Reading to your little one, even before they can understand the story or focus on the pictures has been proven over and over again to be extremely beneficial for your child. The more a child hears the vocabulary and your voice inflection, the more they can begin to grasp the language on their own. Hearing the sound of your or your partner’s voice is another chance for you to bond together.

So where do you start when it comes to putting together a library for your little one? What books have become the tried and true classics over the years and loved by parents everywhere?

Here’s a list of my top 10 class picture books for little ones. These are classics you can enjoy at bedtime or anytime with your sweet babe. As they grow, they’ll become familiar with the story and you’ll be surprised how fast they (and you) will start to memorize parts of the books – or maybe even the whole thing! Many of these books listed below are still treasured in our home years after the baby snuggles have passed. We pull some of them out now even at the ages of six and nine.

Are you or someone you know expecting? One of my favorite ideas for baby showers is for each guest to bring a book for baby with a little personal message written inside the front cover. What a sweet way for mama to show her little one how loved he or she was even before they were born.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Both of my children actually nibbled on this book as babies which I find extremely appropriate. This little caterpillar munches his way through the week getting bigger and bigger until he’s ready for metamorphosis. Not only is this a beloved book by so  many little ones, it also teaches counting, food recognition, and days of the week.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff

One thing always leads to another with this little mouse. If you give him a cookie, he’s going to need some milk, then a straw . . . on and on until he’s right back where he started.

The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Sheffler

To the surprise of this little cunning mouse, his tall tale of a made up creature comes true. A Gruffalo appears in the forest, ready to eat him. Can this clever little mouse find a way to prevent himself from becoming lunch?

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

The cadence and rhyme in this classic picture book make it a favorite for so many little ones. Madeline is a brave little girl who explores the big city of Paris with her friends from the orphanage.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

The Giving Tree teaches the classic message that the best things in life are free. A boy takes and takes from a tree all throughout his life, but in the end he realizes it was the company and friendship he enjoyed most.

Courduroy by Don Freeman

A little bear goes on a grand adventure looking for his missing button in a big downtown department store. Little ones love to see a beloved stuffed animal come to life and explore the store all alone at night.

Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? by Dr. Suess

This classic is one my husband and I have both memorized. I think that’s the case with most of Dr. Suess books, and this one is just the right length for those little ones. Fox in Socks is also fun, but it can get a little long and do a number on your tongue. Mr. Brown is brings out the sillies in everyone.

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

I was actually surprised at first to learn this book is such a classic. I thought for sure my girls wouldn’t like it. The colors and illustrations are so simple – I deemed the “boring”. But the sing songy rhyme of the story and the way toddlers start to remember what comes next, captivated us all.

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

My grandmother and I used to always play the game “I love you more than….” which is exactly what these brown hares tell each other over and over again all throughout this story. Beautiful water color illustrations makes this one of my favorites.

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

I remember reading this one as an early elementary student. I love the intricate details in the illustrations and the fact the story itself is actually rather simple and short. This leaves you and your child time to pour over the pictures and imagine what it would be like to be with the wild things.

So there you have it, my top 10 classic picture books for children. Of course 10 books is just a start when it comes to a child’s first library, but starting with tried and true classics is a great place to start.