37 inspiring children's book quotes for people of all ages

You'd be amazed at the wisdom you can find in a good old fashioned bedtime story...

A little girl reading children's book quotes on her bed.

Enjoy these best-loved children's book quotes to get your little ones excited for World Book Day, which is fast approaching this year. 

Whether it's from one of your favourite bedtime stories or a book they picked up at school, book quotes are amazing. They can feature lessons on love, friendship and life, these inspiring quotes are almost as famous as the classic children's books themselves and are enjoyed by readers young and old.

From Roald Dahl to Lewis Carroll, A.A. Milne to J.K. Rowling, there's a whole world of characters to admire for their wit and words. Not to mention plenty of inspiration and ideas for World Book Day for your child's World Book Day costume!

So take a trip down memory lane and enjoy these inspiring children's book quotes for you and your little ones.

Our favourite inspiring children's book quotes

A yellow background with a peach above the James and the giant peach quote - "A little magic can take you a long way'

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A classic Roald Dahl quote from one of his juiciest books.

"A little magic can take you a long way." - James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl.

A children's book quote from The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry on a pale blue ackground surrounded by pink hot air balloons and white clouds.

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The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is a beloved French tale first translated and published in English in 1948. 

"All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it." -The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

A children's book quote from The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

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This poignant second quote from The Little Prince also makes it into our most inspiring children's books quotes.

“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” - The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

A children's book quote from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll on a blue background with a white bunny.

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A heartwarming quote from none other than the Cheshire Cat in Alice In Wonderland.

"You're mad, bonkers, completely off your head. But i'll tell you a secret. All the best people are." - Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll.

A children's book quote from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll on a teal background with clocks.

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Another valuable lesson for children to learn from Lewis Carroll's classic children series.

"Door: Why it's simply impassible!

Alice: "Why don't you mean impossible?

Door: No, I do mean impassible. (chuckles) Nothing's impossible!" - Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll.

A children's book quote from Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney on a dark sky background with the moon, clouds and some stars.

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A heartfelt quote adored by kids and parents alike.

"I love you right up to the moon - and back." - Guess How Much I Love You, Sam McBratney.

A children's book quote from Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie seen on a starry sky background.

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A quote to remember to always have faith from our favourite forever child.

"The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it." - Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie.

A children's book quote from Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie on a pale pink background with fairy lights.

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Another magical extract from Peter Pan to make our most inspiring children's book quotes list. Because fairies do exist...

"When the first baby laughed for the first time, it's laugh broke into a thousand pieces, and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of the fairies." - Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie.

A children's book quote from The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams set on a pale pink and white bunny rabbit background.

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An enchanting quote from the 1922 classic The Velveteen Rabbit - which follows a young rabbit's quest to become real.

"One you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand." - The Velveteen Rabbit, Margery Williams.

A children's book quote from the BFG by Roald Dahl on a white background with poppies.

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A funny little reminder that it's okay to get things wrong from time to time - from none other than Roald Dahl.

"Meanings is not important,' said the BFG.

'I cannot be right all the time. Quite often I is left instead of right.'" - The BFG, Roald Dahl.

A children's book quote from Horton Hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss on an orange and yellow background with a cartoon giraffe.

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An important lesson from the master of rhymes - Dr. Seuss.

"A person's a person no matter how small." - Horton Hears a Who!, Dr Seuss.

A children's book quote from The Railway Children by E. Nesbit set on a red, white and orange background.

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A gentle reminder for the boys from The Railway Children. This children's classic follows the adventures of  Roberta, Peter and Phyllis after they move to a new home next to a railway station.

"Girls are just as clever as boys, and don't you forget it!" - The Railway Children, E. Nesbitt.

A children's book quote from Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren set on a floral background.

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Another Girl Power quote courtesy of everyone's favourite flame haired female - Pippi Longstocking.

"'He's the strongest man in the world.'

'Man, yes,' said Pippi. 'But I am the strongest girl in the world, remember that.'" - Pippi Longstocking, Astrid Lindgren.

A children's book quote from George's Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl. The quote is set on a stripy blue, red, green and yellow striped background.

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George's grandmother has some wise words for her boy in another terrific Roald Dahl tale.

"Never grow up. Always down." - George's Marvellous Medicine, Roald Dahl.

A children's book quote from A Bear called Paddington by Michael Bond displayed on a blue background with a suitcase, Big Ben and a royal guard.

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Adventures do have a way of finding Paddington Bear in the beloved children book series.

"Things are always happening to me. I'm that sort of bear." - A Bear called Paddington, Michael Bond.

A children's book quote from Charlotte's Web by E.B. White set on a dark background with a spider.

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Teaching children the importance of friendship and kindness, this classic quote had to make our most inspiring children's books quotes.

"'Why did you do all this for me?' he asked. 'I don’t deserve it. I've never done anything for you.'

'You have been my friend,' replied Charlotte. 'That in itself is a tremendous thing.'" - Charlotte's Webb, E.B White.

A children's book quote from Watership Down by Richard Adams.

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A bold statement from one of the many bunnies in Watership Down. What child isn't fond of this classic fairy tale?

"If there's going to be a story, don't you think I've got as good a right as anyone to choose it?" - Watership Down, Richard Adams.

