Greatest children's books of all time
Created | Updated Jul 9, 2019
[This was compiled form numerous sources, and it is offered as a set of ideas. I can't imagine a universe in which everything on the list would be appropriate for anyone's particular needs. But mayb there will be a few choices that hit the spot]
GREATEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF ALL TIME
A
--Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day // by Judith Viorst, illustrated by Ray Cruz (1972) It was enough to make you want to go to Australia.
--All-of-a-Kind Family // by Sydney Taylor, illustrated by Helen John (1951)
Cozy vignettes of a turn-of-the-century Lower East Side family.
Amelia Bedelia // by Peggy Parish, illustrated by Fritz Siebel (1963)
The queen of idioms makes her grand appearance on the page!
--Anne of Green Gables // by L.M. Montgomery [saw movie]
Are You My Mother? // by P.D. Eastman
--Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret // by Judy Blume (1972)
The Arrival // by Shaun Tan (2007) Feel what it’s like to travel to a strange new land.
B
--The Bad Beginning // by Lemony Snicket and Brett Helquist [saw movie]
Bark, George // by Jules Feiffer (1999) He meows, quacks, oinks, and moos, but why can’t George the dog bark?
--Because of Winn-Dixie // by Kate DiCamillo (2000)
India Opa Buloni describes her first summer in a small Florida town and how an ugly stray dog who adopts her at the supermarket effects people’s lives and changes hers.
[saw movie]
--Ben’s Trumpet // by Rachel Isadora (1979) The syncopated rhythms of Harlem during the Jazz Age reverberate in handsome black and white art deco style.
Big Red Lollipop // by Rukhsana Khan, illustrated by Sophie Blackall (2010) Little sisters can be such a pain. First, Rubina is forced to bring her sister Sana along to a friend’s party, but soon it is Sana’s turn to be the big sister when she gets an invitation of her own.
The Birchbark House // by Louise Erdrich (1999) A warm family story, rich with fascinating details of traditional Ojibwa life, in which 7-year-old Omakayas and her family grow food, hunt, and face a time of transition.
Birds // by Kevin Henkes and Laura Dronzek
Black on White // by Tana Hoban (May 27, 1993)
Blackout // by John Rocco
--The Book of Three // by Lloyd Alexander (1964) The heroic adventures of Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper in the mythical kingdom of Prydain.
--The Borrowers // by Mary Norton, illustrated by Beth Krush and Joe Krush (1953)
A small world is perfectly created in this fantasy about the miniature people who live beneath the floors of quiet old houses.
The Bossy Gallito/El Gallo De Bodas: A Traditional Cuban Folktale // by Lucía M. González, illustrated by Lulu Delacre (1994) “Little Havana” in Miami is the setting for this charming, bilingual picture book in which a little rooster tries to get to his uncle’s wedding.
Bread and Jam for Frances // by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Lillian Hoban (1964)
While the same old same old can be so inviting, trying something new can sometimes be even better!
--Bridge to Terabithia // by Katherine Paterson (1977) Two outsiders create their own fantasy world and in doing so forge a friendship that survives even grief. [saw movie]
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? // by Bill Martin, Jr., illustrated by Eric Carle (1967) A gentle rhyming delight in a storytime classic.
Bud, Not Buddy // by Christopher Paul Curtis (Sep 14, 2004)
C
Caps for Sale // by Esphyr Slobodkina (1938) Naughty monkeys prove a challenge for an innocent cap seller.
--The Cat in the Hat // by Dr. Seuss (1957) An unexpected guest turns a rainy day into a heart-pounding adventure.
Chains // by Laurie Halse Anderson (2008) Sold into slavery to a Tory family in New York City, Isabel schemes to free herself and her little sister while spying for the rebels.
A Chair For My Mother // by Vera B. Williams (1982) Glowing colors add cheer to this story of the wonderful day when there is finally enough money to buy Mama a new chair.
--Charlotte’s Web // by E.B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams (1952) A story of true friendship between Wilbur the pig and Charlotte A. Cavatica, his spider savior.
Chato’s Kitchen // by Gary Soto, illustrated by Susan Guevara (1995) Chato has the munchies for some mousies, though the clever mousies have other plans.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom // by Bill Martin, Jr., and John Archambault; illustrated by Lois Ehlert (1989) The letters of the alphabet climb a coconut tree with riotous results. A rollicking introduction to the ABC’s.
The Composition // by Antonio Skarmeta and Alfonso Ruano [2003]
Corduroy // by Don Freeman (1976) A little stuffed bear searches in vain for the button that will help to get him adopted.
Counting Kisses // by Karen Katz
--Curious George // by H.A. Rey (1941) One cheeky monkey plus one man in a yellow hat equals a whole lot of trouble.
