I love audiobooks. I am a busy working mom of four, and audiobooks make it possible for me to read a lot more books than I would be able to get through if I just waited for time to sit down and read.

That being said, not all audiobooks are created equal. I’ve listened to plenty of audiobooks that are mostly meh and some that are just awful. (If you know, you know.)

But I’ve also listened to several audiobooks that are so good, I wish I could go back and have that experience again for the first time.

I know it can sometimes be frustrating trying to find books that are great on audio, which is why I put together this list of the best audiobooks.

A good narrator can’t make a bad story good, but they can make a good story come alive. That’s the case with all of the books on this list.

I wanted to provide a good, long list that covers lots of different genres, so you would be sure to find something that would interest you. I’ve broken up the list by genre to make it easier to find the books that will likely appeal to you the most. That being said, you really can’t go wrong with any of the books on this list.

Every book on this list is an audiobook that I have personally listened to and loved.

If you’ve ever wondered if listening to audiobooks is the same as reading, check out this in-depth blog post I wrote on the subject.

(I will keep this list updated as new audiobooks make the cut, so bookmark this page so you know where to go next time you’re looking for a great book on audio.)

Happy listening!

Classic Literature Audiobooks

If you are intimidated by classic literature, listening to these books on audio can be a great way to make them easier to digest.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Whenever someone asks me for a book that is great on audio, this is the first book I always recommend. Not only is it one of my all-time favorite books, but Rosamund Pike’s reading of this book is so good that you will have a newfound respect for Pike’s acting abilities. If I didn’t know better, I would think that it was done with a full cast. Her ability to make her voice sound like Elizabeth Bennet one minute and then an old man the next minute is truly remarkable. She makes this book come alive. However, you can only get her rendition of Pride and Prejudice through the Audible app because it is one of their exclusive recordings. But I promise it is worth it. (I’ve included links to other versions on Libro.fm and Chirp if you don’t have an Audible account.)

Note: If you don’t already have an Audible account, they often have really good deals for new members. At the time of this writing, they have a deal where you can get the first 3 months for $0.99.

• Publication Year: 1813
• Length: 11 hours 35 minutes
• Narrator: Rosamund Pike

Where to Buy:

Audible

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

Anne of Green Gables is obviously one of the best books ever written, and I really love this rendition by actress Rachel McAdams. I think she does a great job of capturing all of Anne’s wild emotions and the other characters as well. Anne of Green Gables tells the story of a 12-year-old girl who comes to live with a brother and sister on Prince Edward Island. While they were expecting a boy, they decided to embrace Anne and adopt her. In many ways, they needed her as much as she needed them. This one is only available from Audible. (I’ve included links to other versions on Libro.fm and Chirp if you don’t have an Audible account.)

• Publication Year:
• Length: 9 hours 22 minutes
• Narrator: Rachel McAdams

Where to Buy:

Audible

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

There’s a reason why so many consider To Kill a Mockingbird the Great American Novel. If you haven’t read it, definitely put it on your TBR. I finally re-read it as an adult just last year, after only ever reading it in the 10th grade. (I don’t know about you, but I hardly remember the books I read in high school.) I now get why people literally name their children after Atticus Finch. He is definitely one of the best literary characters ever written. I listened to the version read by actress Sissy Spacek, and I thought it was excellent.

• Publication Year:
• Length: 12 hours 17 minutes
• Narrator: Sissy Spacek

Where to Buy:

Audible

Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw

If you are ever looking for a quick and fun listen, listen to Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw. I really enjoyed the version read by Stephen Fry, who is both a popular author and audiobook narrator. Pygmalion is actually a play, which is why it works so well in this format. You may know this story from the movie My Fair Lady with Audrey Hepburn. Language expert Professor Henry Higgins makes a bet that he can transform a poor girl, Eliza Doolittle, by teaching her to speak and act like a duchess. After he succeeds, Eliza feels lost about her future because she no longer fits in with her old life but isn’t truly accepted by the upper class. In Greek mythology, Pygmalion was a sculptor who decided to create the perfect woman. Aphrodite made her come to life, and Pygmalion married her.

• Publication Year:
• Length: 2 hours 38 minutes
• Narrator: Stephen Fry

Where to Buy:

Audible

Contemporary Fiction Audiobooks

We All Live Here by JoJo Moyes

I’m a sucker for a good British narrator, and I thought this story was great on audio. Lila’s life is a disaster. Her husband just traded her in for the local bombshell, her mother has passed away, she’s juggling parenting her two daughters, and her well-meaning but unwelcome stepfather has officially moved in. Just when she thought things couldn’t get worse, her long-absent biological father, who is also a famous American actor, shows up on her doorstep. Now, this writer has to somehow channel all the angst, humor, and found-family chaos into a manuscript for a book she hasn’t even started yet. Oh, and did I mention that she’s slowly starting to entertain the idea of dating? Great if you’re in the mood for a lighter read with a decent amount of depth.

• Publication Year: 2025
• Length: 12 hours 38 minutes
• Narrator: Jenna Coleman

Where to Buy:

Audible

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

If you are in the mood for something with a bit of humor, check out The Husbands. Lauren is a single woman living in London who gets a huge surprise when she comes home one night to find a man named Michael claiming to be her husband, even though she’s never met him. When Michael goes into the attic, he vanishes, and a different husband comes down, along with a slightly altered version of her life. Lauren soon learns her attic is a magical machine that offers her an endless supply of husbands and parallel lives. Is there a “perfect” husband out there? If swapping lives is as easy as changing a lightbulb, when do you stop looking for something better and just start living the life you have? It’s a funny, strange story that makes you think about relationships and all the possibilities in life. This one also has a great British narrator who brings the book to life.

• Publication Year: 2024
• Length: 10 hours 30 minutes
• Narrator: Miranda Raison

Where to Buy:

Audible

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Elizabeth Acevedo writes YA novels in free verse. She is also a free verse performer. Because of this, she actually reads her own books, and they are so good in this format. Her books are engaging stories that are beautifully written. The Poet X tells the story of Xiomara, who lives in Harlem with her strict Catholic parents. She starts writing poetry as a way to express her feelings about her crush, her family drama, and figuring out who she is. When she joins a poetry club at school, she finally finds her voice and the courage to stand up for herself. While I don’t always enjoy YA novels, I really enjoy Acevedo’s.

• Publication Year: 2018
• Length: 3 hours 30 minutes
• Narrator: Elizabeth Acevedo

Where to Buy:

Audible

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

I think this is the first novel of Acevedo’s that I read. Just like The Poet X, this one is also excellent. With the Fire on High follows Emoni, a teen mom in Philadelphia who has a gift for cooking and dreams of becoming a chef, but she’s struggling to balance raising her daughter, school, and helping her abuela with money. When she gets a chance to join her culinary class on a trip to Spain, she has to figure out how to chase her dreams while still taking care of her family and dealing with a new romance. You will be rooting for Emoni.

• Publication Year: 2019
• Length: 7 hours 27 minutes
• Narrator: Elizabeth Acevedo

Where to Buy:

Audible

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

Yes. All of Acevedo’s novels deserve to be on this list. Clap When You Land tells the story of two girls in the Dominican Republic and in New York who discover they’re sisters after their dad dies in a plane crash, even though neither knew the other existed. The book follows them as they deal with their grief, anger about their father’s secret double life, and slowly build a relationship with each other across the distance between their two very different worlds. This story is inspired by American Airlines Flight 587, which crashed in Queens, New York, in November 2001, just two months after 9/11. The plane was heading to the Dominican Republic when it went down, killing many Dominican Americans who were traveling between New York and the island, which really shook both communities. In this fictional story, the two girls’ father is killed in that plane crash.

• Publication Year: 2020
• Length: 5 hours 32 minutes
• Narrator: Elizabeth Acevedo

Where to Buy:

Audible

My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan

Julia Whelan is a very popular audiobook narrator who has read books by authors such as Emily Henry and Taylor Jenkins Reid. She’s also an author of two books, and this one is my favorite. My Oxford Year is about Ella, an American woman who goes to Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar for a year to study. She ends up falling hard for Jamie, who is one of her instructors. Their romance gets complicated when a heartbreaking secret comes out that changes everything, and they have to figure out if love is enough to get them through the tough stuff life throws at them. Netflix did a movie based on this book that’s worth watching, but it’s not as good as the book.