A children's book quote from The Lion and the Mouse - one of Aesop's Fables.

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Aesop's fables are renowned for featuring some fundamental morals and we couldn't agree more with this sentiment.

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." - The Lion and the Mouse, Aesop.

A children's book quote from The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr.

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Because what child doesn't hope to answer the door to a friendly tiger inviting one in for dinner?

"Sophie opened the door, and there was a big, furry, stripy tiger.

The tiger said: 'Excuse me, but I'm very hungry. Do you think I could have tea with you?'" - The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Judith Kerr.

A children's book quote from Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak on a red background with a big-eyed yellow fuzzy monster seen in the corner.

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A motivational quote from a monster of a children's tale.

"Inside all of us is hope. Inside all of us is fear.

Inside all of us is adventure. Inside of all of us is... A Wild Thing." - Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak.

A children's book quote from Matilda by Roald Dahl.

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We love this pep talk quote from the mighty Matilda - another of Roald Dahl's iconic characters.

"Never do anything by halves if you want to get away with it. Be outrageous. Go the whole hog.

Make sure everything you do is so completely crazy it's unbelievable." - Matilda, Roald Dahl. 

A children's book quote from The Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum.

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Reminding children everywhere not to take home comforts for granted is this quote from Dorothy from the infamous The Wizard of Oz.

"There is no place like home." - The Wizard of Oz, L Frank Baum.

A children's book quote from The Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum.

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Encouraging children to have courage and confidence, this quote is another highlight from The Wizard of Oz and one that had to make our most inspiring children's book quotes edit.

"'You have plenty of courage, I am sure,' answered Oz. 'All you need is confidence in yourself. There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger.

The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid, and that kind of courage you have in plenty.'" - The Wizard of Oz, L Frank Baum.

A children's book quote from The Twits by Roald Dahl.

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Quite possibly Roald Dahl's ugliest, smelliest and nastiest of characters, the Twits did however offer this gem of a quote to it's young readers.

"If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely." - The Twits, Roald Dahl.

A children's book quote from The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

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Teaching children the value of caring for others and objects, this quote is a highlight amongst our most inspiring children's book quotes.

"Where you tend a rose, my lad, a thistle cannot grow." - The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett.

A children's book quote from The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

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Another quote from the children's classic - The Secret Garden - reminding readers everywhere of nature's beauty.

"If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden." - The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett.

A children's book quote from The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling.

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Highlighting the bare necessities in this quote, Rudyard Kipling tells children anger is not the answer in scary situations.

"Now, don't be angry after you've been afraid. That's the worst kind of cowardice." - The Jungle Book, Rudyard Kipling.

A children's book quote from Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl.

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Roald Dahl carefully reminds his young readers that overcoming our fears can lead to exciting life adventures in this compelling quote.

"Most of the really exciting things we do in our lives scare us to death. They wouldn't be exciting if they didn't." - Danny the Champion of the World, Roald Dahl.

A children's book quote from Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian.

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A lesson to learn from this children's book quote in Goodnight Mister Tom - that vulnerability and weakness are in no way the same.

"It occurred to him that strength was quite different from toughness and that being vulnerable wasn't quite the same as being weak." - Goodnight Mister Tom, Michelle Magorian.

A children's book quote from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling.

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Perhaps one of the most famous lines from the Harry Potter series. Uttered, nonetheless, by one of it's wisest wizards - Albus Dumbledore.

"Happiness can be found even in the darkest times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling.

A children's book quote from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling.

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Another Dumbledore saying to feature in our most inspiring children's book quotes list.

"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling.

A children's book quote from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling.

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Bestselling children's author J.K. Rowling delivers this reality check to readers in her debut Harry Potter novel.

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, J.K. Rowling.

A children's book quote from Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne.

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Everyone's favourite yellow bear is full of wise words including this particularly inspirational children's book quote.

"A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside." - Winnie the Pooh, A.A. Milne.

A children's book quote from Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne.

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This heartfelt quote is another phrase from the Winnie the Pooh book series which teaches young kids the importance of feeling.

"Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart." - Winnie the Pooh, A.A. Milne.

A children's book quote from The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne.

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This A.A. Milne quote from The House at Pooh Corner has become somewhat iconic amongst fans of the beloved bear series. A reminder children and adults need every once in a while.

"If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together... there is something you must always remember.

You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.

But the most important thing is, even if we're apart... I'll always be with you." - The House at Pooh Corner, A.A. Milne.

Children's book quotes from Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne.

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Our final favourite children's book quote is this adorable message from A.A. Milne, teaching children a beautiful lesson of love and companionship.

"If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be 100 minus 1 day, so I never have to live without you." - Winnie the Pooh, A.A Milne.

Emily Stedman
Features Editor

Emily Stedman is the former Features Editor for GoodTo covering all things TV, entertainment, royal, lifestyle, health and wellbeing. Boasting an encyclopaedic knowledge on all things TV, celebrity and royals, career highlights include working at HELLO! Magazine and as a royal researcher to Diana biographer Andrew Morton on his book Meghan: A Hollywood Princess. In her spare time, Emily can be found eating her way around London, swimming at her local Lido or curled up on the sofa binging the next best Netflix show.