D
D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths // by Ingri D’Aulaire and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire (1962)
Dear Juno // by Soyung Pak and Susan Kathleen Hartung
--Diary of a Wimpy Kid [saw movie]
Diary of a Worm // by Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! // by Mo Willems (2003) He’ll try to talk you into it, but whatever you do don’t give in to this snarky city fowl’s demands.
The Dot // by Peter H. Reynolds (Sep 15, 2003)
E
An Egg Is Quiet // by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long
Esperanza Rising // by Pam Muñoz Ryan (2000) Esperanza and her mother flee their privileged lives in Mexico and find refuge in the migrant camps of Southern California during the Great Depression.
F
Freight Train // by Donald Crews (1978) A train ride to remember with bold colors galore!
--Frog and Toad Are Friends // by Arnold Lobel (1970) Toad’s a worrier and Frog’s laid back, but no matter what their differences, these two friends are there for one another.
--From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler // by E.L. Konigsburg (1967)
Claudia chooses the Metropolitan Museum in New York City as the elegant hiding place for herself and her little brother when they run away from home.
G
George and Martha // by James Marshall (1972) A pair of hippopotami navigate the highs and lows of a perfect friendship.
--The Giver // by Lois Lowry (1993) At the Ceremony of the Twelves, Jonas begins to learn the horrifying truth about the perfect society he has grown up in. [saw movie]
The Giving Tree // by Shel Silverstein (1964)
--Go, Dog. Go! // by P.D. Eastman (1961) A strange little Zen easy reader with a madcap energy entirely of its own.
Good Night, Gorilla // by Peggy Rathmann [1996]
--Goodnight Moon // by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd (1947)
A beloved bedtime classic, both lovely and soothing.
Grandfather’s Journey // by Allen Say (1993) A young man struggles with both loving his new land and feeling homesick for the Japan he left behind.
The Graveyard Book // by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Dave McKean (2008)
Brought up by the Dead, Bod is hunted by an assassin, befriends a murdered witch, and prepares himself for life beyond the burying ground.
--Green Eggs and Ham // by Dr. Seuss (1960) Methinks Sam’s friend doth protest too much.
Grumpy Bird // by Jeremy Tankard
H
Harold and the Purple Crayon // by Crockett Johnson (1955) With crayon firmly in hand Harold creates whole worlds for himself and his readers.
Harriet the Spy // by Louise Fitzhugh (1964) Shocking in its honesty, Harriet spies on friends and strangers alike until her secret observations get her in trouble.
--Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone // by J.K. Rowling (1998) A down-trodden orphan is summoned to an elite academy of wizards to fulfill his destiny.
Harvesting Hope, the story of Cesar Chavez // by Kathleen Krull and Yuyi Morales
Hatchet // by Gary Paulsen (1989) When his plane crashes in the Canadian wilderness, Brian and his single hatchet must survive the wild elements alone.
Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes // by Annie Kubler
Hi! Fly Guy // by Tedd Arnold
--The Hobbit // by J.R.R. Tolkien (1937) A rich imaginative tale of dragons, dwarves and the ageless search for gold. Rooted in authentic Saxon lore, but written and illustrated with humor and charm.
Holes // by Louis Sachar (1998) Why does Stanley’s juvenile detention center in the Texas desert require each boy to dig a 5-foot hole every day? An inventive narrative puzzle filled with twists and turns.
--The House at Pooh Corner // by A. A. Milne and Ernest H. Shepard
--The Hunger Games // Suzanne Collins. [2008] [saw movie]
I
Interrupting Chicken // by David Ezra Stein
--The Invention of Hugo Cabret // by Brian Selznick (2007) In this epic tale set in a Paris train station, a young boy finds unexpected allies as he reconstructs his father’s mysterious machine. [saw movie "Hugo"]
Ivy + Bean // by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall
J
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat // by Simms Taback (1999) From coat to button, not a single stitch is wasted.
--Jumanji // by Chris Van Allsburg (1981) One afternoon Judy and Peter play a jungle game and find it becoming all too real. [saw movie]
Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book // by Yuyi Morales (2003)
Grandma Beetle’s so smart she could outwit death itself, and that’s just what she has to do when Senor Calavera comes to call.
K
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale // by Mo Willems (Jul 12, 2004)
L
--The Lightning Thief: (Percy Jackson..., Book 1) // by Rick Riordan [saw movie]
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse // by Kevin Henkes (1996) The beloved mouse adores her teacher until the terrible day when he confiscates her wonderful new fashion accessories.
Lincoln: a Photo-biography // by Russell Freedman
The Lion and the Mouse // by Jerry Pinkney (2009) The Serengeti has never looked more majestic than in this nearly wordless fable illustrated with exquisite watercolors.
--The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe // by C.S. Lewis (1950) The old theme of good against evil is restated in a tale that creates its own world of magic.
The Little Engine That Could [Easy-to-Read] // by Watty Piper (Sep 26, 1986)
The Little House // by Virginia Lee Burton (1942) A heartwarming story of surviving change and finding just the right place for you.
