The 10 Best Children's Books You've Never Heard Of

Our book columnist, Sloane Tanen, is the author of children's books including Where Is Coco Going?, Coco All Year Round, and Appetite for Detention. Her latest book is the young-adult novel Are You Going to Kiss Me Now? I’m always surprised by the magnitude of great children’s books. Unfortunately, so many books fall through the cracks and only a handful take center stage. This is a list of some of my favorite kid’s books that either never made it, were buried under more popular works by the author, or have simply been forgotten over time.

by Kevin Lewis (Hyperion, 2001) Ages 8-24 months Calling all train lovers! This is a great little board book perfect for the pre-Thomas and Friends set. A very busy steam engine works hard to get the job done. The lively illustrations and sing-song text make this a perfect alternative after one too many readings of Goodnight Moon.

by Taro Gomi (Chronicle, 1999) Ages 10 months-3 years Taro Gomi takes young readers on a delightful tour of the four seasons in this colorful board book. The text is so simple, the illustrations are so bold! This is a perfect choice for story time as it encourages youngsters to use their imaginations as they observe the changing world around them.

by Sally Symes (Running Press Kids, 2006) Ages 2-4 This ‘coin-in-the-slot’ book follows the crazy adventure of Harry’s coin. The coin begins in Grandpa’s piggy bank, lands in a musician’s hat, falls into a well and is even swallowed by a fish! Who knows where Harry’s coin will end up next? After six years, my kids still love this durable board book and have even managed to keep the original coin!

by Tasha Pym (FSG, 2009) Ages 3-5 I covered this book in my "Funniest Books Ever" column, but I just couldn’t resist including it again here. After all, Have you ever seen a Sneep? How bout a Snook? Surely you’ve spied a Floon or a Knoo? No? Hmmmmm. The boy in this book is trying to enjoy a day out, but every time he turns his back the Sneep and its nutty friends sneak up and spoil his fun. What’s a boy to do? You’ll have to find out, but I guarantee you’ll hear lots of giggles along the way.

by Laurel Snyder (Tricycle Press, 2010) Ages 3-6 Baxter is a curious pig and when he hears about something called Shabbat, he wants to go! Candles, dancing and food! Sounds like fun. Unfortunately, when Baxter tries to wrangle an invitation, he’s told he can not be part of Shabbat dinner — after all, he’s not kosher. So, Baxter tries all kinds of things to "get" kosher — gorging on pickles, eating challah, even acting like a cow. This is a clever and sweet book with a lovely ending. It’s great for kids from different religious backgrounds, as it’s fundamentally a story about taking the time to find joy with family and friends — especially new friends, or unlikely ones.

by Chris Van Dusen (Dutton Ages 3-5 Chris Dusen is one of the most underrated children’s books writers/illustrators working. If I Built A Car is a visual triumph, an imaginary gem and the rhyming text is Suess-worthy: "Inside the engine I’ll add a machine To capture the odor of burnt gasoline And change it to something more pleasing to noses- Like blueberry muffins or freshly picked roses." This is a great read aloud and a fun conversation starter. Highly recommended.

by Bill Peet (Sandpiper, 1982) Ages 5 and up The Whingdingdilly is a gorgeously illustrated and whimsical story from another master of children’s books, Bill Peet, whose witty writing is well-matched to his colorful, swift pencil drawings. It's a magical, almost fairy tale-like story you’ll assuredly keep in a safe place for the next generation.

by Rene Goscinny and illustrated by Jean-Jacques Sempe (Phaidon, 2011) Ages 7 and up This is another repeat from my "Funniest Books Ever" column, but this is also on my "Favorite Books Ever" list - and it’s not as well known as it should be. A big thank you Phaidon for finally bringing the hilarious Nicholas series to American audiences — in paperback! Originally published in 1959 and winner of the Mildred L. Batchelder Award for outstanding children’s literature in 2006, Nicholas combines the genius of Rene Goscinny (of Asterix the Gaul) with famed cartoonist and illustrator Sempe to create my all-time favorite series for young boys. This classic book about a mischievous French schoolboy and his friends will have you and your kids chuckling with recognition, as the protagonist and his unruly buddies wreak havoc at home and in school. Though it’s geared towards slightly older audiences, my five-year-old cried when we finished the entire series because he was sure, "We’d never find anything as fun again!" I fear he may have been right.

by Palmer Brown (NYR Children’s Collection, 2011) Ages 5 and up Imagine The Wizard of Oz meets Alice in Wonderland in this lost classic from Palmer Brown. It begins on a lavender blue day, "the kind of day when anything can happen." Anna Lavinia’s father goes chasing after a double rainbow, and she and her cat Strawberry set off on their journey beyond the walled garden where the Pawpaw trees grow, "to a place where the buttercups bloom pink and the laws of gravity don’t always apply." Here she will test her mother’s advice, "Never believe what you see," against her father’s wise words, "Believe only what you see." This is truly one of the most charming and imaginative stories I have ever read. This is a book to cherish.

by Penelope Farmer (NYR Children’s Collection, 2007) Ages 8 and up Going to a new boarding school is terrifying enough, and Charlotte is pretty overwhelmed by the time hits the sack after her first day. She goes to sleep in her bed and in the morning she wakes up as Clare Moby, a schoolgirl from over forty years ago! The girls continue to switch back and forth every night, but when a change disrupts the sleeping arrangements, Charlotte accidentally gets stuck in the past. Will she able to get back to her own time? This is a haunting fantasy originally written in the 1960’s and re-issued courtesy of The New York Book Review Children’s Collection. It's a masterpiece of imagination and story-telling that leaves a lasting impression.