Best Classic Books EVER for 2014's 3-Year Olds

In my humble opinion, 2014’s top books for 3-year olds are timeless classics. These are stories that we’ve all grown up with, remembering fondly, and retelling over and over again to our own children and grandchildren. Out of those classics, I’ve picked 3 that I consider the very best of the best.

Each one speaks ageless morals and messages that revolve around enduring love, friendship, and family. Some can be told as bedtime stories with the result of sleeping kiddos at the end, and others are perfect for day-to-day reads anytime.

And my personal favorites among the most popular, or the best books for 3 year olds this year are:

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The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

On a lovely Sunday, a newborn caterpillar came into the world… and he was ravenous! He was so hungry that he ate throughout the entire week, munching holes straight through every page until his tummy ached.

He started with apples and finished with pies, sausages, and all-things fattening and delicious, hoping to grow larger and larger. In the end, he finally cocoons, only to be reborn as a beautiful, bright-winged butterfly with the diminutive appetite to match.

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Oh, The Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss has a way with words, especially when those words are reminding readers of what it means to grow up. Thought-provoking and beautiful, this tale follows a boy leaving the nest and finding freedom in the wide world. He can go anywhere, do anything, and be everything – which is exactly the message that Dr. Seuss is trying to get across.

You can be ANYTHING if you work hard and push through adversities with undaunted determination. It’s an amazing book for adults and children alike; a real heart-warming tale that never gets old.

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Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

This story is 50 years old and still going! My favorite from when I was a child, this book tells the tale of Max; a mischievous, rambunctious little boy in wolf pajamas. He’s been so bad that his mother has sent him to his room without supper, and Max is seething with anger.

Longing to run away and teach his mom a lesson, Max journeys to a fantastical world where the Wild Things live. They gnash their teeth, roar horribly, and welcome Max as King… for as long as he stays. But their attitudes change swiftly when Max misses home and decides to make the adventure back.

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Fun stuff - for very little ones, here is a cute reading of the Very Hungry Caterpillar: