Contributed by Info Guru Oliver VanDervoort

We all read them when we were kids and now we want to pass them on to the next generation.

The question is, of all the stories, Fables and Fairie Tales we read, which are the best of the best? Which are the ones we have to make sure our little ones are going to read? Which are the tales that have endured the passage of time to rise to the top of the heap? Some are indeed old stories that have been around longer than most of us remember. Some are relatively new compared to their compatriots. Without further ado, our top ten popular children’s stories:

10. Peter Cottontail

The tales of Peter Cottontail have been around since 1914 and have delighted generation upon generation. He makes the list of the most popular children’s stories because of his whimsical nature and ability to get himself into and out of trouble. One can only imagine the number of different modern cartoon characters that have been based on Peter.

9. Harold and the Purple Crayon

This particular story is quite a bit more modern than Peter Cottontail and makes the list because the underlying message is that a child’s imagination is incredibly powerful. The lighthearted way in which the story delivers the message makes this story about a boy who draws his own world one of the best ever written.

8. Where the Wild Things Are

This particular story is so beloved because it seems as though every kid can relate to the story’s main character. Sent to bed without his dinner for acting out, our protagonist ends up finding a magical world he initially likes better than home, until he starts missing his mother. If there are any surprises with this particular story is that it took the better part of four decades to make it into a feature film.

7. The Lorax

Sometimes it seems as if this entire list could be made up of just Dr. Seuss stories, but the Lorax is certainly one of the best of all time. A sly story about the dangers of corporate expansion is as timely and telling as it was when the book was published decades ago.

6. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

This is another story that resonates with children and that is just one of the reasons this is one of the top 10 children’s stories of all time. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is a story of a child who simply starts off his day about as bad as he possibly could and then it gets worse from there. The story ends with Alexander realizing it really wasn’t that bad and that he still has very good things in his life, including his family.

5. Alice in Wonderland

Another classic story that has more than withstood the test of time Alice in Wonderland is simply one of the best books ever written. Alice heading off to the mysterious world of Wonderland introduces the reader to dozens of wonderful creatures. There’s a reason there have been so many different iterations in film and television.

4. Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs

This story is about a world where the weather suddenly turns into food. The story is wonderfully silly and is another one where it seems odd that it took as long as it did to turn into a movie. Of course, the movie is loosely based on the book and has changed quite a few things.

3. Green Eggs and Ham

Another Dr. Seuss story that has a fun and roundabout way of not only telling a story but teaching a lesson to its readers. There simply wasn’t anyone who was as good at doing this than Seuss and its of course the reason the man is so revered in the Children’s book industry.

2. The Cat in the Hat

The Cat in the Hat has become one of the most easily recognizable characters in the entire Dr. Seuss universe. The story of a couple of bored children who invite this trouble making cat into their home is a classic.

1. The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree is actually the newest story of any on the list. This is why it is probably a bit surprising that it made the top. Shel Silverstein put together this parable that has sadness etched into it from the very beginning. The story of a tree that is all to happy to give to “the boy” whatever he asks is a moving story that all children should read and then read again.