The Most Beloved Book Characters for Kids of All Ages

Anne, an 11-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

Ten-year-old Magnolia Wu spends her days at her parents’ New York City laundromat, where she’s collected a curious assortment of lost socks. When she makes a new friend named Iris, the two set out on a mission to reunite the lonely socks with their owners. Along the way, Magnolia discovers unexpected adventures, new friendships, and the magic of her own neighborhood in this funny and heartwarming Newbery Honor-winning story.

Ages 7 – 11

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

Second grader Alvin Ho is afraid of just about everything — elevators, tunnels, girls, and especially school, where he’s too scared to say a single word. But at home, he’s a fearless superhero named Firecracker Man! With the help of his family and a little courage, Alvin learns to face his fears in this hilarious and heartwarming chapter book series.

Ages 6 – 9

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

It’s up to Daddy to give his daughter an extra-special hair style in this ode to self-confidence and the love between fathers and daughters, from Academy-Award winning director and former NFL wide receiver Matthew A. Cherry and New York Times bestselling illustrator Vashti Harrison. Tender and empowering, Hair Love is an ode to loving your natural hair — and a celebration of daddies and daughters everywhere.

Ages 4 – 8

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

Third grader Jada Jones loves science, collecting rocks, and spending time with her best friend. But when her best friend moves away, Jada isn’t sure how she’ll make a new one. When a class project about rocks and minerals gives her a chance to shine, Jada discovers that making friends might be a little harder than finding the perfect rock!

Ages 6 – 8

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

When eight-year-old J.D. gets a disastrous haircut from his mom, he decides to take matters into his own hands — and discovers he has a talent for cutting hair! Before long, he’s running a barbershop out of his bedroom. But when the local barber sees J.D. as competition, it’s time for the ultimate barber battle in this funny and entertaining chapter book series.

Ages 6 – 8

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

When Jaxon is sent to spend the day with a mean old lady his mother calls Ma, he finds out she’s not his grandmother — but she is a witch! She needs his help delivering baby dragons to a magical world where they’ll be safe. There are two rules when it comes to the dragons: Don’t let them out of the bag, and don’t feed them anything sweet. Before he knows it, Jax has broken both rules! Will Jax get the baby dragons delivered safe and sound? Or will they be lost in Brooklyn forever?

Ages 8 – 12

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

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

There are no shortcuts to surviving your first day at a new school. But Malú’s dad says things will get better as long as she remembers the first rule of punk: Be yourself. The real Malú loves rock music, skateboarding, and zines. And when she assembles a group of like-minded misfits at school and starts a band, Malú finally begins to feel at home. She’ll do anything to preserve this, which includes standing up to an anti-punk school administration to fight for her right to express herself! The First Rule of Punk is a wry and heartfelt exploration of friendship, finding your place, and learning to rock out like no one’s watching.

Ages 9 – 12

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 19th-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

National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson and two-time Pura Belpré Illustrator Award winner Rafael López have teamed up to create a poignant, yet heartening book about finding courage to connect, even when you feel scared and alone. The Day You Begin is a dazzling reminder that we all feel like outsiders sometimes — and how brave it is that we go forth anyway. And that sometimes, when we reach out and begin to share our stories, others will be happy to meet us halfway.

Ages 5 – 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

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 a 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

Merci Suárez knew that sixth grade would be different, but she had no idea just how different. For starters, the kids at her private school treat her as an outsider because she and her brother, Roli, are scholarship students. And things aren’t going well at home, either: Merci’s grandfather and most trusted ally, Lolo, has been acting strangely lately like forgetting important things. Merci is left to her own worries, because no one in her family will tell her what’s going on. Winner of the 2019 Newbery Medal, this coming-of-age tale by New York Times bestselling author Meg Medina gets to the heart of the confusion and constant change that defines middle school — and the steadfast connection that defines family.

Ages 9 – 12

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