From the cackling Wicked Witch to the sneaky Big Bad Wolf, villains in children’s stories do much more than lurk in the shadows—they spark imagination, teach lessons, and create unforgettable reading memories. Whether scary or silly, these “bad guys” help kids tackle fears and learn about courage, all within the safety of a story. In this post, meet a mix of the most iconic—and sometimes misunderstood—villains, perfect for sharing at storytime or discussing with young readers.

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For this week’s Top Ten Tuesday where the theme is, books with jobs in the titles!

Children’s Book Villains We Love (or Not)!

🧙 Classic Evil Villains

• The Wicked Witch of the West – The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum | Ages 8–12
• The White Witch (Jadis) – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis | Ages 8 and up
• Captain Hook – Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie | Ages 7–11
• The Queen of Hearts – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, ill. John Tenniel | Ages 8 and up
• Smaug – The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien | Ages 10–14
• Voldemort – Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling | Ages 9+
• Baba Yaga – Russian fairy tales

👹 Misunderstood Monsters

• The Gruffalo – The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, ill. Axel Scheffler | Ages 3–7
• The Monster Who Lost His Mean – by Tiffany Strelitz Haber, ill. Kirstie Edmunds | Ages 4–8
• Leonardo the Terrible Monster – by Mo Willems | Ages 3–6
• Shrek! – by William Steig | Ages 5–8
• The BFG – by Roald Dahl, ill. Quentin Blake | Ages 8–12
• The Ogress and the Orphans – by Kelly Barnhill | Ages 9–12
• The Bad Seed – by Jory John, ill. Pete Oswald | Ages 4–8

🐺 Mischievous & Pretend Villains

• The Big Bad Wolf – The Three Little Pigs / Little Red Riding Hood (traditional tales)
  • also check out Jon Scieszka’s The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs
• The Stepmother – Cinderella / Snow White / Hansel & Gretel (traditional tales)
• Count Olaf – A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, ill. Brett Helquist | Ages 8–12
• The Cat in the Hat – by Dr. Seuss | Ages 3–7

🦹 Greedy, Selfish, or Bully Villains

• Miss Trunchbull and Mr. Wormwood – Matilda by Roald Dahl, ill. Quentin Blake | Ages 8–12
• The Once-ler – The Lorax by Dr. Seuss | Ages 5–9
• Cruella de Vil – 101 Dalmations | Ages 1 – 4 years and up
• Miss Minchin – A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett | Ages 8 – 12

And Now, the End of This Post

So dear readers, villains might look scary, but between the pages, they open doors to bravery, teamwork, and empathy. Whether your family enjoys classic witches or quirky monsters, try reading together and talking about what makes a “villain”—and maybe who deserves a second chance. Who knows? Sometimes the baddest baddies lead to the best discussions.

As always, share your favorite villain and let me know which of these villains you would read about.