Reading from a young age has been linked to stronger language development, better school readiness and improved cognitive skills. All that aside, let’s get to the point: reading is also fun!
I get asked quite a lot for recommendations on the top children’s books. Even young readers want a book that sticks with them – one that they don’t want to put down; the books that make them feel fulfilled. My list includes some of the best children’s books that every child should read!
Reading is about building language, memory, attention and emotional understanding – all in a way that feels like fun. And it’s also about opening up communication. Kids who love reading seek out conversations with their peers, teachers and carers – they want to talk about what they read in those pages. And that’s pretty awesome!
Here are a few top children’s books I keep coming back to for our young readers:
The Lion Inside
Rachel Bright & Jim Field
Publisher: Hachette Australia
This one works across ages, which is rare. It’s simple on the surface – a quiet mouse, a confident lion – but the rhythm, the repetition and the message come through without feeling overwhelming. It’s about confidence, but also about finding your voice in your own way. For younger readers, it builds sound recognition and memory through rhyme. For older kids, it opens up conversations about courage and identity without spelling it out. The Lion Inside is one of those books that grows with them, and it is perfect for children who are experiencing anxiety, social or confidence concerns. We have kept it on our bookshelf for years!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Eric Carle
Ages 0-4. Publisher: Penguin Random House
There’s a reason this book has been around for decades. It’s visual, tactile and structured in a way that makes early learning feel natural. Counting, days of the week, cause and effect – it’s all there, but it doesn’t feel like a lesson. Books like this support early cognitive development by combining words with patterns and images. That combination is what helps young brains make sense of information and hold onto it. It is fun, easy to read and relatable. The humour pulls kids in quickly, especially reluctant readers, and the short, snappy sentences help build confidence and reading stamina.
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
Michael Rosen & Helen Oxenbury
Ages 2-5. Publisher: Walker Books Australia
If you’ve ever read this out loud, you’ll know why it works. The repetition, the sounds and the movement are designed for participation. Kids don’t just listen, they join in, and this is so important in building that relationship with reading. The approach strengthens language pathways and helps with sequencing and recall, all while young readers think they’re just playing along.
The Faraway Tree series
Enid Blyton
Ages 5-9. Publisher: Hachette Australia
Who didn’t read this book as a child? It is whimsical and pure joy, and it allows the reader’s imagination to really develop. The Magic Faraway Tree is a step up from picture books, but still easy to follow. Each new world at the top of the tree keeps the story moving, and the characters are just different enough to stick in kids’ minds. At this stage, kids are building longer attention spans. Series-style storytelling helps with that. It also supports comprehension, as they begin to follow characters and storylines over time rather than in a single sitting.
WeirDo
Anh Do
Ages 6+. Publisher: Scholastic Australia
We love this series in our household! Written by Aussie author and all-round brilliant guy Ahn Do, it works especially well for kids who don’t naturally gravitate towards reading. It’s funny, a bit cheeky and easy to move through. The mix of text and illustrations helps break things up too, so it never feels overwhelming.
What this series does really well is build confidence. Short chapters, simple language and a strong, relatable main character mean kids can read independently and actually feel successful. And once that confidence is there, they’re far more likely to keep going. It’s often the series that turns a “reluctant reader” into a daily reader.
Deltora Quest
Emily Rodda
Ages 8-12. Publisher: Scholastic Australia
For pre-teens, this is the one I always suggest. It includes three distinct series of fantasy books, with multiple books in each. It’s fast-paced, a little darker and genuinely gripping. The story structure includes quests, puzzles and clues, keeping kids thinking as they read. They’re not just following a story; they’re solving it alongside the characters. This kind of reading builds critical thinking and inference skills. It asks them to connect dots, predict outcomes and stay engaged across a full series. And most importantly, it makes them want to keep turning the page.
Harry Potter series
J.K. Rowling
Ages 9+ (though the themes do become darker as the books continue through the series). Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
No list is complete without this series. I remember reading it as an adult and I couldn’t put it down. For young readers, the books grow with them, both in length and complexity, which helps build stamina and deeper comprehension over time.
There’s also a lot going on beneath the surface with themes of friendship, loyalty and identity. Together, this encourages kids to think beyond the plot. And once they’re in, there is no turning back!