The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, & the Big Hungry Bear // by Don Wood & Audrey Wood [1998
--The Little Prince // by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1943) An allegorical tale of a stranded pilot and a boy from beyond the stars. “One sees clearly only with the heart.”
Living Sunlight // by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm
Llama Llama Red Pajama // by Anna Dewdney
Locomotion // by Jacqueline Woodson (2003) When his teacher introduces him to poetry, 11-year-old Lonnie Collins Motion finds a new way to talk about his friends, his family, and even his crabby foster mother. A verse novel for the ages.
Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story From China // by Ed Young (1989)
Three sisters match wits with a wily wolf.
M
--Madeline // by Ludwig Bemelmans (1939) Sometimes when you’re the smallest you also have to be the bravest.
The Magic School Bus at the Waterworks // by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen
--Make Way for Ducklings // by Robert McCloskey (1941) Mother duck has to keep her babies, Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack in line. And it’s certainly nice to have a friend in your corner when trying to cross a busy Boston street.
Martin’s Big Words // by Doreen Rappaport and Bryan Collier
Matilda // by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake (1988) She may have the worst parents in the world and a truly terrifying headmistress, but thanks to her loving teacher Miss Honey, Matilda finds ways to outsmart all the villains in her life.
The Maze of Bones // by Rick Riordan
Meet Danitra Brown // by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Floyd Cooper (1994) “…the most splendiferous girl in town.” Two friends bring out the best in each other in thirteen high-spirited rhymes.
Millions of Cats // by Wanda Gág (1928) When an old man sets off to find a cute little kitty, he ends up with millions of cats, billions of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats.
Miss Nelson is Missing! // by Harry Allard, illustrated by James Marshall (1977)
The truly terrible children of Room 207 are about to meet their match in the odious Miss Viola Swamp!
--Mr. Popper's Penguins // by Richard and Florence Atwater; illustrated by Robert Lawson (1938) Take one ordinary house painter, add in some kooky penguins, and watch as the results get a little crazy!
The Mitten by Jan Brett (Oct 4, 1996)
Moo, Baa, La La La! // by Sandra Boynton [1982
--Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH // by Robert C. O’Brien (1971) A group of tech savvy rats come to the rescue of a widowed mouse and her children.
[saw movie]
Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale // by John Steptoe (1987) A kind sister and a selfish sister vie for the love of a king in a story inspired by a tale from Zimbabwe.
My Father’s Dragon // by Ruth Stiles Gannett, illustrated by Ruth Chrisman Gannett (1948) Elmer Elevator tries to rescue a baby dragon in distress from an island full of dangerous animals. A great read-aloud filled with adventure.
My Name is Yoon // by Helen Recorvits, illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska (2003)
Desperately embarrassed by her name a little girl from Korea comes to understand that even in English her name is still “shining wisdom”.
My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother // by Patricia Polacco (1998)
N
No No Yes Yes // by Leslie Patricelli
Not a Box // by Antoinette Portis [2006]
O
Olivia // by Ian Falconer (2000) An amusing portrait of a precocious little pig with artistic sensibilities and a flair for fashion.
One Crazy Summer // by Rita Williams-Garcia (2010) Three sisters are shipped off to California to stay with their estranged and distant mother at the height of the Black Panther movement.
Owl Moon // by Jane Yolen and John Schoenherr
P
Pat the Bunny (Touch and Feel Book) // by Dorothy Kunhardt (May 1, 2001)
Peek-a Who? // by Nina Laden
The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales // by Virginia Hamilton, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon (1985) In this mystical tale, slaves brought to America find the power to fly away to freedom in a timeless tale of hope.
--The Phantom Tollbooth // by Norton Juster, illustrated by Jules Feiffer (1961)
Complaining of boredom, Milo travels through a tollbooth to a ridiculous land where Rhyme and Reason are lost.
Pierre: A Cautionary Tale in Five Chapters and a Prologue // by Maurice Sendak (1962)
When a hungry lion asks you if you’d like to be his lunch, it’s probably unwise to answer “I don’t care”.
Pink and Say // by Patricia Polacco (1994) After a former slave saves the life of a white soldier on a Civil War battlefield they forge an all-too-brief friendship.
Pippi Longstocking // by Astrid Lindgren (1950) Outlandish fun is sure to follow the girl who lives on her own with a monkey, a horse, and a fortune in gold coins.
R
Ramona the Pest // by Beverly Cleary (1968) The year Ramona Quimby becomes a kindergarten dropout.
Rickshaw Girl // by Mitali Perkins, illustrated by Jamie Hogan (2007) Naima, a Bangladeshi child, uses her artistic talents to save her family’s livelihood. A tale of using your wits to escape hard times.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry // by Mildred D. Taylor (1976) Segregation and bigotry are no match for Cassie Logan and her large loving family in Depression-era Mississippi.
