25 Kid-Friendly Books for World Book Day + DIY Bookmark

There’s nothing quite like watching kids fall in love with a book.

April 23rd is World Book Day, an annual global celebration created by UNESCO to honor the joy of reading, the power of storytelling, and the incredible authors and illustrators who bring both to life.

To celebrate, we've rounded up 25 fantastic reads organized by age, all sourced from library lists and parenting blogs. There's something here for every little reader in your life.

And before you dive in, don’t forget to grab our DIY Bookmark Coloring Activity Sheet so kids can create their own bookmark for their next reading adventure.

Top 5 Books for Infants and Toddlers (0-2 Years)

1. "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown: A soothing bedtime classic where a little bunny says goodnight to everything in the room. The perfect wind-down read for little ones. Browse the book.
2. "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" by Bill Martin Jr.: Bold colors, friendly animals, and simple repetition make this an irresistible read-aloud that babies and toddlers love to join in on. Browse the book.
3. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle: A timeless board book that takes little ones through counting, the days of the week, and the magical journey of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. Browse the book.
4. "Moo, Baa, La La La!" by Sandra Boynton: Three pigs who say "La La La!" This funny board book is a toddler favorite and a go-to for family read-aloud time. Browse the book.
5. "Peek-a Who?" by Nina Laden: A clever guessing-game board book with mirror pages that has babies and toddlers giggling every single time. Browse the book.

Top 5 Books for Preschool-Aged Children (3-5 Years)

1. "Don't Trust Fish" by Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat: A brilliantly structured story about why fish simply cannot be trusted, filled with laugh-out-loud moments and a twist ending that gets better every re-read. Browse the book.
2. "Dragons Love Tacos" by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri: Dragons love tacos but cannot handle spicy salsa - a wildly fun read-aloud that kids will ask for again and again. Browse the book.
3. "Forts" by Katie Venit, illustrated by Kenard Pak: A cozy and imaginative picture book that celebrates every kind of fort, from blanket castles to backyard hideaways, and will have kids building their own right after. Browse the book.
4. "Broken" by X. Fang: When Mei Mei accidentally breaks her grandmother's favorite cup, she faces a big question about honesty and love in this beautifully illustrated story about big feelings. Browse the book.
5. "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak: Max gets sent to bed without supper and sails to the land of wild things. A childhood classic about imagination, emotions, and the comfort of home. Browse the book.

Top 5 Books for Early Elementary Kids (6-8 Years)

1. "Bat, Cat, and Rat: Vacation" by Corey R. Tabor: Three animal friends try to plan a vacation with hilariously chaotic results in this award-winning early chapter book. Browse the book.
2. "Mercy Watson to the Rescue" by Kate DiCamillo: The lovable pig Mercy Watson and her family star in this funny, easy-to-read series that helps build confidence in early readers. Browse the book.
3. "Magic Tree House #1: Dinosaurs Before Dark" by Mary Pope Osborne: Jack and Annie discover a magic tree house that takes them back to the time of dinosaurs - the first adventure in one of the most beloved series for young readers. Browse the book.
4. "Henry and Mudge: The First Book" by Cynthia Rylant: Henry, a lonely only child, finds friendship in his big lovable dog Mudge. A warm and comforting early reader. Browse the book.
5. "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster: When bored Milo discovers a mysterious tollbooth in his room, he's swept into a world of wordplay, adventure, and unforgettable characters. Browse the book.

Top 5 Books for Middle Elementary Children (9-11 Years) 

1. "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio: Auggie Pullman starts middle school for the first time and learns to navigate a world that isn't always kind. A powerful story about empathy and choosing kindness. Browse the book.
2. "The One and Only Ivan" by Katherine Applegate: A gorilla living in a shopping mall secretly dreams of something more in this heartfelt and hopeful story. Browse the book.
3. "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein: When the world's most famous game designer builds the new local library and throws an invite-only lock-in, getting out proves to be trickier than getting in. Browse the book.
4. "Ghost" by Jason Reynolds: Castle "Ghost" Cranshaw gets recruited for an elite track team, but staying on the squad means turning his life around first. A gripping story about growth and second chances. Browse the book.
5. "Matilda" by Roald Dahl: A brilliant girl with difficult parents and an unforgettable headmistress discovers she has a very special power. Funny, bold, and an all-time favorite for this age group. Browse the book.

Top 5 Books for Tweens and Older Kids (12-14 Years)

1. "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman: Lyra travels to the frozen North with a truth-telling device in her pocket. Epic, imaginative world-building that tweens completely disappear into. Browse the book.
2. "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan: Twelve-year-old Percy discovers he's the son of a Greek god and gets thrown headfirst into a world of mythological monsters and epic quests. Funny, fast-paced, and hard to put down. Browse the book.
3. "Eragon" by Christopher Paolini: A farm boy discovers a dragon egg and suddenly finds himself at the center of a much bigger destiny. An ambitious, immersive fantasy written by a teenage author himself. Browse the book.
4. "Front Desk" by Kelly Yang: Ten-year-old Mia Tang and her family manage a motel while chasing big dreams. A big-hearted, funny, and quietly powerful story about community, belonging, and what home really means. Browse the book.
5. "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull: Two siblings visit their grandparents' nature preserve for the summer, only to discover it's a secret sanctuary for magical creatures. A fun, fast-paced series full of adventure. Browse the book.

Happy reading!