*Updated on 30th March 2026 – initially published on 1st April 2025*
The International Children’s Book Day is held annually on April 2. The date was chosen because it is Hans Christian Andersen‘s birthday, the author of well-known fairy tales such as “The Princess and the Pea” and “The Little Mermaid”. Many events are organised on this day to promote reading and books for children in schools and libraries. But if you are parents, you can also celebrate at home!
The 2026 theme is “Plant Stories and the World will Bloom!”
To help you choose, here is a selection of children’s classic books and authors :
The big names of fairy tales:
Hans Christian Andersen,
The Grimm Brothers,
Charles Perrault
And in no particular order:
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
The Cat in the Hat and How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Witches by Roald Dahl
Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little by E.B. White
The Chronicles of Narnia Series by C.S. Lewis
Pippi Longstocking Series by Astrid Lindgren
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
Peter Pan by L.M. Barrie
Winnie-the-Pooh Series by A.A. Milne
Mary Poppins Series by P.L. Travers
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Heidi by Johanna Spyri
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
Anne of Green Gables Series by L.M. Montgomery
The Wizard of Oz Series by L. Frank Baum
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
The Secret Garden and The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Of course, you can choose contemporary children’s books as well! Yes, I’m looking at you Potterheads…
