One of the highlights of our home education is when I carve out the time to bake muffins or cookies and brew a big pot of herbal tea with wild honey and call the children together for “Read Aloud Tea Time.”

Sometimes we read a few chapters in a book we’re working through, but other times I like to switch things up and pull out a poetry book or treasury of stories from the shelf to revisit some old favorites or enjoy the prose of talented authors.

Today I want to share with you my must-have children’s poetry and story treasury books that we own, use, and love. These are the kind of books that you display on your family bookshelf and open again and again. One day, they could even be family heirlooms.

I love to find books at my local used book store, garage sales, and homeschool consignment store. When I don’t find what I am looking for there I also love shopping on thriftbooks.com! If you are looking to purchase any of the listed titles new, you can click on them to buy on Amazon.

In this blog post: 

• Must-have children’s poetry books
• Favorite children’s story treasury books
• Reading quality literature with Treehouse Book Club

Related: How to Develop a Love of Literature in Your Home

Must-have children’s poetry books

Now We Are Six by A. A. Milne – This is a book of 35 children’s verses told from the perspective of a young child who takes the reader through the previous years of their life, ages 1-5.

A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson – This collection of poetry celebrates childhood in all its complexity and joy. The poems touch on themes of playful childhood, illness, play, and solitude.

Treasury for All Seasons by Julie Andews – This book is a compilation of a vast array of poems, old and new, that joyously celebrate each special season and day of the year.

Animals Animals by Eric Carle – This is a light-hearted collection of poems by various authors about different types of animals with corresponding illustrations all by Eric Carle.

A Child’s Book of Poems by Gyo Fujikawa – A Child’s Book of Poems is full of timeless poems and illustrations that depict children of all races sweetly interacting, the enchanting natural world, and adorable animals.

The Real Mother Goose illustrated by Blanche Fisher Wright – This book is full of traditional nursery rhymes and original illustrations, originally published in 1916.

Favorite children’s story treasury books

Frog and Toad Storybook Treasury by Arnold Lobel – This is the first book my son read on his own, so it holds a special place in our hearts. This treasury includes all the Frog and Toad stories about two friends’ silly adventures.

Little House Picture Book Treasury: Six Stories of Life on the Prairie is adapted from the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder and Renée Graef. I love this one for the bold, bright, and detailed illustrations and the simple stories that are adapted from the Little House books. It’s a great introduction to the novels.

A Beatrix Potter Treasury – What’s not to love about Beatrix Potter’s collection of whimsical tales? This collection would be a perfect fit if you are planning to use A Year of Tales curriculum or just want some classics to read again and again.

Jan Brett’s Animal Treasury – Jan Brett is one of my all-time favorite children’s book authors and this one includes four of her stories featuring animals.

The Children’s Book of Virtues by William J. Bennett – This is a lovely compilation of folktales and fables that illustrate virtues like honesty, courage, and compassion.

Paul Galdone’s The Folk Tale Classics Treasury – This treasury includes the retellings of classic folk and fairy tales such as The Little Red Hen and The Three Little Pigs with talented illustrations by Paul Galdone.

The Complete Brambly Hedge by Jill Barklem – This treasury includes the eight warm stories of the sweet mice of Brambly Hedge who live together in a close-knit community and make the best use of what each season has to offer.

Aesop’s Fables: The Classic Edition illustrated by Charles Santore – The captivating tales in this compilation help to illustrate basic moral issues through the simple classic stories and intriguing illustrations.

Related: 20 Read Aloud Books for Nature Lovers [Free Book List]

Reading quality literature with Treehouse Book Club

Reading stories with children from a young age is an important part of my family life and home education. Over the years I have enjoyed reading books with my children and doing book clubs with our family friends. If you are interested in reading quality literature and being part of a children’s book club we are now offering Treehouse Book Club. Treehouse Book Club features a new book selection every month and a guide to the book with a reading schedule, discussion questions, Book Report Booklet, and Book Club Meet-up Guide. Treehouse Book Club can be used as a book club format, a language arts curriculum or extension, and uses different books as lenses to explore topics in history, science, literature, and more.

Related: 

• How to Start a Children’s Book Club
• Introducing Treehouse Book Club 
• Summer of the Monkeys Book Study

I hope you find as much joy and connection in these poems and stories as we have in our home. I am sure I will add many to my must-have list over the years of homeschooling that I have ahead of me. What would you add to this list?