Finding a great new book for your child can take time, and sometimes, asking a friend or scrolling online doesn’t give you many options. That’s why we asked our Instagram community to share their favorite children’s books, and over 600 parents responded!

We’ve turned their responses into a big, categorized book list to make it easy for you to discover something new, whether you’re looking for books for a baby, toddler, preschooler, or older child.

Want all the recommendations? Just scroll to the bottom to get the whole list. Here’s a quick look at a few of the books and the value they can offer your child:

Global Babies

by The Global Fund for Children
Best for Ages 3 months to 3 years

Global Babies shares how each child is unique and special, all around the world. Infants and toddlers tend to enjoy looking at other babies to observe their expressions! The words in the book are simple, so that you can add your own information about the country. By having REAL pictures of REAL babies around the world, your child can be introduced to different cultures, clothes from around the world, and global diversity. (Montessori-friendly)

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Here We Are

by Oliver Jeffers
Best for Ages 1 to 7 years

Here We Are is a great way to discuss caring for the Earth and the people in it. The book shares facts about the Earth and bodies while showing people in the world from all their varying styles, cultures, and lifestyles. As you continue to share these concepts of individuality and kindness early on, you could be surprised by how much they understand.

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Why Johnny Doesn't Flap

by Clay Morton and Gail Morton
Best for Ages 4 to 8 years

Why Johnny Doesn’t Flap gives a unique perspective from the eyes of a neurodivergent child that explains why his neurotypical friend doesn't avoid eye contact or flap their arms, but why he connects to him anyway. This children’s book about autism can help introduce the concept of neurodiversity to young readers or offer autistic children the powerful experience of seeing themselves as the main character.

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The Rabbit Listened

by Cori Doerrfeld
Best for Ages 3 to 5 years

The Rabbit Listened can be a great way to open your child's eyes to ways to deal with hard feelings. It is an important skill to learn how to comfort people, and through this book, you can reinforce the importance of compassion as a skill. This is a good option for an introductory children’s book about feelings.

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The Day You Begin

by Jacqueline Woodsen
Best for Ages 5 to 8 years

The Day You Begin is a book that can be used as a tool to discuss starting a new school as well as diversity, differences, and acceptance with your children! This book can be a great picture book about diversity as you continue conversations on race, language, abilities, personalities, and more. Through reading this, you can highlight the benefits of everyone being different.

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Hands Can

by Cheryl Hudson
Best for Ages 2 to 5 years

Hands Can offers pictures of children as they use their hands to practice various gross motor skill mastery. Through rhyming and engaging imagery, your child is shown some of the simple and complex things they can mimic as you explore this book together. (Montessori-friendly)

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You're Here for a Reason

by Nancy Tillman
Best for Ages 4 to 8 years

You're Here for a Reason can introduce your child to the difficult concept of understanding hard feelings or depression. This can also be a good resource for adults as they read it! This heartfelt book can help remind your child of their importance and individuality.

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Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

by Bill Martin, Jr. and Eric Carle
Best for Ages 6 months to 5 years

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? is a great way to introduce colors and animals to your child! In fact, this is one of the most recommended books for babies under 1 that they’ll keep enjoying and recognizing as they get older. By keeping the same pattern of words but changing the animals out there is a level of predictability for your little one, which can keep them from getting distracted.

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Let's Find Momo Outdoors

by Andrew Knapp
Best for Ages 2 to 5 years

Let's Find Momo Outdoors is a fun look-and-find book with real photos! Your child can look for the animals and objects on every page, which allows you to discuss the purpose of various items with them. This can help them practice their looking skills and increase their vocabulary. (Montessori-friendly)

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Shh! We Have a Plan

by Chris Haughton
Best for Ages 2 to 5 years

Shh! We Have a Plan is a playful book that shows 4 friends trying to carry out their plan to catch a bird. Your child can act out the actions as you read the book to them and maybe even repeat some of the lines along with you! This book can be a great way to help encourage a love of reading.

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The Cool Bean

by Jory John and Pete Oswald
Best for Ages 5 to 9 years

The Cool Bean is a great children’s book about friendship and inclusion. While sharing what makes someone ‘cool’, it shifts the focus to small acts of kindness having a large impact. As they read this book, it can reinforce many skills and ideas of being considerate and inclusive.

 

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The Book with No Pictures

by B.J. Novak
Best for Ages 3 to 10 years

The Book with No Pictures is a laugh-out-loud read-aloud that surprisingly makes a picture-less book fun and engaging. Despite having no illustrations, it captivates children by making the adult reader say silly, nonsensical, and unexpected things. Kids quickly catch on to the joke: the grown-up has to read whatever the book says, no matter how ridiculous, which creates joy, connection, and endless giggles.

 

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The Book of Mistakes

by Corinna Luyken
Best for Ages 4 to 9 years

What starts as a "mistake" becomes something imaginative, layered, and even better than the original plan. This book is especially powerful for children who struggle with perfectionism. It gently shows that mistakes aren’t failures, they’re part of living and trying things. 

Want the whole book list? Download it here!