• Publication Year: 2018
• Length: 9 hours 58 minutes
• Narrator: Julia Whelan

Where to Buy:

Audible

Historical Fiction Audiobooks

James by Percival Everett

This is a super interesting book, and the audio version is excellent. James is a retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain from the perspective of Jim, a runaway slave who becomes Finn’s companion when they both escape down the Mississippi River. James offers an interesting take on slave culture, along with some surprising twists and turns. If you haven’t read Huckleberry Finn yet, I would definitely read that book first, or a lot of this book won’t make sense. Huck Finn is one of my all-time favorite books, so I was super excited to read James. (If you are intimidated by Huck Finn, it happens to be one of the books on my list of easy-to-read classics.)

• Publication Year: 2024
• Length: 7 hours 49 minutes
• Narrator: Dominic Hoffman

Where to Buy:

Audible

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

This was one of my favorite books of 2024, and I thought it was great on audio. When the book opens, it’s 1972, and construction workers find a skeleton at the bottom of a well, revealing a deep, long-hidden secret about a community that protected a deaf, orphaned boy in the 1930s. The story weaves together the lives of the people who ran the little grocery store, the struggles they faced, and how they banded together to keep a terrible injustice hidden and look out for one another. It’s a tale of secrets, community, and the surprising ways people find kindness in difficult times. I loved all of the characters in this book and how real they come across.

• Publication Year: 2023
• Length: 12 hours 21 minutes
• Narrator: Dominic Hoffman

Where to Buy:

Audible

If I Were You by Lynn Austin

I think this is an underrated historical fiction book that more people should read. If you enjoy authors such as Kristin Hannah, I think Lynn Austin might be better. (Listen to this one and let me know what you think.) This was another fave from 2024, and probably one of my all-time favorite historical fiction novels. If I Were You is an epic novel set against the backdrop of World War II England, following the intense and complicated friendship between two polar opposites: Audrey Clarkson, a shy aristocrat, and Eve Dawson, the bold daughter of a maid. The story, framed by a mysterious encounter in 1950s America where Eve is impersonating Audrey, traces their lives from childhood through the war. It’s a tale of survival, envy, forgiveness, and faith that plunges the reader into the challenges of wartime London. The pre-war part of this novel totally gave me Downton Abbey vibes.

• Publication Year: 2020
• Length: 13 hours 35 minutes
• Narrator: Sarah Zimmerman

Where to Buy:

Audible

The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher

Do you ever make an assumption about what you think a book is about based on its title and cover, and turn out to be totally wrong? That was the case for me with this book. I totally thought this book was a summer read that mostly takes place at the beach, but I was totally wrong. Yes, part of it does take place on the coast in Spain and the coast in England, but that’s like a tenth of the story, if even that. In fact, about a quarter of the way through the book, the story takes us back to the beginning of World War 2 and reads like a historical fiction novel. (Which is why I put it in this category.) The Shell Seekers tells the story of Penelope Keeling, now an older woman, who is in possession of several highly valuable paintings by her artist father, one of which is titled “The Shell Seekers.” Two of her three children only see dollar signs, but as the story unfolds, we start to learn that the value these paintings have for Penelope is something money can’t buy. I loved this story and loved Penelope! This is my second Pilcher book, and I loved both.

• Publication Year: 1987
• Length: 19 hours 26 minutes
• Narrator: Hayley Atwell

Where to Buy:

Audible

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I’m convinced this book was written to be an audiobook. Whenever I see someone buying the physical book, I want to tell them to listen to the audiobook. This book reads like a fake documentary about a fictional ’70s rock band inspired by Fleetwood Mac. (Imagine reading the transcript from a documentary. It just wouldn’t be as good.) What really helps this audiobook come alive is that it is performed by a full cast. I know full casts have become more common, but when this book was released in 2019, it wasn’t. (After you listen to the audiobook, go watch the series on Prime Video. I thought it was well-done.)

