Amazing Tattoos Inspired by Children’s Books

Since we love a good story, we couldn’t tear our eyes away from this amazing ink inspired by Richard Adams’ Watership Down, featured on Neatorama. The emotional, allegorical tale has truly touched many readers. We’ve explored tattoos honoring the best of children’s cinema before, and the time seemed ripe to seek out body art that gives a nod to the world of children’s literature. Books for young readers are filled with incredible illustrations and memorable lines, and these devotees have celebrated some of the most famous titles in clever, nerdy, intimate, and permanent ways. Click through our gallery of amazing tattoos that reference the wondrous stories and characters you’ve loved since you were a kid. If you have a children’s book-inspired tattoo, let us know in the comments.


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Watership Down


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The Little Prince


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Where the Wild Things Are


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Beverly Cleary’s Ramona series


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The Very Hungry Caterpillar


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The Giving Tree


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The Chronicles of Narnia


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Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland


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Matilda


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Eloise


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Harriet the Spy


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The Story of Ferdinand


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Dr. Seuss

Where the Sidewalk Ends


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Emily’s Runaway Imagination


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Where’s Waldo


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Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit series


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James and the Giant Peach


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Madeline


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Goodnight Moon


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The Nancy Drew series


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The Berenstain Bears series


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Harold and the Purple Crayon


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Corduroy


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The Velveteen Rabbit


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Charlotte’s Web


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Stuart Little


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Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day


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Love You Forever


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Strega Nona

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my tattoo is alice in wonderland or through the looking glass as others might know it by how ever its a keyhole with all the main symbols of wonderland inside of it as if your alice looking through the keyhole and seeing wonderland

My tattoo is the man in the moon from the 1833 Mother Goose: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/man-in-the-moon-1833-granger.html ( just the man and the moon crescent portion)

Having worked in tattoo shops (as a piercer,not an artist) for almost 10 years of my life and seen many many many tattoos both good and bad, I can definitely say there's some real talent here. I especially like the velveteen rabbit piece. Beautiful! And having grown up on most of this literature, seeing this collection all together kind of makes me realize how heart-wrenchingly sad so many of these stories are. Maybe that explains a few thing... Excuse me, I need a word with my therapist...

My pieces are from childhood fantasy movies-- a Labyrinth back piece and a Dark Crystal leg piece thus far (and plans for Legend, Return to Oz, Flight of the Navigator, and Watership Down). I LOVE nostalgic tattoos. These all make me so very happy! :D

I did the where the wild things are half-sleeve! It was so much fun :) so happy everyone likes it! Get in touch with me if u wanna get some work done! www.facebook.com/Luke.loporto

To call Watership Down a children's book is stretching it...

I have the Cheshire cat disappearing from Alice in wonderland. With the words 'most everyone's mad here,' on my thigh

When I saw the "I'll love you forever" one, I practically burst into tears.

The singer (Alex CF) of my favourite band (Light Bearer) has nice tatoo inspired by His Dark Materials. It is just partially seen here (https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/549384_392604024091545_1707615946_n.jpg), but he has Lyra on his hand and Æsahættr (Subtle Knife) on his fingers and probably others symbols from the trilogy. The whole concept of the band is inspired by the trilogy. :)

That's my back! (Where The Wild Things Are)

Hey, that's my Ramona & Howie tattoo! (Seventh down from the top.) I'm actually planning a trio, with that being the first, then Ellen Tibbets and Otis Spofford on the other side, and Harriet the Spy down the middle. In fact, it's the same Harriet as the one at #19, where she's facing away in the red shoes. The work was by Kim Kress in Portland, OR, and the tat still looks excellent two years in.

I am a teacher and know every single one of these books and characters. They are stunning. I wouldn't know where to start if I had to choose one for myself. Wow.

@Laurel: pics! @Sarah: I like! and i like that you're a librarian, too. @Lisa: that's a cool idea. if you do, send us pics of what the students come up with.

I have a half sleeve of my favorite poem characters from Where The Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, the Giving Tree (I grew up Shel Silverstein...first things I remember reading), the Mad Hatter, and Mr. Tumnus. Some of these want me to add to it! **Little Prince and Velveteen Rabbit!**

I am a librarian with a literary mash-up tattoo with children's book characters: Pooh, Peter Rabbit, Alice, & the Cheshire Cat. Photo at: https://secure.flickr.com/photos/librarianinblack/5738722742/

These blew me away with their beauty. I'd be tempted to use this as a writing/art prompt with my students. What book scene would you choose? Why? and what would it look like? Particularly fond of the hidden Waldo, and the lamppost, as well as Ferdinand. Thank you for a few moments with some favourite friends.

That's great Ashley! I love Alice tattoos, and Tenniel is wonderful. @Tom: I want to see the fish tattoo! @Mary: Nice

Aw, these are ace. In a similar vein, I have a couple of friends who have tattoos inspired by "Where the Wild Things Are" and "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" respectively

THESE ARE AMAZING!!! So many awesome tattoo jobs! Kudos to all of the artists! I couldn't help but want to include my white rabbit tattoo from AIW, he original John Tenniel sketch (complete with his signature!) http://distilleryimage2.s3.amazonaws.com/75acd36ca2b311e1ab011231381052c0_7.jpg close up: http://www.flickr.com/photos/verticalhouse/5553860871/in/photostream

the little prince, his planet, and rose.