Rules // by Cynthia Lord
--Rumpelstiltskin // by Paul O. Zelinsky (1986) Can you guess his name? Stunning paintings in the late medieval style take a classic fairy tale to new heights.
The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd (Jan 3, 2006)
S
Sarah, Plain and Tall // by Patricia MacLachlan
--The Secret Garden // by Frances Hodgson Burnett
A Sick Day for Amos McGee // by Philip Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead (2010)
Zoo animals fret when their beloved keeper catches a cold and doesn’t show up for work one day.
Smile! // by Raina Telgemeier
The Snowy Day // by Ezra Jack Keats (1962) A little boy explores the first city snow of the year from snow angels to a snowball tucked away safely into his pocket.
Starry River of the Sky // by Grace Lin (2012) Rendi, a sullen young runaway stranded in a remote Chinese village, discovers secrets, stories, and the location of the missing moon.
The Stories Julian Tells // by Ann Cameron, illustrated by Ann Strugnell (1981)
Five humorous stories about mischievous Julian, his little brother Huey, and his warm and caring family.
--The Story of Ferdinand // by Munro Leaf, illustrated by Robert Lawson (1936)
Bulls are supposed to snort and kick and fight but Ferdinand has other ideas.
Strega Nona // by Tomie dePaola (1975) Big Anthony gets into big trouble with a magic pasta pot.
Swimmy // by Leo Lionni (1963) A brave little fish learns to survive his ocean home by using his brains instead of his size.
--Sylvester and the Magic Pebble // by William Steig (1969) Sometimes wishes come true . . . even the bad ones.
Sylvia Long's Mother Goose // by Sylvia Long
T
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing // by Judy Blume (1972) Peter must survive the antics of his little brother Fudge in this hilarious tale set in New York City.
--The Tales of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit // by Julius Lester, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney (1987) The beloved trickster tales from black tradition skillfully retold in vivid contemporary language.
Tar Beach // by Faith Ringgold (1991) Cassie has a wondrous dream of swooping through the city from a Harlem rooftop on a starry night.
Tea With Milk // by Allen Say
Team Moon // by Catherine Thimmesh
Ten, Nine, Eight // by Molly Bang (1983) A father gently counts his daughter to sleep. Tender.
Through My Eyes // by Ruby Bridges
Tomie dePaola’s Mother Goose // by Tomie dePaola (1985) Classic nursery rhymes, both familiar and unknown, are deftly mixed together by this picture book master.
--The True Story of the Three Little Pigs // by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith (1989) All he was doing was trying to borrow some sugar. Alexander T. Wolf tells his side of the story.
--Tuck Everlasting // Natalie Babbitt
Tuesday // by David Wiesner (1991) While the town sleeps, an eerie flotilla of frogs flies through on lily pads.
V
--The Very Hungry Caterpillar // by Eric Carle (1969) It’s a counting book, a days of the week story, a tale of colors, a die-cut wonder, and a memorable read-aloud rolled up in 1!
W
The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 // by Christopher Paul Curtis (1995)
A road trip to grandma’s for ten-year-old Kenny and his “weird” family is filled with humor until it is marked by the tragedy of a church bombing.
The Westing Game // by Ellen Raskin (1978) Multimillionaire Samuel Westing reaches from the grave to make his heirs compete in a game of his own devising.
What Do People Do All Day? // by Richard Scarry [1968]
What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? // by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page
When Marian Sang // by Pam Munoz Ryan & Brian Selznick (2002)
When You Reach Me // by Rebecca Stead (2009) Miranda grows increasingly alarmed as she finds mysterious notes tucked into her personal belongings that foretell a coming death. Not all is as it appears to be in this intriguing New York City tale.
Where Is the Green Sheep? // by Mem Fox, illustrated by Judy Horacek (2004)
Woolly kooks go amuck in this seemingly simple story.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon // by Grace Lin (Apr 12, 2011)
Where the Sidewalk Ends // by Shel Silverstein (1974)
--Where the Wild Things Are // by Maurice Sendak (1963) Sometimes when you’re having a bad day you need to go to a place where you can be a monster. [saw the movie]
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears // by Verna Aardema, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon (1975) The trouble began when mosquito told lies so big that iguana put sticks in his ears to block out the sound. A stunning West African folktale.
--The Wind in the Willows // by Kenneth Grahame
--Winnie-the-Pooh // by A.A. Milne, illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard (1926)
There is nothing like having a group of friends who are always there for you. Lovable quirks and all.
--A Wrinkle in Time // by Madeleine L’Engle (1962) 3 children cross time and space
Y
Yoko // by Rosemary Wells
Z
Zen Shorts // by Jon J. Muth and Jon J. Muth [2005]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hundred greatest books for kids
Scholastic books
--8 The Diary of a Young Girl
92 What Shall We Do With the Boo Hoo Baby?
93 We the Kids
94 I Took the Moon for a Walk
95 A Single Shard
96 Gossie
97 The Adventures of Captain Underpants
98 First Words
99 Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices
100 Animalia
GREATEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF ALL TIME
A
--Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day // by Judith Viorst, illustrated by Ray Cruz (1972) It was enough to make you want to go to Australia.
--All-of-a-Kind Family // by Sydney Taylor, illustrated by Helen John (1951)
Cozy vignettes of a turn-of-the-century Lower East Side family.
Amelia Bedelia // by Peggy Parish, illustrated by Fritz Siebel (1963)
The queen of idioms makes her grand appearance on the page!
--Anne of Green Gables // by L.M. Montgomery [saw movie]
Are You My Mother? // by P.D. Eastman
--Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret // by Judy Blume (1972)
The Arrival // by Shaun Tan (2007) Feel what it’s like to travel to a strange new land.
B
--The Bad Beginning // by Lemony Snicket and Brett Helquist [saw movie]
Bark, George // by Jules Feiffer (1999) He meows, quacks, oinks, and moos, but why can’t George the dog bark?
--Because of Winn-Dixie // by Kate DiCamillo (2000)
India Opa Buloni describes her first summer in a small Florida town and how an ugly stray dog who adopts her at the supermarket effects people’s lives and changes hers.
[saw movie]
--Ben’s Trumpet // by Rachel Isadora (1979) The syncopated rhythms of Harlem during the Jazz Age reverberate in handsome black and white art deco style.
Big Red Lollipop // by Rukhsana Khan, illustrated by Sophie Blackall (2010) Little sisters can be such a pain. First, Rubina is forced to bring her sister Sana along to a friend’s party, but soon it is Sana’s turn to be the big sister when she gets an invitation of her own.
The Birchbark House // by Louise Erdrich (1999) A warm family story, rich with fascinating details of traditional Ojibwa life, in which 7-year-old Omakayas and her family grow food, hunt, and face a time of transition.
Birds // by Kevin Henkes and Laura Dronzek
Black on White // by Tana Hoban (May 27, 1993)
Blackout // by John Rocco
--The Book of Three // by Lloyd Alexander (1964) The heroic adventures of Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper in the mythical kingdom of Prydain.
--The Borrowers // by Mary Norton, illustrated by Beth Krush and Joe Krush (1953)
A small world is perfectly created in this fantasy about the miniature people who live beneath the floors of quiet old houses.
The Bossy Gallito/El Gallo De Bodas: A Traditional Cuban Folktale // by Lucía M. González, illustrated by Lulu Delacre (1994) “Little Havana” in Miami is the setting for this charming, bilingual picture book in which a little rooster tries to get to his uncle’s wedding.
Bread and Jam for Frances // by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Lillian Hoban (1964)
While the same old same old can be so inviting, trying something new can sometimes be even better!
--Bridge to Terabithia // by Katherine Paterson (1977) Two outsiders create their own fantasy world and in doing so forge a friendship that survives even grief. [saw movie]
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? // by Bill Martin, Jr., illustrated by Eric Carle (1967) A gentle rhyming delight in a storytime classic.
Bud, Not Buddy // by Christopher Paul Curtis (Sep 14, 2004)
C
Caps for Sale // by Esphyr Slobodkina (1938) Naughty monkeys prove a challenge for an innocent cap seller.
--The Cat in the Hat // by Dr. Seuss (1957) An unexpected guest turns a rainy day into a heart-pounding adventure.
Chains // by Laurie Halse Anderson (2008) Sold into slavery to a Tory family in New York City, Isabel schemes to free herself and her little sister while spying for the rebels.
A Chair For My Mother // by Vera B. Williams (1982) Glowing colors add cheer to this story of the wonderful day when there is finally enough money to buy Mama a new chair.
--Charlotte’s Web // by E.B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams (1952) A story of true friendship between Wilbur the pig and Charlotte A. Cavatica, his spider savior.
Chato’s Kitchen // by Gary Soto, illustrated by Susan Guevara (1995) Chato has the munchies for some mousies, though the clever mousies have other plans.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom // by Bill Martin, Jr., and John Archambault; illustrated by Lois Ehlert (1989) The letters of the alphabet climb a coconut tree with riotous results. A rollicking introduction to the ABC’s.
The Composition // by Antonio Skarmeta and Alfonso Ruano [2003]
Corduroy // by Don Freeman (1976) A little stuffed bear searches in vain for the button that will help to get him adopted.
Counting Kisses // by Karen Katz
--Curious George // by H.A. Rey (1941) One cheeky monkey plus one man in a yellow hat equals a whole lot of trouble.
D
D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths // by Ingri D’Aulaire and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire (1962)
Dear Juno // by Soyung Pak and Susan Kathleen Hartung
--Diary of a Wimpy Kid [saw movie]
Diary of a Worm // by Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! // by Mo Willems (2003) He’ll try to talk you into it, but whatever you do don’t give in to this snarky city fowl’s demands.
