A devoted reader and fellow mom asked me to write out my favorite authors for different ages and stages. I hope this list is useful to both her and you!
I’ve tested them out in the classroom, with children I have nannied and of course, my own son. The pictures of the books link to my previous reviews, so make sure to click the images to read the reviews. Also, It’s hard to divide these authors by age, so it’s not definitive. But most of these authors have books for all ages so check them all out.
Babies
Sandra Boynton
Karen Katz
Bill Martin Jr.
Margaret Wise Brown
Toddlers
Eric Carle
Donald Crews
 
Todd Parr
Monica Wellington
Preschoolers
Robert Munsch
Laura Numeroff
Anne Rockwell
David Shannon
There are so many authors and books I love and consider must haves, leave a comment if you want to share your favorite authors, or share on my Facebook page! Kids can never have too many books or be read to too much!
For more quick tips on helping your child learn to read check out my book; Raising A Rock-Star Reader. It is packed with fun ideas for families, book lists, and advice for parents.
Jennifer McNichols says
Great list! I love Margaret Wise Brown. To it, I'd add Maurice Sendak, Ruth Krauss, and Ezra Jack Keats. But that's off the top of my head. I'm sure I could think of a dozen more "must have" authors! It's so hard to choose!
Halftime Lessons says
Wonderful list, Allison!
I have a tough time as a substandard Daddy selecting good books for my kids…this is such a huge help.
Jay
Allie says
Ezra Jack Keats!! I havent' gotten my son into him yet , but I need to! Sendak is big here too, last night my son informed me he wanted to me a "Wild Thing" for Halloween, of course he picked the one with all the horns and impossible costume… I am secretly hoping he goes back to wanting to be a UPS man.
Charlotte says
I love most of those books, but there are some that I haven't seen before. My kids and I love Audrey Wood. I think she is my personal favorite.
Allie says
Jay- a sub standard dad? Please! Glad you liked the list!
Allie says
Audrey Wood ! Yes another great one for sure!
Heather @ Not a DIY Life says
No wonder this post took so long!
We have a lot of the books you pictured, and I am constantly discovering more treasures by some of our favorite authors. I'll definitely take time to click thru and read reviews. Thanks!
Tatiana says
Bookmarked! Thanks for the great list.
Marialexandra says
Love your list! Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, that was my son's favorite book in Kinder, and my daughter got Take a Mouse to the Movies for Christmas last year from her Kinder teacher and she loved it. Great suggestions!
Karen Lisa says
This is a great list. I'd also add Maurice Sendak & Ezra Jack Keats. My baby is still a baby so he's not old enough for their stories, but I've got the books ready for when he is. 🙂
His favorite books now at 9 months old are Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney and Richard Scarry's I am a Bunny. Oh, and you can't forget Runaway Bunny, which you already have listed… he loves that one too. 🙂
Yes, we like bunny books. 🙂
Tara @ Feels like home says
So true! We have most of these books, and we love them a lot. You did show me a couple of new authors, though. We'll have to look for them at the library.
Well done, as usual!
Jen says
Great choices! Thanks for all the work you did to bring us this list:)
Amy Kraft says
Fabulous list. We're especially fans of David Shannon and Sandra Boynton. My go-to author, though, for babies and toddlers is Leslie Patricelli. I love her adorable baby illustrations and particularly like the book Yummy Yucky.
krazzymommy says
Great post – thank you!
Infant Bibliophile says
I think you did a fantastic job! Those seem perfect to me. Some my son loves more than others, but that's true for every child. For babies, I often recommend Nina Laden's board books too, just because they were among his first favorites. Oh yes, and Richard Scarry is probably his consistently favorite author now at 21 months.
My son is young for Ezra Jack Keats too, but he loves a recent one we got of his called My Dog is Lost (it's a bilingual book so also Mi Perro Se Ha Perdido). If he likes dogs, he might like that?
Ha re: the Wild Things costume! I saw an adorable UPS man costume last year and really wanted to get it (not that you'd need to buy a costume for that).
Infant Bibliophile says
PS We haven't read Monica Wellington or Anne Rockwell, so thank you for those suggestions.
Joyce says
We love all those authors too!! Those books are fantastic.
Jackie says
Great list and great books! I love books!! My grandma was a librarian when I was little and would order copies of the latest titles for my cousins, my brother and I. We had a book called No, No, Natalie that I loved. I saved it and my toddlers have all loved it, too. I don't even know if it can be found anymore. Anyway, thanks for your hard work!
MommySecrets says
I love your list, and I'm going to link to it at my blog – http://www.theassetedge.blogspot.com.
If any of your readers are interested in a free booklet with 64 preschool books that promote healthy child development, I'd love to share it with them. They can email me at ann(at)theassetedge(dot)net to get a free copy.
I also just co-authored a book that might interest your readers – Building Character from the Start: 201 Activities to Foster Creativity, Literacy and Play in K-3. It fits your style of teaching well!
Blessings,
Ann Saylor
Jennifer says
We love a lot of the books on your list. I can imagine how hard it was to write given the volume out there.
Good Night Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann's has been loved by my kids from birth to pre-school. You can do so many things with it from them just looking at pictures to you making up the story to matching gates with the keys. Awesome book.
Melissa says
I am a book lover and so my little ones have had me reading to them since they were babies. I love all of these books on your list. My son,who is two, just loves to have mommy read to him-he doesn't have any prefrences yet. But my daughter, who is 4, absoultly adores the Fancy Nancy books. It has expanded her vocabulary and I hear her using all the big word in that book all the time. If anyone has little girls that love fancy things and big words-the Fancy Nancy books are the best.
Summer says
I love Todd Parr with a passion! Ever sine I was given The Peace Book I've started collecting all of his books for my kids.
Teaching with Picture Books says
I love this list! We read many of the authors you have highlighted, but there were a few new ones we will have to check out! Another great author for preschoolers is Doreen Cronin. My son loved her books.
Thanks, Allie!
Annette says
A big thank you!!
cabadov says
A great list, though I must admit I've never read Todd Parr. Two of our favourite authors are Mo Willems and Lauren Child.
Rhymes and More.. says
great list…my son loves Dr seuss and maisy books too…
Mena says
I love your site. So simply and neat! Great suggestions for books and love the pic! Do you know that you are wonderful? 🙂 Wish I had a neighbor like you. hehe
VOTING FOR YA!
Just Me says
Love it! What about Leo Lioni – he's a favorite in our home. And I agree with Allie – Ezra Jack Keats is awesome as well. Love your blog!
Josie and Wayne says
One of my three year olds favorite books to read is our big book of nursery rhymes and fairy tales. She loves the gingerbread man and jack and jill. I love your list. Thanks for all you put into helping us.
Brimful Curiosities says
Mo Willems – big winner around here and Kevin Henkes. Also, I Spy.
Allie says
I totally forgot Henkes, I had the pictures all ready in the folder too ! Mommy brain ?
Yes Kevin Henkes is one of my all time favorites- Julius Baby of the World makes me laugh hysterically every time I read it. I showcased him a while back here :
https://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2009/04/author-showcase.html
Staci says
What a great list! Thank you Allie.
My DD (2-1/2) is totally enthralled with Lucy Cousins and the "Maisy" books right now. She thinks if we read something in one of these books that she has done it in real life. Just the other day asked me "Remember when I went to the museum with Maisy.?" LOL!
Kim Dolibois says
My newest favorite is author Jez Alborough, who writes Hug, Tall, Duck in the Truck, among others.
terrie says
my girls love love the winnie the witch series. captivating story line and amazing illustrations.