The Best Books Children's Books to Re-Read as Adults

Twilight and The Lorax aren't the only books meant for younger readers that adults can enjoy too. In celebration of Children's Book Day on April 2nd, the Reader's Digest staff shares their favorite kids' stories that also appeal to grown minds.


The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gertstein
A fairytale-like presentation of Philippe Petit's historic tightrope walk between the Twin Towers, this book was a total tear-jerker for me, since I lived seven blocks from the World Trade Center and watched the towers fall from my apartment window in 2001. But while I cried reading the story to my kids, they loved it so much we read it over and over. Even with the ending: "Now the towers are gone." -Marti Golon, Art Director

The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
This classic, beautifully illustrated book tells the story of a delightful country home that becomes engulfed in urban sprawl-until someone recognizes its value. I loved it as a child, loved reading it to my children, and still appreciate its message of reclaiming nature's pleasures. -Dawn Raffel, Features Editor, Books

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I'll Teach My Dog 100 Words by Michael Frith
I was obsessed with this book when I was a kid and actually spent most of my days as a five-year-old memorizing the pages (I can still recite a few lines from memory). As an adult, I realize that the story talks about the importance of vocabulary, and the desire to constantly learn more and push your thinking to the next level. As a child, however, I just loved it because everything rhymed. -Alison Caporimo, Associate Editor

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
This is about a little girl who goes to school everyday wearing the same dress, and the other girls make fun of her. She always tells them that at home she has 100 dresses. When she stops showing up at school, her schoolmates go to her house and see that she really wasn't lying-a very good lesson in how to treat others. -Tara Zades, Magazine Rights Manager

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Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
Every day I have a Wilbur moment, Lurvy moment, a Templeton moment and a Charlotte moment. It's universal. And I still cry. -Liz Vaccariello, VP, Editor-in-Chief, Chief Content Officer

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
My boys are older now, but when they were little we would read this classic story a lot. It was wonderful for boys, especially since it was all about adventure and travel; and the characters that the main character meets along the way were so vivid.
-Dean Abatemarco, Art Director

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