15 classic children’s books even adults love

Real Simple
Real Simple Magazine
1 minute read
Updated 2:19 PM EDT, Thu August 21, 2014
"The Giving Tree," by Shel Silverstein. "As a child I loved the simple story and it has resonated with me more and more as an adult." — Samantha Sadler Layman
15 classic kids' books adults love —
"The Giving Tree," by Shel Silverstein. "As a child I loved the simple story and it has resonated with me more and more as an adult." — Samantha Sadler Layman
Harper Collins Publishers
"Ferdinand," by Munro Leaf. "My dad read it to me as a baby girl recovering in the hospital. We read together until his grandsons were born. And then we read to them. 'Just quietly under the cork tree.'" — Cindy Lee Claplanhoo
15 classic kids' books adults love —
"Ferdinand," by Munro Leaf. "My dad read it to me as a baby girl recovering in the hospital. We read together until his grandsons were born. And then we read to them. 'Just quietly under the cork tree.'" — Cindy Lee Claplanhoo
Grosset & Dunlap
"The Saggy Baggy Elephant," by Kathryn Jackson and Byron Jackson. "My grandma would read that to me when I was little. I was so proud when I could finally read it by myself." — Charmin Garst Savage
15 classic kids' books adults love —
"The Saggy Baggy Elephant," by Kathryn Jackson and Byron Jackson. "My grandma would read that to me when I was little. I was so proud when I could finally read it by myself." — Charmin Garst Savage
Golden Books
"Are You My Mother?" by P.D. Eastman. "'Are You My Mother?' showed love and opportunities were everywhere." — Denise Thompson
15 classic kids' books adults love —
"Are You My Mother?" by P.D. Eastman. "'Are You My Mother?' showed love and opportunities were everywhere." — Denise Thompson
RANDOM HOUSE-BEGINNER BOOKS
"Harold and the Purple Crayon," by Crockett Johnson. "I was so inspired by Harold's imagination and realized that books could take me anyplace I wanted to go, just like Harold." — Leslie Fischer
15 classic kids' books adults love —
"Harold and the Purple Crayon," by Crockett Johnson. "I was so inspired by Harold's imagination and realized that books could take me anyplace I wanted to go, just like Harold." — Leslie Fischer
HarperCollins
"The Poky Little Puppy," by Janette Sebring Lowrey. "My mom would read 'The Poky Little Puppy' to me when I was a kid. I was soon addicted to the written word." — Chrystal Hogan Hood
15 classic kids' books adults love —
"The Poky Little Puppy," by Janette Sebring Lowrey. "My mom would read 'The Poky Little Puppy' to me when I was a kid. I was soon addicted to the written word." — Chrystal Hogan Hood
Golden Books
"Go, Dog, Go!" by P.D. Eastman. "I still want the houseboat the dogs jump into the water from!!" — Julie McQueen
15 classic kids' books adults love —
"Go, Dog, Go!" by P.D. Eastman. "I still want the houseboat the dogs jump into the water from!!" — Julie McQueen
Random House/Beginner Books
"Madeline," by Ludwig Bemelmans. "I truly started imagining living all over the world — and so I have...." — Karin Thompson
15 classic kids' books adults love —
"Madeline," by Ludwig Bemelmans. "I truly started imagining living all over the world — and so I have...." — Karin Thompson
Viking Juvenile
"Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs," by Judi Barrett. "I have a master's degree in English and it's still one of my favorite books." — Jessica Kosowski Zandan
15 classic kids' books adults love —
"Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs," by Judi Barrett. "I have a master's degree in English and it's still one of my favorite books." — Jessica Kosowski Zandan
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
"Raggedy Ann & Andy," by Johnny Gruelle. "My mom ordered the Raggedy Ann & Andy series for me; they were my first hardcover books. I watched for them in the mail and devoured them, hiding from my five younger siblings." — Kim Bennett
15 classic kids' books adults love —
"Raggedy Ann & Andy," by Johnny Gruelle. "My mom ordered the Raggedy Ann & Andy series for me; they were my first hardcover books. I watched for them in the mail and devoured them, hiding from my five younger siblings." — Kim Bennett
Little Simon
"Little Bear," by Else Holmelund Minarik. "My first favorite book that I remember and still think about is Little Bear. There have been many books since then, but that is the one that I would read over and over and then read to my little sister. Sometimes I find it in a thrift store and have to open it up to see the pages." — Erin Almond
15 classic kids' books adults love —
"Little Bear," by Else Holmelund Minarik. "My first favorite book that I remember and still think about is Little Bear. There have been many books since then, but that is the one that I would read over and over and then read to my little sister. Sometimes I find it in a thrift store and have to open it up to see the pages." — Erin Almond
Harper Trophy
"The Five Chinese Brothers," by Claire Huchet Bishop. "I was just learning to read. I took it out of the library all the time. The librarian told me I should ask my parents to buy it for me!" — Charlene Sandone Weaver
15 classic kids' books adults love —
"The Five Chinese Brothers," by Claire Huchet Bishop. "I was just learning to read. I took it out of the library all the time. The librarian told me I should ask my parents to buy it for me!" — Charlene Sandone Weaver
Puffin
"The Snowy Day," by Ezra Jack Keats. "It was the first book that I encountered with characters whose skin color was the same hue as mine. It is also the first book that I have purchased for all of my great-nieces and -nephews." — Darlene Whi
15 classic kids' books adults love —
"The Snowy Day," by Ezra Jack Keats. "It was the first book that I encountered with characters whose skin color was the same hue as mine. It is also the first book that I have purchased for all of my great-nieces and -nephews." — Darlene Whi
Puffin
"Where the Sidewalk Ends," by Shel Silverstein. "I carried it around with me and read aloud to anyone who would listen (and some who wouldn't)!" — Meaghan Burke Proctor
15 classic kids' books adults love —
"Where the Sidewalk Ends," by Shel Silverstein. "I carried it around with me and read aloud to anyone who would listen (and some who wouldn't)!" — Meaghan Burke Proctor
HarperCollins
"Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day," by Judith Viorst."I wanted to go to Australia some days too." — Adrienne Bartle
15 classic kids' books adults love —
"Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day," by Judith Viorst."I wanted to go to Australia some days too." — Adrienne Bartle
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
15 classic kids' books adults love
Real Simple  — 

The most formative books may be those of your childhood: Dozens of Real Simple readers remember beloved children’s books that turned them on to reading. They reveal why in their own words. For more classic children’s books beloved by adults, visit Real Simple.

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