• Publication Year: 2019
• Length: 9 hours 3 minutes
• Narrator: Jennifer Beals, Benjamin Bratt, Judy Greer, Pablo Schreiber

Where to Buy:

Audible

Literary Fiction Audiobooks

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

This is a very popular book, but the best way to read it is to listen to it. Remarkably Bright Creatures tells the story of an unlikely friendship between Tova, a lonely widow who cleans an aquarium, and Marcellus, a super-smart giant Pacific octopus who lives there. In the audio version, Marcellus gets his own voice actor, who does a great job of capturing this character’s humor. Initially, Marcellus almost seems like the comic relief of the story, but as the story unfolds, we learn there is a lot more going on with him. This turns out to be a sweet story of friendship and healing. If you are looking for a heartwarming read with an older protagonist, definitely pick this one up. So good!

• Publication Year: 2022
• Length: 11 hours 16 minutes
• Narrator: Marin Ireland

Where to Buy:

Audible

The People We Keep by Allison Larkin

This is another book read by Julia Whelan that I really enjoyed. April isn’t exactly an orphan because her dad is still alive, but she is so neglected that she knows she won’t be missed when she decides to skip town. April can play the guitar and she can sing. She travels from town to town, performing at open mic nights, and slowly builds a new life for herself by finding kindness and forming unexpected connections with the people she meets along the way. April is one of the characters you really root for. I love a found family story, and this one has all the FF vibes.

• Publication Year: 2021
• Length: 11 hours 8 minutes
• Narrator: Julia Whelan

Where to Buy:

Audible

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

Beartown centers on the junior ice hockey team in a small, isolated town in Sweden where hockey is their whole world. When star player Kevin commits a sexual assault against Maya, the daughter of the team’s general manager, the town is ripped apart. The book explores themes of loyalty, justice, and the moral failure that arises when youth sports are elevated above everything else, forcing the community to confront its own values. The audiobook is read by Marin Ireland, who might be one of my favorite narrators. (She’s also one of the narrators for Remarkably Bright Creatures above.)

• Publication Year: 2017
• Length: 13 hours 11 minutes
• Narrator: Marin Ireland

Where to Buy:

Audible

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

This is one of my favorite novels I read in 2025. I had a serious book hangover after finishing this book. The Goldfinch is a survival story about 13-year-old Theo Decker, whose life is forever changed after his mother is killed in a terrorist attack at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. His father left the family months earlier and is nowhere to be found. He gets taken in by his friend’s family, and he starts to form other friendships, some positive and some negative, that come to play a major role in his life. I found myself caring so much about what was going to happen to Theo, and I loved the interesting characters that came into his life. The Goldfinch is more than 700 pages in print and 32 hours on audio. I think this is a case in which the excellent narration made getting through this beefy book much more manageable.

• Publication Year: 2013
• Length: 32 hours 24 minutes
• Narrator: David Pittu

Where to Buy:

Audible

Mystery and Thriller Audiobooks

The Night Swim by Megan Goldin

This book and the sequel (below) are also books that I believe are designed to be listened to, not read. If you are a fan of true crime podcasts, these books are for you. The Night Swim follows Rachel Krall, a true crime podcaster who goes to a small coastal town to cover a rape trial between a champion swimmer and a teenage girl. While there, she starts getting mysterious letters asking her to investigate a 25-year-old drowning case of a girl named Jenny. As Rachel digs into both cases, she discovers the two stories are connected in disturbing ways. The story jumps between Rachel’s investigation, the current trial, and Jenny’s story. What makes this book so good on audio is that whenever Krall records a podcast episode, it sounds like a real podcast with a different actor, bumper music, and everything. I don’t read a lot of thrillers, but this is a series I have really enjoyed.

• Publication Year: 2020
• Length: 10 hours 25 minutes
• Narrator: Bailey Car, January LaVoy

Where to Buy:

Note: There’s one weird thing about this book: it is really hard to find on audio. I’m pretty sure when I first listened to it that it was on Audible, but you can’t get it on Audible or any other major audiobook app. However, I was able to find it through my library. My library uses Cloudlibrary for its ebooks and audiobooks. If you can’t find it, it’s totally fine to skip this book and move on to the next one.

