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One of the simplest ways to save money on children’s books (without lowering read-aloud quality) is to buy true picture-book treasuries. What I mean by "true" is the kind that collect multiple authors and illustrators, not just one series or one creator.
In this post I compare five major picture-book treasuries, each with a different “superpower,” so you can choose the one that fits your family.
Most “best treasuries” lists are really one-author collections in a big jacket. These aren’t. These are mixed-creator picture-book anthologies. We are talking full stories, real illustrations, and enough variety. These anthologies are the smartest way I know to buy new books without going broke.
Yes, one of the simplest ways to save money on children’s books (without lowering the quality of what you read aloud) is to buy treasuries.
A good treasury gives you a stack of “keepers” in one volume.
It is the kind of book that starts its life at the bedside, then moves on to be read by your kids silently on their own, and then quietly earns its shelf space over years.
In this post I end up comparing five major multi-author and often multi-illustrator picture-book treasuries each with very different strengths.
I have written reviews about many fabulous picture book treasuries from single-authors and single illustrators, just follow my Treasuries navigation link on this page for more of those.
But, picture book treasuries from multiple authors and artists serve a different purpose. They should come first?
Why? Because these ones with a range of artists and writers are the ones that will help you rediscover your old favorites (when you were a kid?) and your new favorites (the ones that click with your kids).
We all should expose ourselves to new artists and new stories. These multi-author picture book treasuries with different illustrators are a special beast and a massive value for any family.
Picture book treasuries are effectively mini-libraries and they also serve as great gifts.
I first wrote this post some time ago, initially with only two treasury book recommendations, and the basic idea hasn’t changed - but the market has.
Some older “best buys” are still excellent, and a few newer treasuries deserve to sit right beside them.
Below my old post there are three more picture book classic treasuries that I think genuinely work for families. They are generous in content, pleasant to read aloud, and - crucially - they don’t feel like bargain-bin filler.
So, let's start with my first two recommendations and then let's move on to the three newest suggestions - as of 2026!
The trick with any picture book treasury, of course, is selecting a treasury that isn’t just big, but with well chosen contents.
We all need stories - picture book classics preferably - that can take repeat readings, illustrations that still feel alive after the tenth bedtime, and a mix that doesn’t get stale.
If you’re buying new books and you want to stretch your budget, buying picture books treasuries this is one of the most reliable plays.
As a parent, you need to save money and spend it wisely, in order to get more book for your buck.
It's far from easy, as every parent knows.
Throughout my read aloud career, I've also been trying to keep picture book expenses under control.
To keep in tune with my readers, I review only what I buy. No free books from publishers for Read Aloud Dad - not that there is anything wrong with getting sample books for an honest review, mind you.
But there is a magnificent way that you can keep your expenses down as a parent, while providing your kids with dozens and dozens of new picture book classics. (And no, I'm not talking used books here)
I've got a treasure tip for you.
Take a look at these incredible anthologies.
You should be amazed that these fantastic books are still on sale.
Parents usually don't get an opportunity to save money on children's books - ever.
With such a wide range of authors and picture books for young listeners - saving money is exactly what you can hope for with this pair!
HarperCollins Treasury: For the price of two hardcover picture books you get 12 fully illustrated picture books
Not good enough?
20th Century Treasury: For roughly the same price get 46 picture books rolled into one (with somewhat smaller and fewer illustrations)
Take your pick. I did.
The good news is that whichever treasury you choose ... you win.
In the case of this pair, I agonized because I wanted both.
I was torn.
I was a click or two away from ordering some of the 58 smashing children's picture books offered in the form of two separate books.
I couldn't make up my mind which treasury to buy!
Should I take the The 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury: Picture Books and Stories to Read Aloud (with its massive 46 children's books and excerpts) although it did not carry all the illustrations from the original books and the ones included were often reduced in size?
It includes four Caldecott medal winners and many other award-winning books in its 308 pages (scroll down for full list of the included picture books)
Or should I remain a children's book "purist", by insisting on the dozen untouched versions of children's books with full-size pictures in the
HarperCollins Treasury of Picture Book Classics: A Child's First Collection?
It contains 12 complete read-aloud classics included on its 450 pages, but with ALL original full-size illustrations from the included books. This treasury is even heavier than the preceding one. (scroll down for full list of included picture books)
In the end - I took the plunge and ordered BOTH (in January 2010, one year ago).
Brace yourself - I'm ready to spill the beans on both of my purchases.
Before I go into the details - let me tell you the most important thing.
I forgot to include this book in my "5 ways to find the best read-aloud books". This treasury almost deserves a place of its own.
I can't review here all the 46 picture books, due to its sheer size, what I want to do is to share my thoughts on the treasury.
This anthology is a hot bed of ideas for a new read-aloud parent, it will help you discover new authors and new illustrators - it's richness and breadth is simply infectious.
Instead of making costly mistakes (buying books your kids will not like), the treasury will allow you to identify what your kids love ... and then you can build on this.
Let me give you an example.
This treasury introduced my twins and me to Robert McCloskey's Make Way for Ducklings - it resonated with all of us.
Since then we ordered ALL (yes all!) of McCloskey's books as stand-alone edictions.
Oh yes - and Harry the Dirty Dog! After he charmed my daughter, I decided to look for Harry's own treasury of stories to keep the love affair between my kids and Harry going.
This 20-th Century Treasury is not a mere collection of children's books - it is a wealth of ideas for parents who wish to expand their knowledge of children's books.
Keep in mind though that some of the illustrations have been omitted in this anthology, while others have been reduced in size.
Still, it is an incredible feat.
With two exceptions (Amelia Bedelia and Petunia, which were slighly abridged), all selections include the entire original text. Although a year has passed, we still have not read all the stories in this Treasury. It is so comprehensive.
There are stories for different age levels - which is a fantastic concept.
Selector Janet Schulman even included color-coded symbols with each story in order to indicate the approximate age level.
There are stories for the yougest child (red symbols), through blue-coded stories (intermediate) all the way to longer stories that are told primarily with words (green
symbol) and which require a greater attention span or range of experience.
To say that the list of picture books included in this treasury is extensive - is an understatement.
Check out its contents (most of the links below are affiliate links - they give the best previews, I must admit):
Stevie is such a heart-warming tale! It's a 32-page picture book that broke a lot of barriers. I also reviewed John Steptoe’s Stevie: a picture book that sneaks up and breaks your heart.
Pay attention when buying this treasury. It is not a big thing, but be aware that there are two editions on sale.
These treasuries are the perfect testing ground to find a style, an author, a character or a book type that your little kids enjoy. Then pursue it!
Two-year-olds and three-year-olds need a lot of visual stimuli - and here lies the success of this treasury.
I first wrote this post some time ago, initially with only two treasury book recommendations, and the basic idea hasn’t changed - but the market has.
Some older “best buys” are still excellent, and a few newer treasuries deserve to sit right beside them.
Below my old post there are three more picture book classic treasuries that I think genuinely work for families. They are generous in content, pleasant to read aloud, and - crucially - they don’t feel like bargain-bin filler.
So, let's start with my first two recommendations and then let's move on to the three newest suggestions - as of 2026!
The trick with any picture book treasury, of course, is selecting a treasury that isn’t just big, but with well chosen contents.
We all need stories - picture book classics preferably - that can take repeat readings, illustrations that still feel alive after the tenth bedtime, and a mix that doesn’t get stale.
If you’re buying new books and you want to stretch your budget, buying picture books treasuries this is one of the most reliable plays.
As a parent, you need to save money and spend it wisely, in order to get more book for your buck.
It's far from easy, as every parent knows.
Throughout my read aloud career, I've also been trying to keep picture book expenses under control.
