Read Street’s Top 100 Children’s Picture Books

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by William Weger

This Top 100 list was compiled using multiple criteria and a balanced evaluation framework that considered popularity, longevity, sales, literary quality, awards, educational value, illustrative excellence, and cultural significance.

There are many other great children’s books that did not make this list but are certainly commended for their contribution to children’s literature.

1. Goodnight Moon (1947)

2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1969)

3. The Cat in the Hat (1957)

4. Where the Wild Things Are (1963)

5. Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See (1967)

6. The Snowy Day (1962)

7. Corduroy (1968)

8. The Tale of Peter Rabbit (1902)

9. Madeline (1939)

10. Love You Forever (1986)

11. Ferdinand the Bull (1936)

12. Harold and the Purple Crayon (1955)

13. Gruffalo (1999)

14. Slyvester & and Magic Pebble (1969)

15. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (2003)

16. Good Night, Gorilla (1994)

17. Are You My Mother? (1960)

18. Curious George (1941)

19. Oh, the Places You’ll Go! (1990)

20. Mike Mulliken and His Steam Shovel (1939)

21. Millions of Cats (1928)

22. The Day the Crayons Quit (2013)

23. The Story of Babar (1931)

24. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1957)

25. The Polar Express (1985)

26. The Little Engine That Could (1930)

27. Amazing Grace (1991)

28. Frog and Toad are Friends (1970)

29. Green Eggs and Ham (1960)

30. Last Stop on Market Street (2015)

31. A Sick Day for Amos McGee (2010)

32. The Giving Tree (1964)

33. Blueberries for Sal (1948)

34. Strega Nona (1979)

35. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (1978)

36. Bread and Jam for Francis (1964)

37. Andy & the Lion (1938)

38. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (1985)

39. Caps for Sale (1940)

40. Click. Clack. Moo: Cows That Type (1999)

41. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (1989)

42. Where the Sidewalk Ends (1974)

43. Guess How Much I Love You (1994)

44. Go Dog Go! (1961)

45. Bedtime for Francis (1960)

46. The Library Lion (2006)

47. Harry the Dirty Dog (1956)

48. Lyle, Lyle Crocodile (1965)

49. No, David! (1998)

50. Dragons Love Tacos (2012)

51. Amelia Bedelia (1963)

52. Rumpelstiltskin (1986)

53. Grumpy Monkey (2018)

54. Make Way for Ducklings (1941)

55. Love You Forever (1986)

56. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (1972)

57. The Monster at the End of This Book (1971)

58. The Mitten (1989)

59. The Little House (1943)

60. Oliva (2000)

61. The Lorax (1971)

62. Little Bear (1957)

63. The Kissing Hand (1993)

64. Miss Rumphius (1982)

65. The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! (1989)

66. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes (2010)

67. Thank You, Mr. Falker (1998)

68. Officer Buckle and Gloria (1995)

69. Grandfather’s Journey (1993)

70. The Sneetches and Other Stories (1961)

71. Flotsam (2006)

72. Zen Shorts (2005)

73. The Paper Bag Princess (1980)

74. Pat the Bunny (1940)

75. The Three Pigs (2001)

76. My Sister Daisy (2021)

77. Miss Nelson is Missing! (1977)

78. Chrysanthemum (1991)

79. Eloise (1955)

80. Owen (1993))

81. Abuela (1991)

82. Horton Hears a Who (1954)

83. Bark, George (1999)

84. The Gardner (1997)

85. Tuesday (1991)

86. Jumanji (1981)

87. Goin’ Someplace Special (2001)

88. I Want My Hat Back (2011)

89. A Bear Called Paddington (1958)

90. The Little Engine That Could (1930)

91. The Run Away Bunny (1942)

92. The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales (1992)

93. Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale (1994)

94. Abuelo, the Sea, and Me (2024)

95. Madeline’s Rescue (1953)

96. Owl Moon (1987)

97. Swimmy (1963)

98. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat (1999)

99. Pinkalicious (2006)

100. Stellaluna (1993)

Books & Bards, through our Read Street initiative, supports nonprofits that promote literacy and a love of reading.

Read Street: Where Books & Minds Meet

Vision: All children with bright futures inspired by their ability to read and succeed in life.

Mission: To promote children’s love of reading by increasing access to books and literacy resources.