The Dot // by Peter H. Reynolds (Sep 15, 2003)
E
An Egg Is Quiet // by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long
Esperanza Rising // by Pam Muñoz Ryan (2000) Esperanza and her mother flee their privileged lives in Mexico and find refuge in the migrant camps of Southern California during the Great Depression.
F
Freight Train // by Donald Crews (1978) A train ride to remember with bold colors galore!
--Frog and Toad Are Friends // by Arnold Lobel (1970) Toad’s a worrier and Frog’s laid back, but no matter what their differences, these two friends are there for one another.
--From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler // by E.L. Konigsburg (1967)
Claudia chooses the Metropolitan Museum in New York City as the elegant hiding place for herself and her little brother when they run away from home.
G
George and Martha // by James Marshall (1972) A pair of hippopotami navigate the highs and lows of a perfect friendship.
--The Giver // by Lois Lowry (1993) At the Ceremony of the Twelves, Jonas begins to learn the horrifying truth about the perfect society he has grown up in. [saw movie]
The Giving Tree // by Shel Silverstein (1964)
--Go, Dog. Go! // by P.D. Eastman (1961) A strange little Zen easy reader with a madcap energy entirely of its own.
Good Night, Gorilla // by Peggy Rathmann [1996]
--Goodnight Moon // by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd (1947)
A beloved bedtime classic, both lovely and soothing.
Grandfather’s Journey // by Allen Say (1993) A young man struggles with both loving his new land and feeling homesick for the Japan he left behind.
The Graveyard Book // by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Dave McKean (2008)
Brought up by the Dead, Bod is hunted by an assassin, befriends a murdered witch, and prepares himself for life beyond the burying ground.
--Green Eggs and Ham // by Dr. Seuss (1960) Methinks Sam’s friend doth protest too much.
Grumpy Bird // by Jeremy Tankard
H
Harold and the Purple Crayon // by Crockett Johnson (1955) With crayon firmly in hand Harold creates whole worlds for himself and his readers.
Harriet the Spy // by Louise Fitzhugh (1964) Shocking in its honesty, Harriet spies on friends and strangers alike until her secret observations get her in trouble.
--Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone // by J.K. Rowling (1998) A down-trodden orphan is summoned to an elite academy of wizards to fulfill his destiny.
Harvesting Hope, the story of Cesar Chavez // by Kathleen Krull and Yuyi Morales
Hatchet // by Gary Paulsen (1989) When his plane crashes in the Canadian wilderness, Brian and his single hatchet must survive the wild elements alone.
Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes // by Annie Kubler
Hi! Fly Guy // by Tedd Arnold
--The Hobbit // by J.R.R. Tolkien (1937) A rich imaginative tale of dragons, dwarves and the ageless search for gold. Rooted in authentic Saxon lore, but written and illustrated with humor and charm.
Holes // by Louis Sachar (1998) Why does Stanley’s juvenile detention center in the Texas desert require each boy to dig a 5-foot hole every day? An inventive narrative puzzle filled with twists and turns.
--The House at Pooh Corner // by A. A. Milne and Ernest H. Shepard
--The Hunger Games // Suzanne Collins. [2008] [saw movie]
I
Interrupting Chicken // by David Ezra Stein
--The Invention of Hugo Cabret // by Brian Selznick (2007) In this epic tale set in a Paris train station, a young boy finds unexpected allies as he reconstructs his father’s mysterious machine. [saw movie "Hugo"]
Ivy + Bean // by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall
J
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat // by Simms Taback (1999) From coat to button, not a single stitch is wasted.
--Jumanji // by Chris Van Allsburg (1981) One afternoon Judy and Peter play a jungle game and find it becoming all too real. [saw movie]
Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book // by Yuyi Morales (2003)
Grandma Beetle’s so smart she could outwit death itself, and that’s just what she has to do when Senor Calavera comes to call.
K
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale // by Mo Willems (Jul 12, 2004)
L
--The Lightning Thief: (Percy Jackson..., Book 1) // by Rick Riordan [saw movie]
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse // by Kevin Henkes (1996) The beloved mouse adores her teacher until the terrible day when he confiscates her wonderful new fashion accessories.
Lincoln: a Photo-biography // by Russell Freedman
The Lion and the Mouse // by Jerry Pinkney (2009) The Serengeti has never looked more majestic than in this nearly wordless fable illustrated with exquisite watercolors.
--The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe // by C.S. Lewis (1950) The old theme of good against evil is restated in a tale that creates its own world of magic.
The Little Engine That Could [Easy-to-Read] // by Watty Piper (Sep 26, 1986)
The Little House // by Virginia Lee Burton (1942) A heartwarming story of surviving change and finding just the right place for you.
The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, & the Big Hungry Bear // by Don Wood & Audrey Wood [1998
--The Little Prince // by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1943) An allegorical tale of a stranded pilot and a boy from beyond the stars. “One sees clearly only with the heart.”
