I was going to say the Little House books, but I don't know that he would enjoy them (once he was old enough to understand them
).
I still like Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes, even though I have noticed they can get a little dark. I'm glad our library contained them.
I feel silly when I purchase them, but my sister swears that the books with little doors that open or fuzzy bits really got her kids interested in the form of the book. They keep that as they grow older.
Some that are just beyond their knowledge, but are very memorable. Wacky Wednesday fell apart because we'd giggled over it about 6 million times. Danny the Dinosaur, Dirty Feet, The Pickle Book (Pickle Things), But No Elephants, Pokey Little Puppy and Go Dog Go are all titles I can remember just right off the top of my head. My earliest memory is from Danny and the Dino, actually.
I really enjoyed Hatchet, Where the Red Fern Grows, A Wrinkle in Time, The Hobbit, the CS Lewis collection. The Dragonlance Chronicles are an excellent way into fantasy for pre-teen/teenagers.
I only did that with Where the Red Fern Grows. I may have been a masochist. I was more of a voracious reader- quantity rather than sticking to one favorite.
Most children's books teach something, but I can't think of a specific rec I'd go for.
The list above. I find it amazing that I am 31 and can still remember the reading selection that my grandmother kept in her sunporch. I've kept out some of the girlie ones.

I still like Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes, even though I have noticed they can get a little dark. I'm glad our library contained them.
What do you think are the best books for babies?
I feel silly when I purchase them, but my sister swears that the books with little doors that open or fuzzy bits really got her kids interested in the form of the book. They keep that as they grow older.
The best books for children learning to read?
Some that are just beyond their knowledge, but are very memorable. Wacky Wednesday fell apart because we'd giggled over it about 6 million times. Danny the Dinosaur, Dirty Feet, The Pickle Book (Pickle Things), But No Elephants, Pokey Little Puppy and Go Dog Go are all titles I can remember just right off the top of my head. My earliest memory is from Danny and the Dino, actually.
The best books for older children?
I really enjoyed Hatchet, Where the Red Fern Grows, A Wrinkle in Time, The Hobbit, the CS Lewis collection. The Dragonlance Chronicles are an excellent way into fantasy for pre-teen/teenagers.
Books that you read over and over and never seemed to tire of?
I only did that with Where the Red Fern Grows. I may have been a masochist. I was more of a voracious reader- quantity rather than sticking to one favorite.
Books that actually taught something?
Most children's books teach something, but I can't think of a specific rec I'd go for.
Most importantly, what books instilled a love for reading in you?
The list above. I find it amazing that I am 31 and can still remember the reading selection that my grandmother kept in her sunporch. I've kept out some of the girlie ones.
What books would you consider essential to a children's library?
10/02/2010 08:25:07 PM
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It's difficult because "children" are "children" from age 0 to roughly 12.
10/02/2010 09:10:16 PM
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I loved "Cars, Trucks and Things"
11/02/2010 06:26:01 PM
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A few random suggestions for younger kids...
10/02/2010 09:12:54 PM
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Thank you for the suggestions and for adding your children's ages.
11/02/2010 06:29:33 PM
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Now there's a good question.
10/02/2010 09:47:39 PM
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I can see now that this is going to be one of those posts that I actually copy out the answers on
11/02/2010 06:44:19 PM
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Since most of the names mentioned elsewhere are unfamiliar to me, that seems logical.
11/02/2010 09:33:12 PM
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Like I would let my kids or grandkids touch that book?!
11/02/2010 10:29:13 PM
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I pulled those books out a year or two ago to see if it was as beautiful as I remembered. It was.
12/02/2010 02:40:20 AM
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Steven King!!!
10/02/2010 10:20:27 PM
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When do you think I should introduce him to The Green Mile? I am not sure he will catch all
11/02/2010 06:50:28 PM
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Madeleine L'Engle
10/02/2010 10:27:38 PM
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I have not heard of it. I will be watching for it in the antique section. Hehe
11/02/2010 07:05:45 PM
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A Wrinkle in Time is worth reading just for yourself. It's one of those books. *NM*
11/02/2010 10:17:10 PM
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Thirded, fourthed, or whatever number follows how many people have nominated this.
12/02/2010 10:57:58 PM
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Peter Pan.
10/02/2010 10:34:42 PM
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Sounds like children's books don't have national boundries.
11/02/2010 07:25:04 PM
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Sounds like some of them do.
11/02/2010 08:11:36 PM
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Yeah, I really wouldn't classify Asterix as children's books particularly...
11/02/2010 09:24:15 PM
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Multi-level is the best way to describe them.
11/02/2010 09:38:38 PM
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Asterix? OH! I do have one of those!! Now I recognize it by your description!
11/02/2010 10:32:18 PM
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For "older" children definitely Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. *NM*
11/02/2010 01:11:09 AM
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Oz books! Oz books!
11/02/2010 05:04:42 AM
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Mmmm. That reminds me. We have one of the first of those books upstairs in my mom's library.
11/02/2010 07:32:34 PM
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Just buy lots and lots and you should be OK
11/02/2010 05:24:23 AM
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I hope I kept my condensed classics. But the problems with those were that they were too memorable
11/02/2010 07:48:45 PM
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Ohh, grandson.
11/02/2010 01:20:44 PM
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Shel Silverstein!
11/02/2010 01:30:46 PM
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Shel Silverstein is great (even if iirc I only ever read her in translation). *NM*
11/02/2010 01:33:14 PM
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He's a boy. You should listen to him read some of the poems.
11/02/2010 01:50:16 PM
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I am going to have to check Siverstein out. Children's books <b>and</b> A Boy Named Sue?
11/02/2010 07:46:02 PM
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~peruses shelves~
11/02/2010 02:19:11 PM
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nuh uh.
11/02/2010 02:22:35 PM
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Shoulda known, really
11/02/2010 02:24:25 PM
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I read some of my dad's L'Amour books when we went on a cross country bus trip when I was eleven
11/02/2010 07:40:30 PM
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Re: What books would you consider essential to a children's library?
11/02/2010 03:28:01 PM
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Those were good. I think I have all except for the Paddington so I will keep my eye out for it.
11/02/2010 07:43:27 PM
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Re: Those were good. I think I have all except for the Paddington so I will keep my eye out for it.
11/02/2010 08:09:59 PM
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So I am familiar with some of his work if not his name. BFG definitly qualifies as an essential.
11/02/2010 08:30:50 PM
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A few for different ages
11/02/2010 04:23:22 PM
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I don't remember the first three. I will watch for those. Or the last ones either. Feel free to add
11/02/2010 07:55:09 PM
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Oh god, I could go on and on. You see...my mom teaches 1st grade...
11/02/2010 08:04:04 PM
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Another vote for Babar!
11/02/2010 09:36:19 PM
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Babar is very universal. Hasn't everyone read Babar? I can still see the pictures. *NM*
11/02/2010 10:33:58 PM
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An answer of a different sort
11/02/2010 09:52:51 PM
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Give a child the gift of reading and you give them a gift for life
12/02/2010 11:21:25 AM
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Well, my favourite "Young Adult" books have always been the Redwall series *NM*
18/02/2010 06:07:18 AM
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Re: What books would you consider essential to a children's library?
26/08/2010 10:00:03 AM
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