My top 10
There’s a kind of magic found in books whose pages have been turned by more than one generation—books that outlast trends and technology because they speak to something deeper. These ten illustrated children’s classics aren’t just stories; they are part of a shared memory across families, countries, and centuries.
Here are my personal top ten illustrated children’s classics: beloved not just for their words, but for the images that helped those words take root in the hearts of children.
A Little Princess
Sara Crewe arrives at Miss Minchin’s Seminary in London wrapped in silks and storybooks, the adored daughter of a rich British officer in India. She is imaginative, kind, and curious—qualities that set her apart from her peers and draw both admiration and resentment. When tragedy strikes and her fortunes vanish, Sara is reduced to a servant girl, confined to a draughty attic. But she refuses to let go of her inner dignity or sense of wonder.
Illustration highlight: Graham Rust’s romantic, finely detailed illustrations evoke the grandeur of Sara’s past and the stark reality of her present. His art, like the story itself, finds beauty even in hardship.
The Secret Garden
Step into the world of The Secret Garden with this Orphaned and sour, Mary Lennox is sent from colonial India to the windswept moors of Yorkshire, where Misselthwaite Manor hides its secrets behind closed doors and locked gates. But when Mary discovers a hidden walled garden, neglected and overgrown, something in her begins to stir. Together with her cousin Colin and their animal-loving friend Dickon, she brings the garden—and herself—back to life.
Illustration highlight: Inga Moore’s enchanting illustrations capture the slow unfolding of spring and the tender growth of friendship and trust. Her drawings invite you to linger in every leaf and ivy-covered wall.
The Jungle Book
Mowgli, a boy raised by wolves in the Indian jungle, learns the laws of nature from his unlikely guardians—Bagheera the panther, Baloo the bear, and Kaa the python. His story is both wild and wise, full of peril and poetry, as he tries to find his place between the world of men and animals.
Illustration highlight: Robert Ingpen’s dreamlike watercolours are filled with movement and mood. The jungle is alive in his art—lush, dangerous, and endlessly mysterious.
James Herriot’s Treasury for Children
This is such a special collection for our family. There was a time when our eldest son would not sleep until we had read him the “Puppy Book”. Every. Single. Night.
Set against the green dales and stone villages of Yorkshire, these gentle stories tell of animals and their owners, of kindness and compassion in everyday encounters. James Herriot, the beloved country vet, invites children into a world of lambs, ponies, kittens, and loyal farm dogs—each one a tale of care and connection.
Illustration highlight: Ruth Brown and Peter Barrett paint the animals with affectionate realism. You can almost feel the wool, hear the bray, and smell the hay of every barn and field.
Classic Storybook Fables
This collection breathes new life into timeless tales of wit and wisdom—from the clever fox to the slow-and-steady tortoise. These fables teach lessons with charm and humour, never losing their sparkle no matter how many times they’re read aloud.
Illustration highlight: Scott Gustafson’s golden-toned oil paintings bring a storybook opulence to each fable. Each image is layered with humour and detail, making even familiar tales feel new.
Peter Pan
In the nursery of the Darling children, bedtime takes a turn when Peter Pan arrives—a boy who refuses to grow up and whose shadow leads them to Neverland. There, they fly with fairies, duel pirates, and meet the mysterious Tiger Lily, all while learning what it means to belong—and to let go.
Illustration highlight: Honestly, this book is gorgeous. some of the images have been on the wall in our nursery since the moment I found out I was pregnant. Mabel Lucie Attwell’s soft, glowing illustrations are filled with nostalgia and innocence. It took me such a long time to find this version of the book and it is so treasured in our house!
Thomas the Tank Engine
This book feels like home. It reminds me of my brother when we were both so young and a joy I obviously needed to pass on to my own boys – who all have a “train name” in honour of Thomas and his mates.
From the bustling sheds of Sodor to the clatter of countryside tracks, Thomas and his fellow engines learn lessons about hard work, friendship, and occasionally, mischief. Each short story is a window into a charmingly ordered world of puffing steam and proper schedules.
Illustration highlight: The original artwork by Dalby and others defines the visual identity of Thomas—cheerful, bold, and brimming with mid-century British charm.
Brambly Hedge
Deep in the hedgerows, a community of field mice live with ritual, purpose, and seasonal joy. From springtime weddings to snowy feasts, the Brambly Hedge books invite readers into a miniature world where life is gentle, purposeful, and deeply rooted in nature’s rhythms.
Illustration highlight: Jill Barklem’s astonishingly detailed cross-sections and pastoral scenes are like looking into a dollhouse of woodland life. Each illustration is a treasure trove.
Snugglepot and Cuddlepie
Is there anything more iconic Australian than gum-nut babies, banksia men, and bushland escapades? May Gibbs brings to life a flora-filled world of innocence and adventure. Snugglepot and Cuddlepie are brave, kind-hearted little creatures who embark on journeys through treetops and streams to help others and protect their home.
Illustration highlight: May Gibbs’ endearing illustrations are instantly recognisable, blending fantasy with botanical observation in a way that is entirely her own.
A Madeline Treasury
“In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines…” There was a time when I think I could quote this book from beginning to end…
The tale of Madeline is one of a spirited girl with a brave heart and a taste for mischief. This collection gathers her adventures—of appendectomies, tigers in zoos, and moments of bold kindness—all told in rhyming couplets.
Illustration highlight: Bemelmans’ loose, expressive linework gives Paris a personality all its own. His illustrations feel spontaneous and joyful, like the stories themselves.
There is a sacredness in returning to books you once loved as a child. You begin to see not just what they meant to you then, but what they were trying to teach you all along. These books endure because they speak of beauty, bravery, forgiveness, and grace. They teach children—and remind adults—how to live well.
The illustrators, too, are not merely decorators of text. They are interpreters. Translators of mood, movement, and meaning. They give colour to memory.
These stories aren’t old—they are eternal.
Do you have a favourite edition or memory of one of these stories? I’d love to hear which books shaped your childhood—or the childhoods you’re shaping now. Use #DamascenaLibrary to share, or simply write in and say hello.
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