Dark Corners by Megan Goldin

This is the sequel to The Night Swim and is done in the same format on audio. The only real connection between the two books is Rachel Krall. The stories are otherwise unconnected, which means you don’t need to read them in order. If you can’t find The Night Swim (see my note above), you can totally start with this one. This book is my favorite of the two (and I’m really hoping she writes more). In Dark Corners, Rachel Krall is invited by the FBI to help with a case involving a missing social media influencer, and they believe that a man in prison is somehow connected. This book has lots of layers and twists and turns you don’t see coming.

• Publication Year: 2022
• Length: 10 hours 45 minutes
• Narrator: André Santana, January LaVoy, Samantha Desz

Where to Buy:

Audible

Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson

When Malcolm Kershaw had his first job at a bookstore, he was helping the owner get the store’s blog up and running, and he wrote a blog post titled “Eight Perfect Murders.” It was a list of blog posts in which he lists mystery novels in which the murders are the most difficult to solve because they could easily be mistaken for an accident or suicide. When Eight Perfect Murders opens, Mal is now the owner of his own mystery bookstore in Boston. He receives a visit from an FBI agent who thinks his old blog post may be the inspiration for a series of recent killings. Since Mal has knowledge of all of the books in the post, he starts helping the FBI agent with her investigation. This one is so good, and it has a lot of twists and turns I did not see coming. There’s more I wish I could say, but I don’t want to give away too much. You have to read it!

• Publication Year: 2020
• Length: 8 hours 3 minutes
• Narrator: Graham Halstead

Where to Buy:

Audible

In the Woods by Tana French

This was my first Tana French novel, and I will definitely be reading more. One of the things that impressed me about this book is just how well written it is, and it was also excellent on audio. There are two mysteries in this novel. One is present-day, and one is in 1984. The novel opens in 1984, when two children go missing in the woods near Dublin, Ireland, and one of the children who was with them is found alive. The one found alive is Rob Ryan, who is now a detective who gets called to investigate the murder of a teenage girl who is found dead, not far from where he lived as a boy. The book is as much about Rob as it is about the murder that he and his partner, Cassie, are called to investigate. This is book one in the Dublin Murder Squad series.

• Publication Year: 2007
• Length: 20 hours 24 minutes
• Narrator: Steven Crossley

Where to Buy:

Audible

Science Fiction Audiobooks

The Martian by Andy Weir

Mark Watney is an astronaut who gets left behind on Mars when his crew thinks he’s dead after a bad storm and has to leave in an emergency. Using his skills as a botanist and engineer, he figures out how to grow potatoes in Martian soil, make water, and survive alone on Mars while NASA scrambles to figure out how to rescue him. The whole book is full of his funny journal entries where he solves one deadly problem after another using science, duct tape, and a lot of dark humor to keep himself sane. Audiobook narrator Wil Wheaton has the perfect voice for Watney. Only available from Audible. (Many have said that Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is also excellent on audio. I have this one on my TBR, and I will update here once I listen to it.)

• Publication Year: 2014
• Length: 10 hours 59 minutes
• Narrator: Wil Wheaton

Where to Buy:

Audible

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

In anticipation of the movie, I decided to listen to this one before it hit theaters. Soooo many people have said this is the best book on audio. My conclusion is that it is excellent in this format and the preferred way to read this book. Here’s why: There’s a character in this book who really needs his own voice, and that is reflected in this audiobook. In fact, I have heard people say they started reading the physical book first, but they couldn’t imagine what this particular character would sound like, and the audiobook really made him come alive. I will also say that if you’ve seen the movie, loved it, and found yourself wanting more, you will get it by listening to this audiobook. The other thing to know about this book is that it is very sciency. It really gets into the weeds (more than the movie), but this is also necessary to solve the problems they are facing. I loved it all!

Note: Just like The Martian, this one is only available from Audible.

• Publication Year: 2021
• Length: 16 hours 10 minutes
• Narrator: Ray Porter

Where to Buy:

Audible

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Never Let Me Go tells the story of Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy, who grow up at a special boarding school in England. As the story unfolds, the students there start to learn the truth about their existence. While it doesn’t seem like it at first glance, this is actually a dystopian novel. There is a struggle with identity, friendship, love, and what it means to be human. It’s a story about acceptance while still finding meaning in life.

