The Complete Checklist: 100 Must-Read Books

Our 100 Greatest Books for Kids list spans a variety of ages and genres, so there’s
something for everyone. Print out this checklist and make it yours: Mark the books
you’ve shared with your children or they have read, star family favorites, and highlight
titles you’re looking forward to bringing home from the library or bookstore.
www.Scholastic.com/100books

1 Charlotte’s Web 12 The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Written by E. B. White and illustrated by Written and illustrated by Eric Carle
Garth Williams Ages 0-3 Informational: early concepts (colors,
Ages 0-3
Ages 8-10 Fiction: fantasy, animal characters
Ages 8-10 numbers); Fiction: animal characters

2 Goodnight Moon 13 Madeline

Written by Margaret Wise Brown and Written and illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans
illustrated by Clement Hurd Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Fiction: realistic fiction
Ages
Ages 0-3
0-3 Fiction: animal characters
14 The Wind in the Willows
3 A Wrinkle in Time Written by Kenneth Grahame and illustrated
Written by Madeleine L’Engle by Inga Moore
Ages
Ages11+
11+ Fiction: fantasy Ages 8-10 Fiction: fantasy, animal characters
Ages 8-10

4 The Snowy Day 15 The Dot

Written and illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats Written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Fiction: realistic fiction Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Fiction: realistic fiction

5 Where the Wild Things Are 16 Tuck Everlasting

Written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak Written by Natalie Babbitt
Ages
Ages 0-3
0-3 Fiction: fantasy Ages
Ages 11+
11+ Fiction: fantasy

6 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone 17 Pat the Bunny

Written by J. K. Rowling and illustrated by Written and illustrated by Dorothy Kunhardt
Mary GrandPré Ages 0-3 Informational: early concepts (the senses);
Ages 0-3
Ages
Ages11+
11+ Fiction: fantasy, folktales/fairy tales/myths fiction: realistic fiction

7 Green Eggs and Ham 18 When Marian Sang: The True Recital of
Written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss Marian Anderson
Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Fiction: fantasy Written by Pam Muñoz Ryan and illustrated by
Brian Selznick
8 The Diary of a Young Girl Ages 8-10 Nonfiction: biography
Ages 8-10
Written by Anne Frank
Ages
Ages11+
11+ Nonfiction: autobiography 19 Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale
Written and illustrated by Mo Willems
9 The Giving Tree Ages 0-3 Fiction: realistic fiction
Ages 0-3
Written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein
Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Fiction: fantasy, fable 20 Where the Sidewalk Ends
Written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein
10 Frog and Toad Are Friends Ages 8-10 Fiction: poetry
Ages 8-10
Written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel
Ages 8-10 Fiction: animal characters
Ages 8-10 21 Bud, Not Buddy
Written by Christopher Paul Curtis
11 Anne of Green Gables Ages
Ages 11+
11+ Fiction: realistic fiction, historical fiction
Written by L. M. Montgomery
Ages
Ages11+
11+ Fiction: realistic fiction
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22 Corduroy 36 The Secret Garden
Written and illustrated by Don Freeman Written by Francis Hodgson Burnett and
Ages
Ages 0-3
0-3 Fiction: fantasy, animal characters illustrated by Tasha Tudor
Ages 8-10 Fiction: realistic fiction
Ages 8-10
23 The Phantom Tollbooth
Written by Norton Juster and illustrated by 37 The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry,
Jules Feiffer and the Big Hungry Bear
Ages 8-10 Fiction: fantasy
Ages 8-10 Written by Don and Audrey Wood and
illustrated by Don Wood
24 The Little Engine That Could Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Fiction: animal characters
Written by Watty Piper and illustrated by
George and Doris Hauman 38 Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Fiction: fantasy Written and illustrated by Jeff Kinney
Ages
Ages11+
11+ Fiction: realistic fiction
25 The Giver
Written by Lois Lowry 39 Zen Shorts
Ages
Ages 11+
11+ Fiction: science fiction, dystopia Written and illustrated by John J. Muth
Ages 8-10 Fiction: fantasy, fables/folktales/myths,
Ages 8-10
26 Where the Mountain Meets the Moon animal characters
Written and illustrated by Grace Lin
Ages 8-10 Fiction: fantasy, folktales/fairy tales/myth
Ages 8-10 40 Moo, Baa, La La La
Written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton
27 Black on White Ages
Ages 0-3
0-3 Informational: early concepts (animal
Written and illustrated by Tana Hoban sounds), Fiction: animal characters
Ages
Ages 0-3
0-3 Informational: early concepts
41 Matilda
28 Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by
Written and illustrated by Mo Willems Quentin Blake
Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Fiction: fantasy, animal characters Ages 8-10 Fiction: fantasy
Ages 8-10