To keep in tune with my readers, I review only what I buy. No free books from publishers for Read Aloud Dad - not that there is anything wrong with getting sample books for an honest review, mind you.
But there is a magnificent way that you can keep your expenses down as a parent, while providing your kids with dozens and dozens of new picture book classics. (And no, I'm not talking used books here)
I've got a treasure tip for you.
Take a look at these incredible anthologies.
You should be amazed that these fantastic books are still on sale.
Parents usually don't get an opportunity to save money on children's books - ever.
With such a wide range of authors and picture books for young listeners - saving money is exactly what you can hope for with this pair!
HarperCollins Treasury: For the price of two hardcover picture books you get 12 fully illustrated picture books
Not good enough?
20th Century Treasury: For roughly the same price get 46 picture books rolled into one (with somewhat smaller and fewer illustrations)
Take your pick. I did.
The good news is that whichever treasury you choose ... you win.
In the case of this pair, I agonized because I wanted both.
I was a click or two away from ordering some of the 58 smashing children's picture books offered in the form of two separate books.
I couldn't make up my mind which treasury to buy!
Should I take the The 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury: Picture Books and Stories to Read Aloud (with its massive 46 children's books and excerpts) although it did not carry all the illustrations from the original books and the ones included were often reduced in size?
It includes four Caldecott medal winners and many other award-winning books in its 308 pages (scroll down for full list of the included picture books)
Or should I remain a children's book "purist", by insisting on the dozen untouched versions of children's books with full-size pictures in the
HarperCollins Treasury of Picture Book Classics: A Child's First Collection?
It contains 12 complete read-aloud classics included on its 450 pages, but with ALL original full-size illustrations from the included books. This treasury is even heavier than the preceding one. (scroll down for full list of included picture books)
In the end - I took the plunge and ordered BOTH (in January 2010, one year ago).
Brace yourself - I'm ready to spill the beans on both of my purchases.
1. The 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury: Picture Books and Stories to Read Aloud
 |
| Cover of The 20th Century Children’s Book Treasury, selected by Janet Schulman |
I forgot to include this book in my "5 ways to find the best read-aloud books". This treasury almost deserves a place of its own.
I can't review here all the 46 picture books, due to its sheer size, what I want to do is to share my thoughts on the treasury.
This anthology is a hot bed of ideas for a new read-aloud parent, it will help you discover new authors and new illustrators - it's richness and breadth is simply infectious.
Instead of making costly mistakes (buying books your kids will not like), the treasury will allow you to identify what your kids love ... and then you can build on this.
Let me give you an example.
This treasury introduced my twins and me to Robert McCloskey's Make Way for Ducklings - it resonated with all of us.
Since then we ordered ALL (yes all!) of McCloskey's books as stand-alone edictions.
Oh yes - and Harry the Dirty Dog! After he charmed my daughter, I decided to look for Harry's own treasury of stories to keep the love affair between my kids and Harry going.
This 20-th Century Treasury is not a mere collection of children's books - it is a wealth of ideas for parents who wish to expand their knowledge of children's books.
Keep in mind though that some of the illustrations have been omitted in this anthology, while others have been reduced in size.
Still, it is an incredible feat.
With two exceptions (Amelia Bedelia and Petunia, which were slighly abridged), all selections include the entire original text. Although a year has passed, we still have not read all the stories in this Treasury. It is so comprehensive.
There are stories for different age levels - which is a fantastic concept.
Selector Janet Schulman even included color-coded symbols with each story in order to indicate the approximate age level.
There are stories for the yougest child (red symbols), through blue-coded stories (intermediate) all the way to longer stories that are told primarily with words (green
symbol) and which require a greater attention span or range of experience.
To say that the list of picture books included in this treasury is extensive - is an understatement.