• Publication Year: 2005
• Length: 9 hours 40 minutes
• Narrator: Rosalyn Landor

Where to Buy:

Audible

Non-Fiction Audiobooks

Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell has a way of picking up on the nuances that most people miss, which is one of the reasons I find him super interesting. Talking to Strangers is especially good on audio because you feel like you are listening to a podcast. Talking to Strangers explores why people often misunderstand or misjudge others, and how these misunderstandings can lead to serious consequences. He uses real stories like spy cases, the Sandra Bland traffic stop, and Bernie Madoff’s fraud to show how our natural tendency to believe people and misread their emotions gets us into serious trouble.

• Publication Year: 2019
• Length: 8 hours 42 minutes
• Narrator: Malcolm Gladwell

Where to Buy:

Audible

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

This is one of my favorite books I read in 2019. This is a memoir by Lori Gottlieb, a therapist who goes to therapy after a tough breakup. She tells that story along with the story of four of her patients and what they are struggling with. Read with the tissue box close by. While there is a lot of humor throughout this book, this one also had me in tears. Even though this is a long one, I felt like it flew by on audio.

• Publication Year: 2019
• Length: 14 hours 21 minutes
• Narrator: Brittany Pressley

Where to Buy:

Audible

If you’ve listened to any books on audio that you think are especially good, please share below!

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The post The 25 Best Audiobooks I’ve Ever Listened To (So Far) appeared first on Passion of Audiobooks.

My youngest child is in one of my favorite ages for kids when it comes to books. She is seven, going on eight, which makes her the perfect age for reading some of the best children’s classics, and honestly, I might be enjoying it more than she is.

That prompted me to put together this book list because I think a lot of adults may be seriously missing out.

There’s a very good chance you read at least some of these books as a kid in school or on your own, but there’s something about returning to these books as adults that is almost magical.

Why Should Adults Read Children’s Classics?

Here are just some of the reasons I think adults should consider reading children’s classic literature:

• You need a palate cleanser. Let’s say you’ve just finished reading a tome or an intense book, like a thriller, that was amazing, but you feel like you need a palate cleanser in between. These books are the perfect antidote.
• You are in a reading slump. Let’s say no book is doing it for you, and you are in one of those dreaded reading slumps. Grab one of the books below to pull you out.
• You’re trying to get back into reading. If you want to start making reading a regular part of your life again, these books are a perfect place to start. I think it’s because they are easy to read while also having enough depth to make it enjoyable, whetting the appetite and making you want more.
• You need a comfort read. I’ve been dealing with grief this year, and the last thing I want is a super heavy book. I’ve found that these books have been great during this time.
• They are fantastic books! Lastly, and probably the most important, they are really good books. They have great plots, great characters, and there’s almost a magical quality to them.

One of the things that has really stood out to me is just how well-written they are. Because they are written for children, they don’t use a lot of flowery language; instead, they employ very simple language. At the same time, sometimes they are quite poetic.

Here’s an example from Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White. This is from Chapter 15: The Crickets:

The crickets sang in the grasses. They sang the song of summer’s ending, a sad, monotonous song. “Summer is over and gone,” they sang. “Over and gone, over and gone. Summer is dying, dying.”

The crickets felt it was their duty to warn everybody that summertime cannot last forever. Even on the most beautiful days in the whole year—the days when summer is changing into fall—the crickets spread the rumor of sadness and change.

Hopefully, by now, you are convinced that these are books you shouldn’t ignore.

Here are some of my personal favorites.

Children’s Classic Literature for Adults

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Initially, my daughter complained when I first started reading this book to her, but by the time it was over, she was asking for more stories about Laura and Mary. One of the best parts of this book is that it’s not actually fiction. The Little House books are actually narrative non-fiction. They are written by Laura Ingalls Wilder about her childhood. They give such an amazing glimpse into what life was like in America in the late 1800s. This first book in the series tells the story of their lives when they lived in the woods of Wisconsin where they survived living in a small cabin. They face the unfriendly elements and the unfriendly wildlife that is working against them.

• Publish Year: 1932
• Genre: Narrative non-fiction
• Pages: 224 pages

buy the book!

Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White

This might be the most familiar story on this list. A young girl named Fern intervenes on behalf of a runty pig who is about to meet his end. As her reward, she gets to help raise the pig. After the pig, whom she names Wilbur, gets too big to keep in her home, he gets a new home in her Uncle Homer’s barn. There, he makes many new friends, but the most important is with a spider named Charlotte. After Wilbur learns that he will most likely be the Christmas ham, Charlotte promises that she’s going to do everything she can to save his life. What follows is a beautiful story about friendship, life, death, and love. It’s a heartfelt story that is also full of humor. There’s a reason why this book is still so popular today. It’s so good!

• Publish Year: 1952
• Genre: Fantasy/Magical realism
• Pages: 184

buy the book!

Stuart Little by E. B. White

Stuart Little might be one of my favorite literary characters ever written. Just like in Charlotte’s Web, there’s a fair share of magical realism thrown into this story. Stuart lives with his family in New York City. While Stuart is a mouse, his human family doesn’t want him to know that. They treat him like he’s their son, and as a result, Stuart acts more like a human than a rodent. However, the family cat knows the truth. One of the things that impresses me about E. B. White is that he can write a book that takes place in a barn and a book that takes place in NYC.

• Publish Year: 1945
• Genre: Fantasy/Magical Realism
• Pages: 131

buy the book!

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was the first book published in the series, but Lewis published a prequel (The Magician’s Nephew) that he said should be read first. That being said, this is definitely the most popular book in the series. But don’t stop at this book. Please go on and read the rest of the books in the series.

• Publish Year: 1950
• Genre: Fantasy
• Pages: 180

buy the book!

Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne

Winnie the Pooh might be the most endearing book ever written. You will literally laugh out loud at Pooh and his friends as they make very obvious mistakes that get them into a pickle. Pooh will go to great lengths to get his hands on a jar of honey. Winnie the Pooh is like the first Toy Story, except in this story, Christopher Robin knows that they are real and can talk. After reading Winnie the Pooh, make sure you pick up the sequel, The House at Pooh Corner.

• Publish Year: 1926
• Genre: Fantasy
• Pages: 161 pages

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The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

You have likely heard of the first five books on this list, but this one might be the least well-known. Kate DiCamillo is the Amor Towles of children’s literature. These are two authors who are still living and writing, and I think their books are modern children’s. I highly recommend all of her books. I should do a deep dive on her books because I’ve yet to read one I don’t like. Edward Tulane is a stuffed rabbit who is very loved and cherished by his owner, Abilene, until one day he gets lost. The book tells the story of what happens to Edward and how he is able to make his way back to Abilene. This book is a total tear-jerker.

• Publish Year: 2009
• Genre: Magical Realism
• Pages: 120

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

This is another book on this list that needs no introduction. Even if you’ve seen one or both of the movies made about this book, please don’t let that stop you from reading this book. In fact, I promise that if you love the movies, you will love the book even more. (The book is always better, right?) I don’t know another writer who can write about children and the silly adults they live with as well as Roald Dahl.

• Publish Year: 1964
• Genre: Humor and Adventure
• Pages: 192 pages

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Matilda by Roald Dahl

Speaking of children and their silly adults. Matilda is another one of those great literary characters. Matilda a brilliant little girl who loves books and has some pretty amazing powers, but unfortunately, her parents are awful and her headmistress is even worse. Despite being surrounded by mean-spirited adults who don’t appreciate her, Matilda finds a true friend in her teacher. It’s a wonderfully funny story about an underdog. Roald Dahl perfectly captures both the humor and heart of childhood, making this one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve finished it! They made a movie based on this book in the late 90s that’s actually quite good.

• Publish Year: 1988
• Genre: Humor
• Pages: 232 pages

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Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

This one is for the dog lovers! Because of Winn-Dixie follows a young girl named Opal who moves to a new town with her father, who is also a preacher. She feels totally out of place in her new town until she finds a scruffy dog in a grocery store and names him Winn-Dixie, after the grocery store. Opal’s mother is absent, but with Winn-Dixie’s entrance into their lives, her father starts to tell Opal details about her mother, which is why the book is called Because of Winn-Dixie. With her new friend by her side, Opal starts meeting all kinds of people, each with their own story, and slowly starts to feel like she belongs.

