Most known for: Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux, Book you might have missed: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. I also in one case listed a writing/illustrating duo as one person.
Jacqueline Woodson writes prolifically and poetically about the Black experience in America in everything from picture books to adult novels. But his solo books also stand out as imaginative, hilarious, and almost always grappling with anxiety in some form or another. Most known for: Ballet Shoes and Skating Shoes, Books you might have missed: Theater Shoes and Thursday’s Child.
Book you might have missed: Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs. Noel Streatfeild penned the beloved Shoes books in the 1930s and 1940s to reflect the lives of child entertainers. From Elephant and Piggie to the Pigeon series to Knuffle Bunny, Willems knows how to make children laugh and think at the same time with lessons on kindness, friendship and respect. 4.7 … While slightly old-fashioned, her stories always hit the right ration of charm and mischief, with beloved characters carrying out fantasies of what it would be like to be on the stage. Pinkney has written so many award-winning picture books, novels, nonfiction, and historical fiction for young readers. “We do as much, we eat as much, we want as much.” "It is the mind that makes the body."
It is hard to imagine a picture book character more iconic and emotionally resonant than Max, the boy in a wolf suit who tames the wild things after a fight with his mother. From poetry to historical fiction to memoir, Woodson get’s into the point of view of her characters expertly and fills her stories with lyrical descriptions of the worlds they inhabit. Middle Readers Book 3) Rita Williams-Garcia. Most known for: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Are You There God? His distinctive illustration style includes collage using hand painted papers. Children’s books are extra personal. Most known for: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, and The BFG, Books you might have missed: Esio Trot and The Enormous Crocodile. We're giving away a $250 gift card to Barnes and Noble!
While he is a newer author, I suspect his books will be read and passed down for generations. Most known for: The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, The Lorax, and Oh, the Places You’ll Go! This writer and illustrator grew up in South Korea and now splits her time between New York and Seoul. But I am a huge sucker for picture books, early readers, chapter books, etc. We're here, aren't we?" Middle Readers Book 1) Rita Williams-Garcia. But Sendak’s other books present equally twisty and entertaining tales. Thanks to the work of African American authors, ... and leaders like the Obamas, we've gathered some of the all time best books by Black authors to add to your reading list. From annoying little brothers to friends moving away to getting your period, Judy Blume explained it all and made so many things that felt weird or embarrassing begin to feel normal.
Okay! Most known for: Bud Not Buddy and The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963, Book you might have missed: Elijah of Buxton. Thank you for signing up! Most known for: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and The Year of the Dog. She is the creator of many picture books and two early chapter book series for children who are just beginning to learn how to read. In fact, there are authors I’m mad at myself for cutting from the list. She often collaborates with her husband, illustrator and writer Brian Pinkney, to bring these stories to life and make sure these important people are not forgotten. Whether writing picture books, chapter books, or novels for children, Kate DiCamillo always builds elaborate and fully-immersive worlds in the pages of her stories. Some of her books focus on Latina and multicultural experiences, reflecting her own heritage. Maurice Sendak once said, “You cannot write for children. Most known for: Brown Girl Dreaming and Each Kindness, Book you might’ve missed: This Is the Rope. Theodore Seuss Geisel wrote and illustrated over 60 books for children. Scribner "While the magical element is new in Ward’s fiction, her allusiveness, anchored in her interest in the politics of race, has been pointing in this direction all along. Others include silly animal stories full of rhymes, like her series about Tony Baloney the macaroni penguin. Lenore Look embeds Chinese and Chinese American culture into her hilarious books for children. 1 'Sing, Unburied, Sing' by Jesmyn Ward.
Most known for: Don’t Let the Pigeon Ride the Bus, Elephant and Piggie, Knuffle Bunny: A Tale of Mistaken Identity, and Cat the Cat, Who Is That? And even though she started writing over 50 years ago, her stories still feel so relevant and timeless.
Combining these beloved characters with simple phrasing that is often easy for young children to memorize has made him a beloved and bestselling author of picture books for the last six decades. In these stories, her characters often face hardship and struggle, but find their hard work rewarded. "Miracles happen all the time. Sojourner Truth (African American human rights activist and poet). Arnold Lobel once said, “I cannot think of any work that could be more agreeable and fun than making books for children.” We are all very lucky he felt that way, because his illustrated early readers that celebrate friendship, help us learn to be alone, and teach the importance of accepting each other’s difference with grace and humor. It’s hard to imagine a list of greatest children’s authors that doesn’t include Dr. Seuss. Her booklist reads like a record of contemporary and historical African American experiences, ranging from slavery to Black entertainers to a biography of the Obamas. While illustrating, he’s worked with wonderful authors like Samantha Berger, Aaron Reynolds, Minh Lê, Corey Rosen Schwartz, and more. I literally don’t know how I would have gotten through my childhood without Judy Blume. As an illustrator, Jerry Pinkney has created over 75 books for children in his more than 60 years working. I love children’s books.
Who are the best children’s authors I left off the list? But his characters are what make his books so read and beloved. Alice Walker (African-American author, poet and activist).
The perspective and details she’s able to saturate into every word she writes make her one of the best children’s authors. It’s Me, Margaret, Book you might have missed: Freckle Juice. View Gallery 44 Photos 1 of 44. I tried to count how many iconic children’s books the prolific Mo Willems has created in the last two decades, but I kept losing count. $7.99 #24. Most known for: The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend. They’re much too complicated. The signal characteristic of Ward’s prose …
Gone Crazy in Alabama (Ala Notable Children's Books. Who among us does not remember the horror of when she cracked an egg on her forehead in the cafeteria at school. Marcus Garvey (Jamaican political leader, publisher, …
I’m putting all this handwringing on hold, to present my highly subjective and not-at-all scientific list of the 20 best children’s authors.
Some of my favorite early reading memories are with Frog and Toad.
Best is a hard word for me.
Most known for: The Frog and Toad Collection, Book you might have missed: Uncle Elephant.
I even got my masters in writing books for children and teenagers. While this isn’t metaphysically possible, it made sense given the format. Book you might have missed: Are We There Yet? Two of his most controversial books were, Native Son (1940) and Black Boy (1945).