top 5 must-read books for kids: babies through teens

Over the years, many readers and friends have asked me the about the must-read books for  kids.

Every few weeks, I get asked the million dollar questions:

What books should my kids read?

What are the best books for 5-year-olds?

Which books will my 12-year-old love to read?

Please tell me how to spend my book money–which are the must-have books for kids?

We’re heading to the library. Which books should I pick up?

I’ve had the conversation over and over and over again.

So I thought it was high time I created a list for you that shared just that–the top 5 books for kids.

Five books that babies should have. Five books for 1-year-olds. Five books for 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, 4-year-olds, 5-year-olds, 6-year-olds. . . every year all the way up through age 13.

Do you want to know what books made the list? All you need to do is help me out a bit.

Take 5 minutes to fill out this quickie reader survey:

You’re just telling me a little bit about who you are just so we know a bit about our readers. Please don’t be weirded out or nervous–this blog has been around since 2008; it’s time we got to know each other!

Just for filling this out, we’ll send you a ROCK-STAR book list: The Top 5 Must-Read Books for Baby to Teen. Five books kids should read each year from the time they’re born until the time they’re 13.

You can print out the list, take it to the library, and read like a maniac. Or you can check out the books because there are links to each on the list.

I know you’re crazy busy. And I honestly and truly appreciate your time.

So as soon as you’re finished with the survey, you’ll see a link that will take you to the ULTIMATE list.

How do I know about books, and why should this list matter?

I’m a Reading Teacher! I’ve got my Master’s in Reading and have worked with students for the last 15 years. I taught High School English for years. I’ve tutored students in Reading, designed reading programs for schools, done professional development workshops in Reading, I co-anchored the Scholastic Parents Raise A Reader blog with Allison McDonald for year and years, and we even wrote a book together called Raising a Rock-Star Reader: 75 Quick Tips to Help Your Child Develop A Lifelong Love of Reading!

I thought long and hard about which books we have purchased over the years, which books we’ve read and re-read, which books have created the most conversation, and which books we give as gifts. So the list took hours to make and it really, really rocks.

Thank you, thank you, thank you friends, for taking the time to complete the survey, and as soon as you’re finished, you’ll find the list in your inbox.

Looking forward to an exciting, awesome, and ground-breaking 2017 and beyond!