Check out its contents (most of the links below are affiliate links - they give the best previews, I must admit):
1. excerpt from Winnie-The-Pooh (1926), by A.A. Milne
2. Millions of Cats (1928), by Wanda Gág
3. The Story of Babar: the Little Elephant (1931), by Jean de Brunhoff
4. The Story of Ferdinand (1936), by Munro Leaf
5. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (1939), by Virginia Lee Burton
- if you love Madeline, please also take a minute to read my review of the Madeline treasury the read-aloud that hooks kids fast - an amazing value and terrific read aloud experience!
7. Curious George (1941), by H.A. Rey , Margret Rey
If you feel like it also make a small detour to read my post about the The Complete Adventures of Curious George. It is such a gem that I think it may be the one single-character picture book treasury that every preschool home needs.
If you feel like it also make a small detour to read my post about the The Complete Adventures of Curious George. It is such a gem that I think it may be the one single-character picture book treasury that every preschool home needs.
8. Make Way for Ducklings (1941), by Robert McCloskey
One of my earliest reviews on this blog was precisely about this book! Check out my Make Way for Ducklings book review.
One of my earliest reviews on this blog was precisely about this book! Check out my Make Way for Ducklings book review.
9. story from The Cat Club (1944), by Esther Averill
This is one picture book that led me down a fantastic path of discovery. I uncovered the amazing world of Jenny Linsky and her cat club, read about it in my individual reviews of Jenny Linsky and the Cat Club and Pickles the Fire Cat books.
This is one picture book that led me down a fantastic path of discovery. I uncovered the amazing world of Jenny Linsky and her cat club, read about it in my individual reviews of Jenny Linsky and the Cat Club and Pickles the Fire Cat books.
10. Goodnight Moon (1947), by Margaret Wise Brown
11. Petunia (1950), by Ruger Duvoisin
12. Harry the Dirty Dog (1956), by Gene Zion
13. Bedtime For Frances (1960), by Russell Hoban
14. The Sneetches from The Sneetches And Other Stories (1961), by Dr. Seuss
15. The Snowy Day (1962), by Ezra Jack Keats
16. Amelia Bedelia (1963), by Peggy Parish
17. I Am a Bunny (1963), by Ole Risom
18. Where the Wild Things Are (1963), by Maurice Sendak
19. Swimmy (1963), by Leo Lionni
20. A Boy, a Dog and a Frog (1967), by Mercer Mayer
21. The Elves In The Shelves from A Necklace of Raindrops (1968), by Joan Aiken
22. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble (1969), by William Steig
23. Stevie (1969), by John Steptoe
Stevie is such a heart-warming tale! It's a 32-page picture book that broke a lot of barriers. I also reviewed John Steptoe’s Stevie: a picture book that sneaks up and breaks your heart.
24. The Letter from Frog and Toad Are Friends (1970), by Arnold Lobel
25. Whose Mouse Are You? (1970), by Robert Kraus
26. Titch (1971), by Pat Hutchins
27. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (1972), by Judith Viorst
28. Miss Nelson Is Missing! (1977), by Harry Allard
29. The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree (1978), by Stan and Jan Berenstain
30. Freight Train (1979), by Donald Crews
31. A Chair for My Mother (1982), by Vera B. Williams
32. Ten, Nine, Eight (1983), by Molly Bang
34. I Hear (1986), by Helen Oxenbury
35. I See (1986), by Helen Oxenbury
Helen Oxenbury is one of Read Aloud Dad's favorite illustrators! Her illustrations are just so delicate and are able to evoke the perfect mood to illustrate famous books! I reviewed a couple of her illustrated gems on my blog. Glance to see Oxenbury-illustrated editions in my reviews of the best illustrated Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and the best illustrated edition of The Secret Garden.
Helen Oxenbury is one of Read Aloud Dad's favorite illustrators! Her illustrations are just so delicate and are able to evoke the perfect mood to illustrate famous books! I reviewed a couple of her illustrated gems on my blog. Glance to see Oxenbury-illustrated editions in my reviews of the best illustrated Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and the best illustrated edition of The Secret Garden.
