The Most Beloved Book Characters for Kids of All Ages

Anne, an eleven-year-old orphan, is sent by mistake to live with a lonely, middle-aged brother and sister on a Prince Edward Island farm and proceeds to make an indelible impression on everyone around her.

Ages 8 – 12

On Sundays, CJ and his nana ride the bus across town to their stop on Market Street. But today, CJ’s not happy about it. Today, he’s wondering out loud why they have to wait in the rain and why they don’t have a car like his other friends. But it’s Nana who opens young CJ’s eyes and shows him the real beauty in the world around them—the spirit of the bustling city, the music in everyday life, and the magic of their often overlooked neighbors.

Ages 3 – 5

August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. Wonder begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.

Ages 8 – 12

Nothing frightens Madeline — not tigers, not even mice. With its endearing, courageous heroine, cheerful humor, and wonderful, whimsical drawings of Paris, the Madeline stories are true classics that continue to charm readers, even after 75 years!

Ages 2 – 5

As the youngest member of her family, Dory is often left to her own devices — including her wild imagination, untiring energy, and a whole host of imaginary friends.

Ages 7 – 10

In 1968, a girl named Lisa fell in love with a little brown bear wearing green overalls with one button missing, and thousands of readers followed suit, making Corduroy one of the best-loved children’s books of all time.

Ages 2 – 5

Pre-schooler Llama Llama’s adventures include bedtime drama, a first day of school, a sleepover at Gram and Grandpa’s, and more.

Ages 2 – 5

In this hilarious series, follow Jim Panzee, a chimpanzee in a very bad mood — perfect for young children learning to deal with confusing feelings.

Ages 3 – 7

Even though he’s the smallest kid in class, eight-year-old EllRay Jakes can get himself into big trouble. EllRay Jakes is tired of being bullied by fellow classmate Jared Matthews. But when EllRay tries to defend himself, he winds up in trouble. Then his dad offers him a deal: If he stays out of trouble for one week, they’ll go to Disneyland! EllRay says he can do it. But saying it and doing it are two very different things.

Ages 6 – 8

Twice turned into a feature film, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a delectable classic about a child’s dreams and the eccentric chocolate-maker who makes them come true.

Ages 8 – 12

Munch through different foods with The Very Hungry Caterpillar in this brand-new scratch-and-sniff board book! Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Garden Picnic includes a sweet story about Eric Carle’s classic character eating through his favorite foods and includes six fun scents to scratch and sniff on every spread for added fun.

Ages 1 – 3

Everyone loves the story of how the Grinch discovered the true meaning of Christmas and was able to grow his heart three sizes! Now the Grinch is back and ready to prove to the residents of Who-ville that he loves the holiday. He devises a plan to win Who-ville’s Christmas Crown by making the largest, most spectacular Christmas tree the Whos have ever seen!

Ages 5 – 9

Tommy and Annika have a new neighbor: red-haired, freckle-faced Pippi Longstocking, who has upside-down braids and no parents to tell her what to do. The three children have the most rollicking adventures on their own, with horses and monkeys, the circus, and more!

Ages 8 – 12

Matilda is a sweet, exceptional young girl, but her parents think she’s just a nuisance. She expects school to be different, but there she has to face Miss Trunchbull, a kid-hating terror of a headmistress.  When Matilda is attacked by the Trunchbull, she suddenly discovers she has a remarkable power with which to fight back. It will take a superhuman genius to give Miss Trunchbull what she deserves, and Matilda may be just the one to do it!

Ages 8 – 12

In picturesque nineteenth-century New England, tomboyish Jo, beautiful Meg, fragile Beth, and romantic Amy are responsible for keeping a home while their father is off to war. At the same time, they must come to terms with their individual personalities—and make the transition from girlhood to womanhood. It can all be quite a challenge. But the March sisters, however different, are nurtured by their wise and beloved Marmee, bound by their love for each other and the strength they share.

Ages 12+

Follow the adventures of everyone’s favorite Blue Heeler puppy, Bluey, whose energy and lovable spirit gets her into all kinds of funny and unpredictable situations. It’s sleepytime at the Heeler house! Bingo wants to do a Big Girl sleep. As she drifts away into a dreamy adventure with Flopsy, will Bingo make it through the night and wake up in her own bed?

