Parents are always eager to introduce their kids to new activities – both physical and mental. There is no denying that physical activities like swimming or cycling have remarkable health benefits. But, the mental health of a child is equally important. In the modernized digital environment that kids are brought up in, parents should realize the influence of books.
Reading a book has proved to be a healthy habit for brain growth. Especially for young kids, brain development reaches its peak. Around age 5, a child’s neural network will be equipped to produce millions of neural connections every second. Books, apart from being fantastic sources of knowledge, serve as the right exercise to pump your brain cells. Therefore, start ‘em young!
10 Best Classic Children’s Books! 📖
I have listed 10 classic books that would keep your young ones occupied for a while. For every book, I have mentioned the reading levels of the books and the appropriate age for reading them as well.
Reading Levels:
- Level 1 – Beginner to reading
- Level 2 – Reading with help
- Level 3 – Reading alone
- Level 4 – Advanced reading
- Level 5 – Advanced reading with complex sentences
1. Aladdin
Aladdin is one of the most famous folklore from the collection of tales – The Arabian Nights. There have been several cartoons and movies based on the story. But I still distinctly remember reading a small book about an urchin and his magical lamp. The book kindles the imagination among children as the tale contains heavy patches of fantasy and adventure. You can get the book here! 📖
Reading Level: 3
Reading Age: 5-8 years
Rating: 3/5
2. Jungle Book
Rudyard Kipling wrote an anthology of short stories called The Jungle Book. Based on his inspirations from the Indian landscape, he framed the central characters. Mowgli (a deserted kid protected by the wolves in the jungle), Raksha (matron of the wolf pack), Baloo (a bear), Bagheera (a panther), Shere Khan (a tiger, antagonist) are the renowned anthropomorphic characters that will help the kids understand the rules of the jungle (real world). You can get the book here! 📖
Reading Level: 3
Reading Age: 5-8 years
Rating: 3.5/5
3. Alice in Wonderland
Ever heard of the phrase “down the rabbit hole”? It is a metaphor for a complicated situation, which could prove to get even more bizarre – be it good or bad. Well, the phrase is from Lewis Carroll’s nonsensical novel Alice in Wonderland. The original novel has several controversial interpretations, some of which have been reflected in live-action movies. But the children’s adaptation of the book will present itself as more of a fantasy and adventurous story. You can get the book here! 📖
Reading Level: 4
Reading Age: 4-7 years
Rating: 4/5
4. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Sometimes, positive messages about virtue are not enough. Children need to understand undesirable traits like pride and envy. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a perfect book to highlight the negative emotions in humans. Queen, an evil character, grows envious of her step-daughter Snow White’s beauty. The German fairytale is a story of how Snow White, with the help of the Seven Dwarfs, exacts revenge over the evil queen. You can get the book here! 📖
Reading Level: 4
Reading Age: 5-8 years
Rating: 2.5/5
5. The Wizard of Oz
Most of us adults are familiar with the title “The Wizard of Oz”. It is majorly because of the movie by the same name. This children’s novel could be fittingly declared as the American counterpart to Alice in Wonderland. It has got fantasy and adventure elements throughout its plot. The central theme around which the story revolves is self-discovery and contentment. You can get the book here! 📖
Reading Level: 4
Reading Age: 5-8 years
Rating: 3/5
6. Sleeping Beauty
The story has numerous variations with slight differences as per the publisher’s discretion. One aspect to consider is that these stories are primarily folklores spread from generation to generation. Sleeping Beauty, even though it has several variations, the common moral of the story is true love and passion never fails. It is not one of the most appealing books. But still, it is a classic story for any child. You can get the book here! 📖
Reading Level: 2
Reading Age: 5-8 years
Rating: 2.5/5
7. Little Red Riding Hood
Like many folklores, this story has many variations. But this is different because of censorship. Little Red Riding Hood ventures into the woods to meet her grandmother. A cunning wolf disguises and plans to eat her. In the recent censored books, the wolf locks the grandmother in the closet and eats. But a hunter comes to the rescue and saves the day. I would bet this story is still relevant to emphasize the need for caution among children. You can get the book here! 📖
Reading Level: 2
Reading Age: 5-8 years
Rating: 3.5/5
8. Robin Hood
Robin Hood was the name that came to my mind when thinking about vigilante justice (Even before I was introduced to Batman). In fact, Robin Hood is still the face of a hero doing good and helping society at the expense of carrying on unlawful activities. Such is the impact of the story and the titular character. Introducing the book to young children will point out the fact that whatever is legal doesn’t have to be moral. Sometimes, we have to fight the authority to do a good thing. Of course, in a civil manner. It is about instilling the ethical idea of caring for society at large. A must-read! You can get the book here! 📖
Reading Level: 5
Reading Age: 9-10 years
Rating: 4.5/5
9. The Elves and the Shoemaker
The story of a shoemaker being grateful to the elves who helped him during difficult times is an influential idea. This story is one among the collection of tales. It makes the young readers realize the support they receive from their friends and family. Apart from thanking and feeling grateful, this tale would influence the children to develop the idea of helping fellow beings. You can get the book here! 📖
Reading Level: 3
Reading Age: 5-8 years
Rating: 3.5/5
10. Peter and the Wolf
Originally a Russian musical composition, Peter and the Wolf has been recreated several times in other formats. In essence, the story revolves around a young boy who, despite his grandfather’s warning, goes on to rescue an innocent duck from a wolf. Sometimes, we need to take calculated risks for greater glory. The book conveys this subtly. You can get the book here! 📖
Reading Level: 4
Reading Age: 4-7 years
Rating: 3/5
Verdict: The storybooks mentioned above are classics. Some of them have been in existence for centuries as songs, folklores, and fairy tales. Most of them have variations as they were orally communicated in multiple geo-linguistic regions. Much later, writers like The Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault collected, interpreted, wrote, and published them as books. As stated, books could profoundly influence children. Due to the heavy indulgence of fantasy and imaginary ideas, these fairy tales and folklores engage the young readers. All of them will have a moral to teach. These altruistic ideas are very crucial in defining the character traits of children. They even will help in the development of a healthy functioning society.