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"The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle

Image: rbu1249

A must to start off this list: The visuals of The Very Hungry Caterpillar are ingrained in the upbringing of millions of kids throughout the country —and the world!

Eric Carle wrote and illustrated the story of a bug eating through several foods before transforming into a butterfly. Who could forget the tactile experience of finding different holes in the pages?

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"Corduroy" by Don Freeman

Image: Susanne Jutzeler, suju-foto

In the world of children’s literature, Corduroy is a tear-jerker. A teddy bear sits on a store shelf hoping a kid will pick him. Little Lisa spots him but can’t afford him, and leaves. So the bear embarks on a quest to fix his missing button, hoping this will make him more likable.

In the end, Lisa comes back and buys him as he is —because, of course, he was always enough . Is there a sweeter story to teach kids about self-acceptance and love?

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"Make Way for Ducklings" by Robert McCloskey

Image: David Trinks

A row of bronze statues in Boston’s Public Garden celebrates Make Way for Ducklings, the sweet book by illustrator and author Robert McCloskey.

He got the idea for this story when he observed ducks causing traffic issues on Beacon Street. The book follows Mr. and Mrs. Mallard as they search for the perfect place to raise their family —ducklings Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack. They finally settle, of course, in the lagoon of the Boston Public Garden.

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"Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White

Image: Annie Spratt

Author E.B. White had a farm in Maine, and his daily observations of barnyard animals gave him an idea: What if a pig and a spider became best friends?

In the book, the spider weaves messages to convince humans that Wilbur is an extraordinary pig and should not be slaughtered. Charlotte’s Web brushes on themes like mortality and loss —certainly bold for a children’s book. Nonetheless, it became a timeless classic.

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"The Cat in the Hat" by Dr. Seuss

Image: Franco Monsalvo

"Thing One" and "Thing Two" have to be among the longest-standing Halloween costumes in use. They were born thanks to Dr. Seuss’ famous The Cat in the Hat in the 50s, and every kid still seems to know its iconic characters.

The story shows a day in the life of two kids left home alone when a whimsical magical cat shows up to unleash some fun chaos. The author said that he wrote the book as a response to an article in Life Magazine that lamented the dullness of children’s primers.

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"Frog and Toad Are Friends" by Arnold Lobel

Image: Jared Evans

Images of Frog and Toad still abound on the internet, which proves how beloved and timeless the pair became. Frog and Toad Are Friends was published in 1970 as the first in Arnold Lobel's famous series.

The wholesome dialogue, tender narratives, and classic illustrations left a lasting mark on generations of readers. Who could forget the simplicity of these two loyal friends riding a bike, flying a kite, or fishing from a boat?

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"Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown

Image: David_Miram

We couldn’t leave Goodnight Moon out of this list! Margaret Wise Brown wrote over 100 children’s books, but this one won the hearts of little readers and their parents.

It’s a bedtime story about a young bunny saying goodnight to everything around him , from "the great green room" to "the quiet old lady whispering ‘hush’." It shows an appeasing and sweet ritual that taught kids about routines through soothing rhymes.

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"Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak

Image: Adnan Uddin

In Where the Wild Things Are, mischievous young Max escapes into a vivid fantasy world after being sent to his room without dinner. There, he crosses a land of endearing monsters whom he leads as their king.

Maurice Sendak’s story and iconic illustrations captivated many generations of readers. The text was adapted into short films, a live-action film, and even an opera!

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"Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle

Image: Daniel Diesenreither

Remember Eric Carle, author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar ? Before that big hit, he had been the illustrator for another unforgettable kid’s book: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

This one was written by Bill Martin Jr. The rhyming question-response structure introduces readers to a series of animals described by their vibrant colors : a brown bear, a red bird, a yellow duck, and so on.

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"The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster

Image: Jon Tyson

Maurice Sendak, the author of Where the Wild Things Are​ , said that The Phantom Tollbooth was a masterpiece.

This 1960s book by Norton Juster follows Milo, a bored young boy who unexpectedly receives a mysterious tollbooth that allows him to travel through fantastical lands. Juster said that the idea for this book was sparked from a random encounter with a curious child asking about infinity.

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Bison

Image: Alex Moliski

We’ll begin with the national mammal of the United States. Actually, that might be a bit reductive: the bison is not just a national symbol, but it has also been chosen as representative by a plethora of institutions, including the U.S. Department of the Interior, the University of Colorado, and several Great Plains states.

Since the end of the 19th century, indiscriminate hunting made the bison an extremely endangered species: By 1884, only 325 bison remained in the country. Luckily, thanks to the hard work of several conservation agencies, that number has gradually increased over the years, reaching a population of 500,000 bison by 2017.

