The 100 Best Children’s Books of the 20th Century

Here, listed by category, title, author and illustrator is our list of the century’s best children’s books. The list, put together over several months, represents the views of parents, children’s literature experts and our readers. While not every classic is listed – and we may have left out a favorite of yours – these are the books that strike a special chord and stay with us through adulthood. For books that have a separate illustrator, we’ve listed the illustrator’s name after the author, separated by a slash.

Nonfiction/Poetry
Books for Babies
Picture Books
Chapter Books

Nonfiction/Poetry


MILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Cathedral, by David Macaulay


MILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The Great Yellowstone Fire, by Carole G. Vogel and Kathryn A. Goldner


MILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris/Michael Emberley


MILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">A Light in the Attic, by Shel Silverstein


Lincoln: A Photobiography, by Russell Freedman


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