50 Essential Books for Classroom Libraries

One question I’m often asked is what books should we have in our classroom libraries? I always say a wide variety of books that include various authors, genres, length, and topics. I also make sure there are several books for each student that is at their reading level. We have a mix of chapter books, picture books, and fiction/non-fiction books. I often ask my students what sort of things they are interested in and try to get books related to those topics. We also have a collection of books that relate directly to what we’re currently learning about. I’ve put together a list of general books that you could consider for your classroom library:

1. Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems
   
2. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
   
3. Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner
   
4. Double Trouble in Walla Walla by Andrew Clements
   
5. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
   
6. My Teacher’s Secret Life by Stephen Krensky
   
7. Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
   
8. Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Park
   
9. Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parrish
   
10. Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne
    
11. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
    
12. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
    
13. The Magic School Bus by Joanna Cole
    
14. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
    
15. The New Kid on the Block by Jack Prelutsky
    
16. Runny Babbit by Shel Silverstein
    
17. Guinness World Records
    
18. Ripley’s Believe It or Not
    
19. Kids World Atlas by National Geographic
    
20. Encyclopedia
    
21. Dictionary
    
22. Thesaurus
    
23. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
    
24. No Talking by Andrew Clements
    
25. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
    
26. Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
    
27. The Witches by Roald Dahl
    
28. Frindle by Andrew Clements
    
29. Holes by Louis Sachar
    
30. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
    
31. The Hardy Boys by Franklin W. Dixon
    
32. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
    
33. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
    
34. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
    
35. Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
    
36. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
    
37. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
    
38. Jackie and Me by Dan Gutman
    
39. I Wonder Why the Sea is Salty by Anita Ganeri
    
40. Now & Ben by Gene Barretta
    
41. Cars on Mars by Alexandra Siy
    
42. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
    
43. Falling Up by Shel Silverstein
    
44. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
    
45. The BFG by Roald Dahl
    
46. The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
    
47. Wayside School is Falling Down by Louis Sachar
    
48. Niagara Falls, or Does It? by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver
    
49. Ann of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
    
50. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
    

This is a general list that includes books for all elementary grades so make sure you check that each book is appropriate for your students. What other books do you have in your classroom library?