29 Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. 42 What Do People Do All Day?
Written by Judy Blume Written and illustrated by Richard Scarry
Ages
Ages 11+
11+ Fiction: realistic fiction Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Informational: early concepts (jobs),
Fiction: animal characters
30 My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother
Written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco 43 The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
Ages 8-10 Fiction: realistic fiction
Ages 8-10 Written by C. S. Lewis and illustrated by
Pauline Baynes
31 The Mitten Ages
Ages11+
11+ Fiction: fantasy
Written and illustrated by Jan Brett
Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Fiction: folktales, animal characters
44 Good Night, Gorilla
Written and illustrated by Peggy Rathmann
32 The Runaway Bunny Ages
Ages 0-3
0-3 Fiction: fantasy, animal characters
Written by Margaret Wise Brown and
illustrated by Clement Hurd 45 The Composition
Ages
Ages 0-3
0-3 Fiction: animal characters Written by Antonio Skármeta and illustrated
by Alfonso Ruano
33 The Hunger Games Ages 8-10 Fiction: realistic fiction
Ages 8-10
Written by Suzanne Collins
Ages
Ages 11+
11+ Fiction: science fiction, dystopia
46 Not a Box
Written and illustrated by Antoinette Portis
34 Swimmy Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Fiction: animal characters
Written and illustrated by Leo Lionni
Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Fiction: animal characters
47 Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Written by Bill Martin, Jr. and illustrated by
35 Freight Train Eric Carle
Written and illustrated by Donald Crews Ages
Ages 0-3
0-3 Informational: early concepts (colors);
Ages
Ages 0-3
0-3 Informational: early concepts (colors, train Fiction: animal characters
cars); Fiction: realistic fiction
48 Hatchet
Written by Gary Paulsen
Ages
Ages11+
11+ Fiction: realistic fiction

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49 Martin’s Big Words 62 Diary of a Worm
Written by Doreen Rappaport and illustrated Written by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by
by Bryan Collier Harry Bliss
Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Nonfiction: biography Ages 8-10 Fiction: fantasy, animal characters
Ages 8-10

50 Sarah, Plain and Tall 63 The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Written by Patricia MacLachlan Written and illustrated by Brian Selznick
Ages 8-10 Fiction: realistic fiction
Ages 8-10 Ages
Ages 11+
11+ Fiction: realistic fiction, historical fiction

51 Sylvia Long’s Mother Goose 64 My Truck Is Stuck

Written and illustrated by Sylvia Long Written by Kevin Lewis and illustrated by
Ages 0-3 Fiction: nursery rhymes, animal characters
Ages 0-3 Daniel Kirk
Ages
Ages 0-3
0-3 Fiction: animal character
52 The Lightning Thief
Written by Rick Riordan 65 Birds
Ages
Ages 11+
11+ Fiction: fantasy/myths Written by Kevin Henkes and illustrated by
Laura Dronzek
53 The House at Pooh Corner Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Fiction: realistic fiction
Written by A. A. Milne and illustrated by Ernest
H. Shepard 66 The Maze of Bones
Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Fiction: fantasy, animal characters Written by Rick Riordan
Ages 8-10 Fiction: realistic fiction, adventure
Ages 8-10
54 Through My Eyes
Written by Ruby Bridges 67 Esperanza Rising
Ages
Ages 11+
11+ Nonfiction: autobiography Written by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Ages
Ages 11+
11+ Fiction: realistic fiction, historical fiction
55 Smile!
Written and illustrated by Roberta Grobel 68 Counting Kisses: A Kiss and Read Book
Intrater Written and illustrated by Karen Katz
Ages
Ages 0-3
0-3 Informational: early concepts Ages
Ages 0-3
0-3 Informational: early concepts (numbers,
(facial expressions/emotions); Fiction: realistic fiction body parts); Fiction: realistic fiction

56 Living Sunlight 69 The Magic School Bus at the Waterworks

Written by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm Written by Joanna Cole and illustrated by
and illustrated by Molly Bang Bruce Degen
Ages 8-10 Nonfiction: science
Ages 8-10 Ages 8-10 Informational: science; Fiction: fantasy
Ages 8-10