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Prairie dog

Image: Moritz Kindler

Here’s a question for any biologist reading this article: Why, pray tell, are prairie dogs not called "prairie squirrels"? While these mammals possess little to no dog-like features, they are definitely a close relative of squirrels. In fact, they belong to the same family. Food for thought, right?

In any case, prairie dogs are proof that an animal doesn’t have to be big to be important. All five species are considered keystone species to their environments, as their burrowing and mound-building help renew and revitalize the soil of their habitats. Not only that, they are extremely important components of the food chain, since they provide sustenance to many predators.

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Alligator

Image: Matthew Essman

From the warm weather of the American South comes the only reptile on this list. Alligators are truly fascinating creatures: not only do they date back to the age of dinosaurs, but they can also only be found in 2 countries in the entire world—China and, of course, the United States.

While they are certainly deadly predators, don’t let their ferocity fool you: they rarely attack humans, and only when disturbed. Moreover, alligators are key species in maintaining their habitats, not just through population control, but also by encouraging plant diversity through the construction of alligator holes.

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Grizzly bear

Image: Joshua J. Cotten

Anyone who has looked at a picture of a bear has probably thought in disbelief, "How can something that looks this adorable be so dangerous?" While this philosophical conundrum might be the reason that Teddy bears are so popular, the truth is that the grizzly bear is a perfect representative of the duality found in most of these large mammals: a combination of extreme cuteness with dangerous ferocity.

In that sense, we only need to take a look at the etymology of the grizzly bear to find the feral nature of this seemingly adorable creature. When Lewis and Clark first encountered these bears, they recorded their name as "grisley," which many believe comes from a Middle English word for "gruesome."

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Gray wolf

Image: Anthony Sebbo

Many biologists consider the gray wolf the unsung hero of American wildlife. This majestic hunter is a keystone species in Yellowstone National Park, helping to maintain the elk and deer populations. And while it has notably appeared in many blankets and t-shirts, the gray wolf, sadly, has not been recognized as any state’s official mammal.

Originally, grey wolves’ range covered approximately two-thirds of America, but they can currently be found in the northern part of the country. Most notably, Alaska houses the largest wolf population in the country, with a number between 7,000 and 11,000 wolves roaming the state.

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Turkey

Image: Tyler Jamieson Moulton

There’s an urban legend that states that Benjamin Franklin proposed the turkey to be our national symbol. If the stories are true, there might very well be a universe in which this odd-looking bird represents Americans everywhere. And although we’ll take the bald eagle as a symbol any day of the week, there’s something to be said about the nobility of this game bird.

Unlike their domesticated counterparts, wild turkeys are more adept at flying. Although we may never see a majestic turkey soar through the skies, they are able to fly short distances of up to a quarter mile. What’s perhaps most impressive about these birds is their wide range of vocalizations, which may sound like a simple "gobble, gobble" to us, but convey numerous meanings to other turkeys.

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Groundhog

Image: Andy Sanchez

Sure, Beverly Hills might be the home of Hollywood’s royalty, but the borough of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, is home to one of America’s most famous stars. Since 1887, a groundhog by the name of Phil (Punxsutawney Phil, to be exact) has been the key figure in the town’s most famous tradition: "Groundhog Day," a celebration in which Phil predicts when will winter end.

While Punxsutawney Phil is perhaps America’s most famous groundhog, the truth is that these quirky rodents are one of America’s most recognizable animals. Interestingly, groundhogs are also known as "woodchucks," which is a rather baffling name, since these creatures are not known for chucking wood of any kind.

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Florida panther

Image: Maheera Kulsoom

The alligator might be Florida’s most famous animal, but this large cat shouldn’t be overlooked. The Florida panther is the only cougar species living in the Eastern United States, with a worrying 200 individuals currently living in the Sunshine State.

This majestic cougar is a source of pride for many Floridians, and numerous conservation campaigns have been launched over the years to help protect its habitat. The Florida panther was named the state’s official animal in 1982, as well as being the namesake of the South Florida ice hockey team.

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Roadrunner

Image: Anish Lakkapragada

Isn’t it strange not to see a coyote included in the title of this entry? We feel bad about separating this iconic pair, but we are sure you’ll agree that the roadrunner is an amazing bird in its own right, even becoming New Mexico’s official state bird in 1949.

Warner Bros. cartoons quickly capitalized on this bird’s most remarkable feature: its running speed. Roadrunners can reach speeds of up to 20 mph, which comes in great help for hunting and running away from predators (like a certain coyote).