36. The Tub People (1989), by Pam Conrad
37. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (1989), by Bill Martin, Jr. , John Archambault
38. First Tomato (1992), by Rosemary Wells
39. The Stinky Cheese Man from The Stinky Cheese Man And Other Fairly Stupid Tales (1992), by Jon Scieszka
40. A Million Fish...More or Less (1992), by Patricia C. McKissack
41. Owen (1993), by Kevin Henkes
42. Stellaluna (1993), by Janell Cannon
43. Good Night, Gorilla (1994), by Peggy Rathmann
44. D.W. the Picky Eater (1995), Marc Brown
45. Guess How Much I Love You (1995), Sam McBratney
46. The Story of Little Babaji (1996), by Helen Bannerman, Fred Marcellino
OK, and the second treasury of picture book classics?
Well, read on!
Well, read on!
2. HarperCollins Treasury of Picture Book Classics: A Child's First Collection
Pay attention when buying this treasury. It is not a big thing, but be aware that there are two editions on sale.
 |
| 2015 edition with the A Chair for My Mother and Chrysanthemum picture books |
We own the older 2002 edition with a navy blue front cover, but a newer red covered edition has been published in 2015.
There are a few differences in the story line up, but I will explain that. Check the list of published picture books in this treasury below for full details.
Basically, the 2002 edition (blue cover) table of contents includes George Shrinks and Baby Says.
The updated 2015 edition (red cover) swaps those out for A Chair for My Mother and Chrysanthemum.
And the pictures in this anthology are huge! You are sure to win over any toddler.
It's sheer size does not prevent my small daughter from hauling this book around wherever she goes. I still can't believe that she can carry and "read it" on her own, but she never complains.
For small children, this book may be the more approachable of the two treasuries - because as a read-aloud it is geared primarily to the younger ages.
This treasury will also have great value as a source of reading material for kids when learning to read - so it will be useful later on as well.
This anthology introduced us to If You Give a Mouse a Cookie - a story that was so important to my twins that there was a period when we had to read it practically every day for almost a month.
Basically, the 2002 edition (blue cover) table of contents includes George Shrinks and Baby Says.
The updated 2015 edition (red cover) swaps those out for A Chair for My Mother and Chrysanthemum.
And the pictures in this anthology are huge! You are sure to win over any toddler.
It's sheer size does not prevent my small daughter from hauling this book around wherever she goes. I still can't believe that she can carry and "read it" on her own, but she never complains.
For small children, this book may be the more approachable of the two treasuries - because as a read-aloud it is geared primarily to the younger ages.
This treasury will also have great value as a source of reading material for kids when learning to read - so it will be useful later on as well.
This anthology introduced us to If You Give a Mouse a Cookie - a story that was so important to my twins that there was a period when we had to read it practically every day for almost a month.
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| 2002 edition with the George Shrinks and Baby Says picture books |
Guess what, I later surrendered and ordered a few other books by the same author (Laura Joffe Numeroff) - such as If You Give a Pig a Pancake, If You Give a Moose a Muffin, etc.).
These treasuries are the perfect testing ground to find a style, an author, a character or a book type that your little kids enjoy. Then pursue it!
Two-year-olds and three-year-olds need a lot of visual stimuli - and here lies the success of this treasury.
It has 12 unabridged picture books with full-size illustrations. Bang!
The contents include:
1. Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown, Clement Hurd
6. Leo the Late Bloomer, by Robert Kraus, Jose Aruego
11. From Head to Toe, by Eric Carle
12. Pete's Pizza, by William Steig
Again, if what you are after is a “one purchase, many actual picture books” solution, this one is another one that is worth a thought.
These are not books that are completely different among themselves. They all share the "Little Golden Book" aura. So, if the Little Golden Books don't work for you, it won't be the treasury you want.
The contents include:
1. Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown, Clement Hurd
2. Caps for Sale, by Esphyr Slobodkina
If you want a bit deeper insight into this irreplaceable classic, delve deeper into my own review of Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina, it's a classic read-aloud kids beg to perform.