57 The Bad Beginning 70 Blackout

Written by Lemony Snicket and illustrated by Written and illustrated by John Rocco
Brett Helquist Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Fiction: realistic fiction
Ages
Ages 11+
11+ Fiction: fantasy
71 Bridge to Terabithia
58 Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Written by Katherine Paterson
Chavez Ages
Ages 11+
11+ Fiction: realistic fiction
Written by Kathleen Krull and illustrated by
Yuyi Morales 72 Are You My Mother?
Ages 8-10 Nonfiction: biography
Ages 8-10 Written and illustrated by P. D. Eastman
Ages
Ages 0-3
0-3 Fiction: animal characters
59 Dear Juno
Written by Soyung Pak and illustrated by 73 Tea with Milk
Susan Kathleen Hartung Written and illustrated by Allen Say
Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Fiction: realistic fiction Ages 8-10 Fiction: realistic fiction
Ages 8-10

60 Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes 74 Owl Moon

Written and illustrated by Annie Kubler Written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by John
Ages
Ages 0-3
0-3 Informational: early concepts Schoenherr
(body parts) Fiction: songs/nursery rhymes Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Fiction: realistic fiction

61 The Lion and the Mouse 75 Holes

Written and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney Written by Louis Sachar
Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Fiction: animal characters, fables Ages
Ages11+
11+ Fiction: realistic fiction

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76 Peek-a Who? 90 Puss in Boots
Written and illustrated by Nina Laden Written by Charles Perault and illustrated by
Ages
Ages 0-3
0-3 Fiction: fantasy, realistic fiction Fred Marcellio
Ages 8-10 Fiction: folk & fairy tales, animal characters
Ages 8-10
77 Hi! Fly Guy
Written and illustrated by Tedd Arnold 91 Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed
Ages 8-10 Fiction: fantasy, animal characters
Ages 8-10 Apollo 11 on the Moon
Written by Catherine Thimmesh
78 Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH Ages
Ages 11+
11+ Nonfiction: science and social studies
Written by Robert C. O’Brien and illustrated
by Zena Bernstein 92 What Shall We Do With the Boo Hoo Baby?
Ages
Ages11+
11+ Fiction: fantasy, animal characters Written by Cressida Cowell and illustrated by
Ingrid Godon
79 Llama Llama Red Pajama Ages
Ages 0-3
0-3 Fiction: fantasy, animal characters
Written and illustrated by Anna Dewdney
Ages
Ages 0-3
0-3 Fiction: animal characters 93 We the Kids: The Preamble to the
Constitution of the United States
80 What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? Written and illustrated by David Catrow
Written and illustrated by Steve Jenkins and Ages 8-10 Informational: historical documents
Ages 8-10
Robin Page
Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Nonfiction: science 94 I Took the Moon for a Walk
Written by Carolyn Curtis and illustrated by
81 Lincoln: A Photobiography Alison Jay
Written by Russell Freedman Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Fiction: fantasy, poetry
Ages
Ages11+
11+ Nonfiction: biography
95 A Single Shard
82 Ivy & Bean Written by Linda Sue Park
Written by Annie Barrows and illustrated by Ages
Ages 11+
11+ Fiction: realistic fiction, historical fiction
Sophie Blackall
Ages 8-10 Fiction: realistic fiction
Ages 8-10
96 Gossie
Written and illustrated by Olivier Dunrea
83 Yoko Ages
Ages 0-3
4-7 Fiction: animal characters
Written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells
Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Fiction: animal characters 97 The Adventures of Captain Underpants
Written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey
84 No No Yes Yes Ages 8-10 Fiction: fantasy
Ages 8-10
Written and illustrated by Leslie Patricelli
Ages
Ages 0-3
0-3 Informational: early concepts (opposites); 98 Bright Baby: First Words
Fiction: realistic fiction Written and illustrated by Roger Priddy
Ages
Ages 0-3
0-3 Informational: early concepts
85 Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
Written by Judy Blume 99 Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices
Ages 8-10Fiction: realistic fiction
Ages 8-10 Written by Paul Fleischman and illustrated by
Eric Beddows
86 Interrupting Chicken Ages
Ages 11+
11+ Informational: science; Fiction: fantasy;
Written and illustrated by David Ezra Stein poetry
Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Fiction: animal characters
100 Animalia
87 Rules Written and illustrated by Graeme Base
Written by Cynthia Lord Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Informational: concepts (alphabet);
Ages
Ages11+
11+ Fiction: realistic fiction Fiction: fantasy, animal characters

88 Grumpy Bird
Written and illustrated by Jeremy Tankard
Ages
Ages 0-3
0-3 Fiction: animal characters

89 An Egg Is Quiet
Written by Dianna Hutts Aston and illustrated
by Sylvia Long
Ages
Ages 4-7
4-7 Nonfiction: science

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