Teachers Top 100 Books for Children

Every now and then the NEA (National Education Association) does something actually worthwhile, and here is one.  They compiled a list of the top 100 books that parents and teachers find useful in selecting quality literature for children.  These titles were compiled from an online survey in 2007 so just be aware that it is four years old! 

And just because it should be mentioned, there are lots and lots of other lists that have been compiled and many whole books dedicated to the task of figuring out what children SHOULD read.  I think it wise to look at multiple sources when determining what is appropriate for your child or children.

    Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

    Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

    The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

    Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

    Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

    I Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch

    Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

    Oh! The Places You Will Go by Dr. Seuss

    The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton

    The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

    Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner

    Thank You Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco

    The Cat In The Hat by Dr. Seuss

    The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

    The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

    The Mitten by Jan Brett

    Crunching Carrots, Not Candy by Judy Slack

    Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willlems

    Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

    A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

    Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

    Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman

    Corduroy by Don Freeman

    Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

    Stellaluna by Janell Cannon

    Tacky the Penquin by Helen Lester

    The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

    The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

    Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.

    Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin

    Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

    Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss

    Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park

    Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

    Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

    The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

    Piggie Pie by Margie Palatini

    The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper

    The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone

    The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

    A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon

    Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

    From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

    Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

    Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

    Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann

    Olivia by Ian Falconer

    The BFG by Roald Dahl

    The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

    The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

    The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss

    The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

    Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel

    A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

    Bark, George by Jules Feiffer

    Bunnicula by James Howe

    Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

    Charlie the Caterpillar by Dom DeLuise

    Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

    Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary

    Frederick by Leo Lionni

    Frindle by Andrew Clements

    Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel

    Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

    Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen

    Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion

    Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss

    How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

    I Love You, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt

    Is Your Mama A Llama? by Deborah Guarino

    Jan Brett’s books

    Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin Jr.

    Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

    Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton

    Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney

    My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett

    My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss

    My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

    No David! by David Shannon

    One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss

    Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

    Stephanie's Ponytail by Robert Munsch

    Swimmy by Leo Lionni

    The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

    The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Warner

    The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper

    The Empty Pot by Demi

    The Five Chinese Brothers by Claire Huchet Bishop

    The Giver by Lois Lowr

    The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle

    The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

    The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown

    The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements

    The Napping House by Audrey Wood

    The Quiltmaker's Gift by Jeff Brumbeau

    The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

    The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack

    The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka

    Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

    The Wide-Mouthed Frog: A Pop-Up Book by Keith Faulkner