3. Harold and the Purple Crayon, by Crockett Johnson
4. Crictor, by Tomi Ungerer
5. A Baby Sister for Frances, by Russell Hoban, Lillian Hoban
If you want a bit deeper insight into this irreplaceable classic, delve deeper into my own review of Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina, it's a classic read-aloud kids beg to perform.
3. Harold and the Purple Crayon, by Crockett Johnson
4. Crictor, by Tomi Ungerer
5. A Baby Sister for Frances, by Russell Hoban, Lillian Hoban
6. Leo the Late Bloomer, by Robert Kraus, Jose Aruego
7. William's Doll, by Charlotte Zolotow, William Pène Du Bois
8. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, by Laura Joffe Numeroff, Felicia Bond
11. From Head to Toe, by Eric Carle
12. Pete's Pizza, by William Steig
13. A Chair for My Mother, by Vera B. Williams (only in the 2015 edition - the one with the red cover !)
Comparing them, it becomes obvious that these anthologies are not direct rivals.
I see the HarperCollins Treasury of Picture Book Classics as the best option for the very youngest listeners (because of its fantastic visuals with full color illustrations), while the 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury has four times as many stories and a greater potential to satisfy kids of different ages. However, the latter has some limitations.
The 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury sacrifices and reduces in size a significant number of illustrations. You don't get to see all the illustrations from the original books.
But it can serve also as a great stepping stone. You get to find the books and authors that work best for your family - and can narrow down your search to follow up those full editions of individual books and series that click with your little ones.
The 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury sacrifices and reduces in size a significant number of illustrations. You don't get to see all the illustrations from the original books.
But it can serve also as a great stepping stone. You get to find the books and authors that work best for your family - and can narrow down your search to follow up those full editions of individual books and series that click with your little ones.
These two anthologies do not compete in my household - both are equally loved and enjoyed. There is no direct overlap between the two - except for Goodnight Moon.
Looking back, I can say that The HarperCollins Treasury of Picture Book Classics helped my twins to get hooked on picture books, while the 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury helped them get hooked on read-alouds.
And now ... three more terrific treasuries (a fresh 2026 update)
OK. Now for the promised update. I’m still a big believer in the two treasuries above. But over the years I kept bumping into a familiar problem:
even when you own a couple of “big” anthologies, you still end up buying lots of stand-alone books one by one.
Sometimes that’s wonderful. Sometimes it’s wasteful. (Because not every “highly praised” picture book becomes a keeper in your own house.)
So here are three more treasuries that I genuinely like as family bookshelf books. Not perfect. None are.
But each one has that rare mix of: lots to read, read-aloud friendliness, and the feeling that the editor actually cared.
The kind of book you keep within reach because you can open it almost anywhere and land on something that works.
Some treasuries feel like they were assembled by spinning a wheel. This one doesn’t.
It’s built around characters kids already love (or quickly learn to love), and the pacing is smart: full stories, then little poem breaks, then another story.
That “breathing space” matters more than people think, especially when you’re reading aloud to wiggly listeners.
What you’re getting here are eight complete picture books. These are not excerpts, not little “samples.”
Here is the full list of the included books and creators:
It covers different kinds of “kid joy”: mischief (George), a lovable oddball (Tacky), a repetitive read-aloud chant energy (Five Little Monkeys), and a true old classic (Mike Mulligan) that still has weight and warmth.
Sometimes that’s wonderful. Sometimes it’s wasteful. (Because not every “highly praised” picture book becomes a keeper in your own house.)
So here are three more treasuries that I genuinely like as family bookshelf books. Not perfect. None are.
But each one has that rare mix of: lots to read, read-aloud friendliness, and the feeling that the editor actually cared.
3) The Family Storybook Treasury: Tales of Laughter, Curiosity, and Fun
This one is the “happy chaos” treasury.The kind of book you keep within reach because you can open it almost anywhere and land on something that works.
