Best Children’s Books about Growing Up (2026): 5 Compared

The best children’s books about growing up answer the questions kids ask at bedtime: why do I have to wait, when will I be big, who will I become. We compared ten books by reading age, grade level, page count and format, for parents buying for young readers.

ShelfAnswers earns a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.

The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	We Are Growing! by Willems	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	I Wish You More by Rosenthal	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Who Do You Want to Be by Faris	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
4	When I Grow Up by Bengini	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Lift-the-Flap Growing Up	9.4/10	Buy on Amazon

1

We Are Growing! by Willems

Mo Willems·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 64-page illustrated picture book about growing up, reading age 3 to 6 years.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• Reading age 3 to 6 years, marked as from customers, and grade level 1 to 3
• 64 pages, illustrated edition
• Part of the Elephant and Piggie Like Reading series

Cons

• Reading age marked from customers only
• 2016 edition
• No further format details stated

2

I Wish You More by Rosenthal

Amy Krouse Rosenthal·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A book of wishes for a new baby, suited to a shower guest who wants a message on the page.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• The description names baby showers and new babies among its gift occasions
• The listing gives 40 pages and names illustrator Tom Lichtenheld
• The description points to the author's 30-plus other children's books

Cons

• The reading age of 2+ and the grade band of Kindergarten to 3 point to different readers
• The listing shows a March 31, 2015 publication date
• Much of the description covers the author and illustrator's other books, not this one

3

Who Do You Want to Be by Faris

Paula Faris·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 32-page picture book about choosing who to become, with a listed reading age of 4 to 7 years.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• Reading age 4 to 7 years, marked as from customers, and grade level Preschool to 3
• 2023 publication, the newest here
• 32 pages

Cons

• Reading age marked from customers only
• No series stated
• Shorter than the Willems pick at 32 pages

4

When I Grow Up by Bengini

Barbara Bengini·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 22-page board book about future professions, with a listed reading age of 2 to 5 years, for toddlers and preschoolers.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• Reading age 2 to 5 years stated
• Board book format for toddlers
• 22 pages

Cons

• No grade level stated
• Part of the I Love You series
• Shortest text of the age-stated picks

5

Lift-the-Flap Growing Up

Katie Daynes·9.4/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 14-page lift-the-flap book answering 60+ questions about growing up, with full-colour illustrations.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• 60+ questions about growing up
• Full-colour illustrations throughout
• Lift-the-flap format

Cons

• 14 pages, the shortest here
• No reading age or grade level stated
• 2019 publication

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

More picks to compare

• Wonderful Things You Will BeFor babies to age 3, about dreams and love, 36 pages.Check on Amazon
• If I Grow Up by StrasserFor readers 12 and up; a novel about tough choices.Check on Amazon
• When I Grow Up by MinchinFor ages 3-5; Matilda lyrics with new artwork.Check on Amazon
• Growing Girl's Guide to PubertyFor ages 8-12; a puberty guide for girls.Check on Amazon
• I Am Bigger by GreenFor ages 2-4; celebrating growing-up milestones.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 21 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, and value. Three of the five picks list a reading age; two of those are marked as from customers, and two also list a grade level. The story and Q&A picks lead; the reused pick ranks last.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best children’s books about growing up

Match the reading age to the child

Stated reading ages here run from 2 to 5 years on the board book to 4 to 7 years on the Faris pick, with the Willems pick at 3 to 6 years marked as from customers. Two of the three are marked as from customers, meaning shoppers reported them. See our best children’s books about winter for another seasonal shelf.

Board book or picture book

The Bengini pick is a board book, built for toddlers who still chew the corners. The other three are picture books with more pages and longer text. Match the format to small hands as well as age. See our best children’s books about friendship for more read-together picks.

Before you buy

• Check the reading age on the listing: two of the three stated ages here are marked as from customers.
• Check the grade level too: the Willems pick lists grade 1 to 3, the Faris pick lists Preschool to 3.
• Check the page count: the picks run from 14 to 64 pages, so pick the sitting-still time you have.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is We Are Growing! for?

The listing gives a reading age of 3 to 6 years, marked as from customers, and grade level 1 to 3.

Which of these is a board book?

When I Grow Up by Barbara Bengini, with a listed reading age of 2 to 5 years.

Do any of these answer questions about the body?

Yes. Lift-the-Flap Questions and Answers about Growing Up covers 60+ questions, including belly buttons and growing.

Still deciding? Our top pickWe Are Growing! by Willems

Check price on Amazon

Related lists

See every picture book list and all kids and teens lists.

More lists: winter books, friendship books, diversity books, picture books.