Ages 4 – 8

Uni the unicorn is told there’s no such thing as little girls! But no matter what the grown-up unicorns say, Uni believes that little girls are REAL. Somewhere there must be a smart, strong, wonderful, magical little girl waiting to be best friends. In fact, far away (but not too far away), a real little girl believes there is a unicorn waiting for her, too.

Ages 4 – 8

Dr. Seuss’s beloved story teaches kids to speak up and stand up for those who can’t. With a recycling-friendly “Go Green” message, The Lorax allows young readers to experience the beauty of the Truffula Trees and the danger of taking our earth for granted, all in a story that is timely, playful, and hopeful. The book’s final pages teach us that just one small seed, or one small child, can make a difference.

Ages 6 – 9

To Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Mercy is not just a pig — she’s a porcine wonder. And to the portly and good-natured Mercy, the Watsons are an excellent source of buttered toast, not to mention that buttery-toasty feeling she gets when she snuggles into bed with them. Welcome to the wry and endearing world of Mercy Watson.

Ages 5 – 8

It’s just a regular day when ordinary kids Jack and Annie are whisked away in the magic tree house to Monterey Bay, California, where they must help an injusted sea otter after a shark attack!

Ages 6 – 9

Meet Rocket — a plucky aspiring astronaut intent on getting her community to LOOK UP from what they’re doing and reach for the stars in this auspicious debut picture book.

Ages 3 – 7

When the Velveteen Rabbit first arrives in the nursery, he is snubbed by the other toys. But the Rabbit soon makes friends with the Skin Horse, who explains how toys can become “real” if they are loved enough. The Velveteen Rabbit longs for this to happen, and one day he finds that he has become the Boy’s very favorite toy. They play together through a long, golden summer, Rabbit becoming shabbier and shabbier as he becomes real to the boy who loves him. The rabbits in the garden think otherwise — how can Rabbit be real when he can’t leap and hop?

Ages 3 – 7

Revisit six timeless tales of Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, and more of their pals as they go on adventures, get into trouble, and learn valuable lessons in this gorgeous collectible edition featuring Beatrix Potter’s classic characters.

Ages 3 – 7

Based on the major motion picture — an intoxicating mix of magic and music, mayhem and emotion, all told with fabulous heart and humor — Wonka introduces readers to a young Willy Wonka, chock-full of ideas and determined to change the world one delectable bite at a time … proving that the best things in life begin with a dream, and if you’re lucky enough to meet Willy Wonka, anything is possible.

Ages 8 – 12

For over ninety years, Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends Piglet, Owl, Tigger, and the ever doleful Eeyore have endured as the unforgettable creations of A. A. Milne, who wrote this book for his son, Christopher Robin, and Ernest H. Shepard, who lovingly gave Pooh and his companions shape through his illustrations.

Ages 8 – 12

Barbara Park’s New York Times bestselling chapter book series, Junie B. Jones, is a classroom favorite and has been keeping kids laughing — and reading — for over 20 years! In the first Junie B. Jones book, it’s Junie B.’s first day and she doesn’t know anything. She’s so scared of the school bus and the meanies on it that when it’s time to go home, she doesn’t.

Ages 6 – 9

D.J. and Gina are totally ordinary kids. But Hilo isn’t! Hilo just fell out of the sky and doesn’t know where he came from, or what he’s doing on Earth. What if Hilo wasn’t the only thing to fall to our planet? Can the trio unlock the secrets of Hilo’s past? Can Hilo survive a day at school? Find out in HILO — a laugh-out-loud, epic story of friendship, adventure, and the occasional mutant space robot.

Ages 8 – 12

Adored by generations of readers, this gorgeously illustrated classic tells a tale of youth, curiosity, and delight as a little girl and her mother make unexpected friends while picking blueberries in the Maine countryside.

Ages 3 – 7

The magic and wonder of winter’s first snowfall is perfectly captured in Ezra Jack Keat’s Caldecott Medal-winning picture book. This celebrated classic has been shared by generations of readers and listeners, a must-have for every child’s bookshelf and a perfect gift for the holiday season.

Ages 2 – 5