Living Sunlight // by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm
Llama Llama Red Pajama // by Anna Dewdney
Locomotion // by Jacqueline Woodson (2003) When his teacher introduces him to poetry, 11-year-old Lonnie Collins Motion finds a new way to talk about his friends, his family, and even his crabby foster mother. A verse novel for the ages.
Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story From China // by Ed Young (1989)
Three sisters match wits with a wily wolf.
M
--Madeline // by Ludwig Bemelmans (1939) Sometimes when you’re the smallest you also have to be the bravest.
The Magic School Bus at the Waterworks // by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen
--Make Way for Ducklings // by Robert McCloskey (1941) Mother duck has to keep her babies, Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack in line. And it’s certainly nice to have a friend in your corner when trying to cross a busy Boston street.
Martin’s Big Words // by Doreen Rappaport and Bryan Collier
Matilda // by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake (1988) She may have the worst parents in the world and a truly terrifying headmistress, but thanks to her loving teacher Miss Honey, Matilda finds ways to outsmart all the villains in her life.
The Maze of Bones // by Rick Riordan
Meet Danitra Brown // by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Floyd Cooper (1994) “…the most splendiferous girl in town.” Two friends bring out the best in each other in thirteen high-spirited rhymes.
Millions of Cats // by Wanda Gág (1928) When an old man sets off to find a cute little kitty, he ends up with millions of cats, billions of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats.
Miss Nelson is Missing! // by Harry Allard, illustrated by James Marshall (1977)
The truly terrible children of Room 207 are about to meet their match in the odious Miss Viola Swamp!
--Mr. Popper's Penguins // by Richard and Florence Atwater; illustrated by Robert Lawson (1938) Take one ordinary house painter, add in some kooky penguins, and watch as the results get a little crazy!
The Mitten by Jan Brett (Oct 4, 1996)
Moo, Baa, La La La! // by Sandra Boynton [1982
--Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH // by Robert C. O’Brien (1971) A group of tech savvy rats come to the rescue of a widowed mouse and her children.
[saw movie]
Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale // by John Steptoe (1987) A kind sister and a selfish sister vie for the love of a king in a story inspired by a tale from Zimbabwe.
My Father’s Dragon // by Ruth Stiles Gannett, illustrated by Ruth Chrisman Gannett (1948) Elmer Elevator tries to rescue a baby dragon in distress from an island full of dangerous animals. A great read-aloud filled with adventure.
My Name is Yoon // by Helen Recorvits, illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska (2003)
Desperately embarrassed by her name a little girl from Korea comes to understand that even in English her name is still “shining wisdom”.
My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother // by Patricia Polacco (1998)
N
No No Yes Yes // by Leslie Patricelli
Not a Box // by Antoinette Portis [2006]
O
Olivia // by Ian Falconer (2000) An amusing portrait of a precocious little pig with artistic sensibilities and a flair for fashion.
One Crazy Summer // by Rita Williams-Garcia (2010) Three sisters are shipped off to California to stay with their estranged and distant mother at the height of the Black Panther movement.
Owl Moon // by Jane Yolen and John Schoenherr
P
Pat the Bunny (Touch and Feel Book) // by Dorothy Kunhardt (May 1, 2001)
Peek-a Who? // by Nina Laden
The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales // by Virginia Hamilton, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon (1985) In this mystical tale, slaves brought to America find the power to fly away to freedom in a timeless tale of hope.
--The Phantom Tollbooth // by Norton Juster, illustrated by Jules Feiffer (1961)
Complaining of boredom, Milo travels through a tollbooth to a ridiculous land where Rhyme and Reason are lost.
Pierre: A Cautionary Tale in Five Chapters and a Prologue // by Maurice Sendak (1962)
When a hungry lion asks you if you’d like to be his lunch, it’s probably unwise to answer “I don’t care”.
Pink and Say // by Patricia Polacco (1994) After a former slave saves the life of a white soldier on a Civil War battlefield they forge an all-too-brief friendship.
Pippi Longstocking // by Astrid Lindgren (1950) Outlandish fun is sure to follow the girl who lives on her own with a monkey, a horse, and a fortune in gold coins.
R
Ramona the Pest // by Beverly Cleary (1968) The year Ramona Quimby becomes a kindergarten dropout.
Rickshaw Girl // by Mitali Perkins, illustrated by Jamie Hogan (2007) Naima, a Bangladeshi child, uses her artistic talents to save her family’s livelihood. A tale of using your wits to escape hard times.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry // by Mildred D. Taylor (1976) Segregation and bigotry are no match for Cassie Logan and her large loving family in Depression-era Mississippi.
Rules // by Cynthia Lord
--Rumpelstiltskin // by Paul O. Zelinsky (1986) Can you guess his name? Stunning paintings in the late medieval style take a classic fairy tale to new heights.