• Publish Year: 2000
• Genre: Realistic Fiction
• Pages: 192

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The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner

This is another one that is so good! The Boxcar Children tells the story of four siblings who are orphaned after their mother recently died. Out of fear of being separated, they decide to run away. They end up stumbling upon an abandoned boxcar in the woods and decide to make it their home. They get to be quite resourceful. The oldest brother, Henry, finds some work in the local town so that he’s able to pay for some food. In a series of fortuitous events, they end up meeting their long-lost grandfather, who gives them a home. This is a great story about the kindness of strangers and resilience.

There’s actually a really good animated movie based on this book from 2014. I highly recommend it!

• Publish Year: 1924
• Genre: Mystery & Adventure
• Pages: 176 pages

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Heidi by Joanna Spyri

I loved this very endearing story! Heidi is an orphan who has been living with her Aunt Dete since she was very young, but her aunt recently took on a new job and can no longer care for her in the same way. Heidi is sent to live with her grandfather, whom I believe she had never even met before, or at least not for a very long time. He lives deep in the Swiss Alps, where he cares for goats, quite a walk from the closest village. The two end up forming a very endearing friendship. While Heidi is happy with her grandfather, her Aunt Dete thinks she needs a more civilized life and sends her to live with a family in Frankfurt. Heidi is homesick for the Alps and her grandfather, but she ends up forming a friendship with wheelchair bound Clara, the daughter of the family she is living with. There are many surprising twists and turns in this book. So good!

• Publish Year: 1880
• Genre: Historical fiction
• Pages: 336 pages

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Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie

“All children, except one, grow up.” Here’s an interesting fact about the first line of Peter Pan. In the book, this is a reference to Peter Pan, but in real life, this is a reference to Barrie’s brother, who died when he was 13 years old. I think Peter Pan is super interesting from a philosophical perspective because you can tell that while Peter Pan doesn’t want to grow up, there’s a sadness about him and the lost boys. They aren’t satisfied with forever being children. Read this one and let me know if you see that, too. Of course, this book is also full of lots of adventure and danger.

• Publish Year: 1911
• Genre: Fantasy
• Pages: 256 pages

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The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

This is another one where even if you have seen and loved the movie, please read the book. There is so much more that is going on in the book, as usual, that we don’t see in the movie. For example, in the movie, it turns out that Oz exists in a dream. In the book, it’s a real place. You know the basic story. Dorothy ends up in the Land of Oz after a Tornado strikes her home in Kansas, and she doesn’t know how to find her way home. On her journey to meet the Wizard, she collects friends along the way who have wishes of their own. I’ve never read the sequels, but there are multiple sequels. My oldest son read through the whole series, which they had at our local library, and loved them.

Note: Something I struggle with about Baum is that he said horrible, racist things about the Native Americans in the 1800s before he wrote this book. I don’t see any of that in this book. While I struggle with that, I still think this is a great book. And since he’s long dead, he can’t benefit from sales of this book. We Americans love this story. Just look at all of the spinoffs that have been done. According to NPR, his family has offered a public apology for this. What do you think?

• Publish Year: 1900
• Genre: Fantasy
• Pages: 256 pages

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Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

Anne of Green Gables (and the whole Anne series) is an all-time fave! Anne is 12 years old when she arrives at Green Gables, the home of siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert. Since Matthew is getting older, they have decided to adopt a boy to lend a hand. But when Matthew arrives at the train station, he’s surprised to find not a boy, but a scraggly talkative 12-year-old girl.

He brings her back to Green Gables, near the town of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island. By the time they arrive, Matthew is already enchanted by her, though Marilla is determined to send her back. After all, they needed a boy. What follows is the story of how that mistake becomes the greatest blessing of their lives: how Anne Shirley, the orphan who was never supposed to stay, finds her way into their home, their hearts, and their community.

Anne is far from perfect. She’s impulsive, dramatic, and endlessly talkative, but she’s also joyful, imaginative, and utterly lovable. Through her, we meet a whole world of kindred spirits in this found family story.

• Publish Year: 1908
• Genre: Realistic Fiction
• Pages: 464 pages

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