# Vote the best children's books of all time. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 15, 2002, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vote-the-best-childrens-books-of-all-time/128563 "2002-09-15T18:19:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![moonchilde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3e96dc/32.png) [@moonchilde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moonchilde)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vote-the-best-childrens-books-of-all-time/128563/21 "2002-09-20T07:56:39Z")
To stimulate the imagination (albeit in sort of a “Twilight Zone” way) is Chris VanAllsburg’s “The Mysteries of Harris Burdick”. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vote-the-best-childrens-books-of-all-time/128563/22 "2002-09-20T16:02:38Z")
Oh, man… all my beautiful links, lost! Trying this again, now. **Classic:** - _A Time of Wonder_ - _East of the Sun, West of the Moon_ (illustrated by Michael Hague) - _Sylvester and the Magic Pebble_ - _Georgie_ - _The Polar Express_ - _Amelia Bedelia_ - There are several illustrated collections of the _Just So Stories_ that are fantastic. **Contemporary:** - _Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs_ - _Davy’s Dream_ - _Olivia_ and _Olivia Saves the Circus_ - _The Jolly Postman, Or, Other People’s Letters_ ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vote-the-best-childrens-books-of-all-time/128563/23 "2002-09-20T16:15:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > Classic: > **Katie Many-Pockets** Nitpick: That’s [Katy No-Pocket](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0395137179/qid=1032537913/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/102-5897031-7481745?v=glance&s=books). One of my personal faves ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vote-the-best-childrens-books-of-all-time/128563/24 "2002-09-20T16:23:40Z")
As far as classics from my youth, I’ll nominate the following: **Simple Pictures are Best** **One Monday Morning** (another classic Sendak tale) any of the **Billy and Blaze** books any of the **Frog and Toad** books **The Giant Jam Sandwich** **The Runaway Rollerskate** and… my all time favorite **Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day** (already mentioned but worth mentioning again…and again…) As far as what I read to my boys, there are very few that I can handle after the 309th time. Now I finally know why my mom hates **Alexander** so much! Anyways, here are a few that I really like. **Slugs** - great pictures, great rhymes, and the look on my 3-year-old’s face at the end when the slugs revolt is great. **Big Black Bear** - more great rhymes and illustrations. **Pink and Say** - only picture that has ever brought a tear to my eye (still does). It is a difficult (emotionally) book to read but well worth it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vote-the-best-childrens-books-of-all-time/128563/25 "2002-09-20T21:56:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RexDart \* > \*\*Heh heh, perhaps you’re right **pochacco**. I still think Teletubbies rot the brain, though. Anyways, your practical experience trumps my speculation, so prepare to resume learning in 5, 4, 3, 2… \*\* Well, to paraphrase Frank N. Furter: “They didn’t make it for _you_.” 🙂 If you’re eighteen months old, Teletubbies is Da Bomb. If you want something that will really push you over the edge, try watching a few Spot videos. Spot makes Teletubbies look like Vin Diesel on crack. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an entire spot cartoon from start to finish … I always pass out from brain-numbing boredom about three minutes in. BTW, the Spot books themselves are very sweet … . ---
**Author:** ![Proudest\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/proudest_monkey/32/13257_2.png) [@Proudest\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Proudest_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vote-the-best-childrens-books-of-all-time/128563/26 "2002-09-20T22:52:51Z")
I’ll toss in seconds (thirds…whatever) for \*\*Polar Express, Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day,\*\*and **Goodnight Moon**. I hated **Curious George**. (Strange, my being a monkey and all) When I read it to my daughter I used to skip paragraphs and even whole pages just to finish more quickly. Loved **The Runaway Bunny** , however, and can’t finish it without choking up. I’ll submit **The Tenth Good Thing About Barney** by Judith Viorst. If you haven’t read it, you _must_! Especially if you’ve ever lost a pet–I dare you to read it without crying. I love picture books. I teach fifth grade and read lots of literature aimed at that age, but my students still love picture books and there are some that just capture a feeling or message like nothing else can. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vote-the-best-childrens-books-of-all-time/128563/27 "2002-09-20T23:11:25Z")
**Pokey Little Puppy** \*\*Frog and Toad are Friends \*\*(and Together, and whatever the ohter ones are) **There’s a Monster at the end of this book** (original, no Elmo enhancements) **Stand back, said the Elephant, i’m going to sneeze!** **The Bereinstein Bears and politeness**. (or insert your random BB book here) **Harold and the Purple Crayon** **Miss Nelson is Missing** The Magic School Bus (all of 'em) All of the **McBroom** books (especially **McBroom’s Zoo**!!) **Sylvester and the Magic Pebble** by William Steig ---
**Author:** ![Manatee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@Manatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manatee)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vote-the-best-childrens-books-of-all-time/128563/28 "2002-09-21T07:11:47Z")
I’ve gotta vote for **Good Night Gorilla**. I read it while waiting at the pediatrician’s and it made me laugh out loud! In reading that previous sentence, I realize that it probably says too much about the limits of my intelligence. But still, it’s a great book. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vote-the-best-childrens-books-of-all-time/128563/29 "2002-09-21T11:30:31Z")