The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd (Jan 3, 2006)
S
Sarah, Plain and Tall // by Patricia MacLachlan
--The Secret Garden // by Frances Hodgson Burnett
A Sick Day for Amos McGee // by Philip Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead (2010)
Zoo animals fret when their beloved keeper catches a cold and doesn’t show up for work one day.
Smile! // by Raina Telgemeier
The Snowy Day // by Ezra Jack Keats (1962) A little boy explores the first city snow of the year from snow angels to a snowball tucked away safely into his pocket.
Starry River of the Sky // by Grace Lin (2012) Rendi, a sullen young runaway stranded in a remote Chinese village, discovers secrets, stories, and the location of the missing moon.
The Stories Julian Tells // by Ann Cameron, illustrated by Ann Strugnell (1981)
Five humorous stories about mischievous Julian, his little brother Huey, and his warm and caring family.
--The Story of Ferdinand // by Munro Leaf, illustrated by Robert Lawson (1936)
Bulls are supposed to snort and kick and fight but Ferdinand has other ideas.
Strega Nona // by Tomie dePaola (1975) Big Anthony gets into big trouble with a magic pasta pot.
Swimmy // by Leo Lionni (1963) A brave little fish learns to survive his ocean home by using his brains instead of his size.
--Sylvester and the Magic Pebble // by William Steig (1969) Sometimes wishes come true . . . even the bad ones.
Sylvia Long's Mother Goose // by Sylvia Long
T
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing // by Judy Blume (1972) Peter must survive the antics of his little brother Fudge in this hilarious tale set in New York City.
--The Tales of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit // by Julius Lester, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney (1987) The beloved trickster tales from black tradition skillfully retold in vivid contemporary language.
Tar Beach // by Faith Ringgold (1991) Cassie has a wondrous dream of swooping through the city from a Harlem rooftop on a starry night.
Tea With Milk // by Allen Say
Team Moon // by Catherine Thimmesh
Ten, Nine, Eight // by Molly Bang (1983) A father gently counts his daughter to sleep. Tender.
Through My Eyes // by Ruby Bridges
Tomie dePaola’s Mother Goose // by Tomie dePaola (1985) Classic nursery rhymes, both familiar and unknown, are deftly mixed together by this picture book master.
--The True Story of the Three Little Pigs // by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith (1989) All he was doing was trying to borrow some sugar. Alexander T. Wolf tells his side of the story.
--Tuck Everlasting // Natalie Babbitt
Tuesday // by David Wiesner (1991) While the town sleeps, an eerie flotilla of frogs flies through on lily pads.
V
--The Very Hungry Caterpillar // by Eric Carle (1969) It’s a counting book, a days of the week story, a tale of colors, a die-cut wonder, and a memorable read-aloud rolled up in 1!
W
The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 // by Christopher Paul Curtis (1995)
A road trip to grandma’s for ten-year-old Kenny and his “weird” family is filled with humor until it is marked by the tragedy of a church bombing.
The Westing Game // by Ellen Raskin (1978) Multimillionaire Samuel Westing reaches from the grave to make his heirs compete in a game of his own devising.
What Do People Do All Day? // by Richard Scarry [1968]
What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? // by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page
When Marian Sang // by Pam Munoz Ryan & Brian Selznick (2002)
When You Reach Me // by Rebecca Stead (2009) Miranda grows increasingly alarmed as she finds mysterious notes tucked into her personal belongings that foretell a coming death. Not all is as it appears to be in this intriguing New York City tale.
Where Is the Green Sheep? // by Mem Fox, illustrated by Judy Horacek (2004)
Woolly kooks go amuck in this seemingly simple story.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon // by Grace Lin (Apr 12, 2011)
Where the Sidewalk Ends // by Shel Silverstein (1974)
--Where the Wild Things Are // by Maurice Sendak (1963) Sometimes when you’re having a bad day you need to go to a place where you can be a monster. [saw the movie]
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears // by Verna Aardema, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon (1975) The trouble began when mosquito told lies so big that iguana put sticks in his ears to block out the sound. A stunning West African folktale.
--The Wind in the Willows // by Kenneth Grahame
--Winnie-the-Pooh // by A.A. Milne, illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard (1926)
There is nothing like having a group of friends who are always there for you. Lovable quirks and all.
--A Wrinkle in Time // by Madeleine L’Engle (1962) 3 children cross time and space
Y
Yoko // by Rosemary Wells
Z
Zen Shorts // by Jon J. Muth and Jon J. Muth [2005]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hundred greatest books for kids
Scholastic books
--8 The Diary of a Young Girl
92 What Shall We Do With the Boo Hoo Baby?
93 We the Kids
94 I Took the Moon for a Walk
95 A Single Shard
96 Gossie
97 The Adventures of Captain Underpants
98 First Words
99 Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices
100 Animalia