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| A book families return to Stories meant to be shared Classic read aloud treasury Generations around one book Evenings built on stories |
It’s built around characters kids already love (or quickly learn to love), and the pacing is smart: full stories, then little poem breaks, then another story.
That “breathing space” matters more than people think, especially when you’re reading aloud to wiggly listeners.
What you’re getting here are eight complete picture books. These are not excerpts, not little “samples.”
Here is the full list of the included books and creators:
- Curious George and the Firefighters, by Margret Rey & H. A. Rey
- Martha Speaks, by Susan Meddaugh
- Lyle Walks the Dogs, by Bernard Waber
- Sheep in a Jeep, by Nancy Shaw (illustrated by Margo Apple)
- Tacky the Penguin, by Helen Lester (illustrated by Lynn Munsinger)
- Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, by Eileen Christelow
- The Great Doughnut Parade, by Rebecca Bond
- Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, by Virginia Lee Burton
It covers different kinds of “kid joy”: mischief (George), a lovable oddball (Tacky), a repetitive read-aloud chant energy (Five Little Monkeys), and a true old classic (Mike Mulligan) that still has weight and warmth.
And the art styles bounce around enough to keep things fresh.
Between the stories you also get poetry. Nikki Grimes, Calef Brown, Doug Florian, and Bob Raczka are among the contributors,
which gives you a hint of the range. (Some silly, some lyrical, some quick).
One small warning: the overall tone here is upbeat and funny.
If you’re hunting specifically for quiet, dreamy bedtime material, you’ll still use this book a lot, but you’ll probably pick and choose which stories land best right before sleep.
And, if you want to use the book to teach yourself how to read aloud - it comes with a CD included with the narrated stories! Listen and learn on the job!
4) The Family Bedtime Treasury: Tales for Sleepy Times and Sweet Dreams
If you want one big book that actually gets used (not just admired), this is a very smart kind of treasury.
It’s built for real nights: tired parents, wiggly kids, that “one more story” negotiation, and the simple fact that bedtime books need to be both comforting and readable out loud without effort.
What makes it work is that it doesn’t rely on one author, one style, or one mood.
It gives you a whole bedtime shelf in one cover.
And the selection is surprisingly thoughtful: gentle, funny, warm, and varied but still “safe” enough that you can read it half-asleep without accidentally wandering into something that derails bedtime.
You get eight complete picture books. Here is the full list:
And because the creators vary so much, you get that treasury pleasure of turning pages and feeling the style change without the book feeling chaotic.
It also includes a second layer: eight illustrated poems and a long classical-music CD, which you may or may not care about, but it does reinforce what the whole book is trying to be: a complete bedtime kit, not just a bundle of stories.
If I had to name a downside, it’s simply this: it’s a bedtime book.
So it won’t replace your “all-purpose daytime read-aloud” treasury (like the 20th Century one). It does one job extremely well and it’s the job most families end up doing every single day.
- Five Little Monkeys Reading in Bed, by Eileen Christelow
- The Napping House, by Audrey Wood / Don Wood (illustrations)
- Bedtime Bunnies, by Wendy Watson
- Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go to Sleep, by Joyce Dunbar / Debi Gliori (illustrations)
- The Goodnight Train, by June Sobel / Laura Huliska-Beith (illustrations)
- The Quiet Book, by Deborah Underwood / Renata Liwska (illustrations)
- Gideon, by Olivier Dunrea
- No Sleep for the Sheep by Karen Beaumont / Jackie Urbanovic (illustrations)
And because the creators vary so much, you get that treasury pleasure of turning pages and feeling the style change without the book feeling chaotic.
It also includes a second layer: eight illustrated poems and a long classical-music CD, which you may or may not care about, but it does reinforce what the whole book is trying to be: a complete bedtime kit, not just a bundle of stories.
If I had to name a downside, it’s simply this: it’s a bedtime book.