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Bald eagle

Image: Michael Jerrard

The bald eagle shares the title of "most instantly recognizable American symbol" with the American flag and Mount Rushmore. Its status sometimes makes us forget about the spectacular specimen hiding behind the American icon, so we thought it would be a good idea to close this article with a small tribute to our favorite bird of prey.

Let’s start with the obvious: the name "bald eagle" doesn’t come from any distinct lack of plumage, but rather from the old meaning of the word "bald," which used to stand for "white-headed." This distinction seems necessary because one of the most breathtaking aspects of this bird is the contrast of its feathers, which produces a stunning image when paired with its yellow beak. For a while, the status of the bald eagle was endangered until its population recovered thanks to conservation efforts.

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Ancient roots

Image: Miguel Teirlinck

Believe it or not, what we call Halloween began more than 2,000 years ago. The ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, held from October 31 to November 1 in what is now Ireland, Scotland, and parts of Britain, marked the shift from the harvest season to the dark days of winter. The Celts believed that, on that night, the boundary between the living and the dead grew dangerously thin. Spirits could slip through that barrier... both benevolent and darker ones.

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Why scary costumes?

Image: JOHN BEARBY IMAGES

If the spirits of the dead were roaming the earth, what would you do? The Celts had a clever solution: they disguised themselves with animal skins and masks to look frightening and protect themselves from any spirits that might not have the best intentions. The hope was that ghosts would either mistake them for one of their own or be scared off entirely. Over time, the tradition evolved, but its roots remained; just look at all the little witches, skeletons, and other spooky costumes we see on Halloween today.

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There's a reason for black and orange

Image: Gary Fultz

Orange and black take over homes and streets every Halloween, but why? The answer goes back to the Celtic festival of Samhain as well. Orange symbolized the end of autumn and fallen leaves, while black represented the darkness of the long winter nights ahead.

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Witches weren’t always seen as scary

Image: Halanna Halila

Witches have been part of Halloween lore for ages. Countless stories cast them as spooky figures with flying broomsticks, pointed hats, and bubbling potions. But it wasn’t always this way. Among the Celts, many practices now labeled as "witchcraft" were connected to healing, spirituality, and nature, and weren’t seen as evil at all; that association came much later with the spread of Christianity. In fact, the English word "witch" is often linked to the Old English wicca (masculine) and wicce (feminine), meaning "wise one."

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Trick-or-treating origins

Image: Robin Jonathan Deutsch

In addition to dressing up to protect themselves, the Celts also left treats on their doorsteps to appease wandering spirits. Over the centuries, that custom changed and spread. By medieval times in Europe, people—especially children—would go door to door during this season, offering prayers for departed souls or performing small songs and jokes in exchange for food or treats. This tradition, known as "souling" or "guising," eventually inspired the trick-or-treating we know today.

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Scary tricks

Image: Nick Fewings

In the recent past, the "tricks" in trick-or-treating were no joke—they could be genuinely frightening. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Halloween was known far more for mischief than for candy. Kids pulled off pranks like tying doors shut or slamming windows to make homeowners think their houses were haunted. Scary? Yes. Fun? Definitely.

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In the past, they weren't pumpkins

Image: Igor Omilaev

Pumpkins may be the stars of Halloween décor today, but they weren’t always the first pick. The tradition of carving Halloween lanterns also began in Ireland and Scotland, but not with pumpkins. In the old days, people carved turnips, beets, and other root vegetables. When Irish immigrants arrived in the United States in the 19th century, they found that pumpkins were bigger, softer, and far easier to carve, so pumpkins quickly replaced the turnips.

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Halloween, SC

Image: Joseph Corl

Today, Americans put a lot of effort into Halloween celebrations. But perhaps no one embraces it more than the residents of Conway, SC, who made headlines for a bold decision. In 2022, the city officially adopted the monikers "City of Halloween" and "Halloween, SC" for the month of October. Although "Conway" remains its legal name year-round, the town uses the spooky nickname during the holiday season to attract visitors eager to experience its larger-than-life celebrations and decorations.

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Parents also have their "tricks"

Image: Tolgahan Akbulut

Although trick-or-treating is mostly for kids, parents definitely get in on the fun. According to a 2019 survey, 74% of parents admitted to stealing a few pieces of their children’s candy. And honestly, who can blame them? A pumpkin bucket overflowing with sweets is hard to resist.

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Paranormal full moon

Image: Ganapathy Kumar

Celebrating Halloween under a full moon has a special charm, as that lunar phase has long been linked to heightened paranormal activity. But this coincidence is rare: a full moon on Halloween only happens about every 18–19 years. The last full moon during Halloween was in 2020, and according to forecasts, we won’t see another until 2039.