nd grade
Busytown's animals show how farmers, doctors, builders, and bakers keep a town running. Packed with details and gentle humor, it makes kids curious about grownup jobs.
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Stellaluna
Stellaluna
PreK to 3rd grade
A baby fruit bat lands in a bird's nest and tries to live like a bird, until she finds her mother again. A gorgeous classic about friendship across differences.
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Tikki Tikki Tembo
Tikki Tikki Tembo
PreK to 3rd grade
When a boy with an extremely long name falls into a well, his little brother races for help but struggles to say it. Kids love chanting the name along with you.
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The Velveteen Rabbit
The Velveteen Rabbit
PreK to 2nd grade
A stuffed rabbit learns from the wise Skin Horse that being truly loved makes you Real. Tender and bittersweet, it is a beautiful way to talk with kids about love and loss.
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