So it won’t replace your “all-purpose daytime read-aloud” treasury (like the 20th Century one). It does one job extremely well and it’s the job most families end up doing every single day.
5) The Poky Little Puppy and Friends: The Nine Classic Little Golden Books (honorable mention)
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| The Poky Little Puppy and Friends A circle of classic Little Golden Books characters One of those covers that instantly feels like childhood |
It’s a single volume that gathers nine complete Little Golden Book classics.
So, keep in mind, this one is the most "uniform" of the five treasuries listed in this post. These are all books from one publisher - the Little Golden Books series.
These are not books that are completely different among themselves. They all share the "Little Golden Book" aura. So, if the Little Golden Books don't work for you, it won't be the treasury you want.
Still, these are not excerpts, not “adapted from,” not a stitched-together retelling, but the real stand-alone books kids can fall in love with one by one.
And that’s the whole point of Little Golden Books, really.
They are short. They are direct. They have a certain old-school confidence: a beginning, a middle, an end, and no fuss about it.
They’re designed to be read aloud without effort and reread without getting stale.
That’s why they last.
They’re not trying to be fancy. They’re trying to be useful.
They’re also great “repeat performers.”
If you’ve read aloud to small children, you know the pattern: once a book becomes a favorite, it becomes a nightly request.
Little Golden Books were basically built for that kind of family life: sturdy, rhythmic, memorable, and easy to return to.
And because these stories come from different creators, you get a real spread of tone and illustration style inside one cover.
Here’s the full contents list (nine complete books):
- The Poky Little Puppy, by Janette Sebring Lowrey; illustrated by Gustaf Tenggren
- The Shy Little Kitten, by Cathleen Schurr; illustrated by Gustaf Tenggren
- Tawny Scrawny Lion, by Kathryn Jackson; illustrated by Gustaf Tenggren
- The Saggy Baggy Elephant, by Kathryn & Byron Jackson; illustrated by Gustaf Tenggren
- Tootle, by Gertrude Crampton; illustrated by Tibor Gergely
- The Little Red Hen, by J. P. Miller (author/illustrator)
- The Color Kittens, by Margaret Wise Brown; illustrated by Alice & Martin Provensen
- The Little Red Caboose, by Marian Potter; illustrated by Tibor Gergely
- Scuffy the Tugboat, by Gertrude Crampton; illustrated by Tibor Gergely
You can read one book a night for more than a week without repeating, and the moods actually vary:
cozy puppy trouble, shy-kitten courage, funny rabbit-vs-lion cleverness, train stories, tugboat stories,
and a simple “work ethic” folktale.
That variation matters. It keeps the treasury from feeling like one long 'samey' book.
And there’s another quiet advantage: Little Golden Books teach kids what “classic” looks like.
The sentences are usually clean and easy to verbalize. The storytelling is economical and the illustrations do a lot of the work.
Even within this one volume, you can feel the difference between illustrators (Tenggren vs. Gergely vs. the Provensens).
Kids notice that.
They start to see that picture books don’t all look the same, that different artists “think” differently on the page.
The only catch is that these are classic mid-century books, and you feel it here and there.
They’re short, quick, built to be reread, and sometimes a little old-fashioned in tone.
For me, that’s not a deal breaker.
It’s just good to know what you’re buying: a sturdy bundle of real picture books,
not a single unified modern anthology pretending to be everything.
Happy reading,
Read Aloud Dad
This is a fantastic list! I really like how you noted which stories the different books have. My daughter found The 20th Century Children's Book Treasury at Goodwill a couple years ago. I'm surprised how often my kids gravitate to that book for a bedtime story. Our copy is becoming well loved but is still going strong. Thank you for sharing your list on what I should hunt down next!
ReplyDeleteThank you, I am really happy this was useful. Indeed the precise contents do make or break a treasury and it is quite important to know what is inside! Hope you and the kids have many enjoyable evenings together with the 20th Century Children's Book Treasury ... and new books in the future too! Thanks for your valuable feedback!
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