Richard Scarry’s **Things That Go** plus two more for **Where the Wild Things Are** **Green Eggs and Ham** ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vote-the-best-childrens-books-of-all-time/128563/30 "2002-09-21T12:12:07Z")
_Make Way for Ducklings The Snowy Day Ferdinand the Bull The Cat in the Hat Horton Hears a Who Where the Wild Things Are_ Edward Lear’s _Nonsense ABC Frederick_ by Leo Leonni ---
**Author:** ![zen101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c68b51/32.png) [@zen101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zen101)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vote-the-best-childrens-books-of-all-time/128563/31 "2002-09-21T12:45:23Z")
Previous reply swallowed. Watership Down and Everybody Poops ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vote-the-best-childrens-books-of-all-time/128563/32 "2002-09-21T15:18:03Z")
The line between classic and contemporary is a little blurred for me, since I pay absolutely no attention to stuff most of the time. I see books, I buy books. So I’m guessing as to the age of these. Classic: Green Eggs and Ham Horton Hears a Who Where The Wild Things Are Harold & The Purple Crayon The Giving Tree ALL the “Little Critter” books by Mercer Mayer Goodnight Moon Contemporary: Chick-a Chick-a Boom Boom (impossible to read without doing the sing-song rhythm, which will stick in your head for weeks) Harvey Potter’s Balloon Farm (wonderfully surreal artwork) William’s Ninth Life (will make you cry) I’ll think of more, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vote-the-best-childrens-books-of-all-time/128563/33 "2002-09-21T15:18:03Z")
The line between classic and contemporary is a little blurred for me, since I pay absolutely no attention to stuff most of the time. I see books, I buy books. So I’m guessing as to the age of these. Classic: Green Eggs and Ham Horton Hears a Who Where The Wild Things Are Harold & The Purple Crayon The Giving Tree ALL the “Little Critter” books by Mercer Mayer Goodnight Moon Contemporary: Chick-a Chick-a Boom Boom (impossible to read without doing the sing-song rhythm, which will stick in your head for weeks) Harvey Potter’s Balloon Farm (wonderfully surreal artwork) William’s Ninth Life (will make you cry) I’ll think of more, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Doggeez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b19c9b/32.png) [@Doggeez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doggeez)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vote-the-best-childrens-books-of-all-time/128563/34 "2002-09-21T16:10:54Z")
How about the James Herriot books? He’s the Yorkshire veterinarian who wrote the “All Creatures Great and Small” series. I loved them when I was young and I still sometimes will reread them now. My father used to read to us from D’aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths every night. He also read from a children’s book of Norse mythology. I’m sorry, I can’t remember the name but it was definitely a children’s book. Happy times… ---
**Author:** ![furthur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@furthur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furthur)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vote-the-best-childrens-books-of-all-time/128563/35 "2002-09-21T16:40:40Z")
Max & Ruby books by Rosemary Wells. In the Night Kitchen – heck, Sendak, period. Tomie DePaola. Fin M’Coul, Strega Nona, his version: The Teeny Tiny Woman. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Officer Buckle & Gloria & Ten Minutes til Bedtime by Peggy Rathmann. Second vote for Good Night, Gorilla. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie - Numeroff. A Day with Wilbur Robinson by William Joyce. Tuesday - Wiesner. Polar Express. Freight Train – Donald Crews. Almost anything by Sandra Boynton, esp. Blue Hat, Green Hat. Rotten Ralph books - Gantos. I Spy books. The Spooky Old Tree & other Berenstain books. Anansi the spider folktales. I also like One Grain of Rice and almost everything Demi has done. Another vote for Frog & Toad, too! Mrs. Furthur ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vote-the-best-childrens-books-of-all-time/128563/36 "2002-09-21T18:08:42Z")
THE VELVETEEN RABBIT by MARGERY WILLIAMS!!! DO not get it if there is another author listed as retelling it. There is NOTHING too sophisticated in the original! FAKE AUTHORS RETELLING THE VELVETEEN RABBIT BURN IN HELL! does this now go to The Pit? _G_ ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vote-the-best-childrens-books-of-all-time/128563/37 "2002-09-21T18:41:14Z")
Gotta be “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” I remember that one from my childhood quite well… ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vote-the-best-childrens-books-of-all-time/128563/38 "2002-09-22T01:29:20Z")
**The Chronicles of Narnia The Harry Potter books The Phantom Tollbooth If You Give a Mouse a Cookie The Winnie the Pooh books The Night Before Christmas Noah’s Ark** ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vote-the-best-childrens-books-of-all-time/128563/39 "2002-09-22T02:22:17Z")
> [@](#): > > Ever tried reading the Chronicles of Narnia to a two-year-old … ? Not from this side, but I’m pretty sure I was about that age when Mom first read me (and my sister) _The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe_. But since this is a thread about picture books specifically: _Make Way for Ducklings_, Robert McClosky _One Morning in Maine_, Robert McClosky _Blueberries for Sal_, Robert McClosky _The Cat in the Hat_, Dr. Seuss _Green Eggs and Ham_, Dr. Seuss _Fox in Socks_, Dr. Seuss _One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish_, Dr. Seuss _Where the Wild Things Are_, Maurice Sendak _Jumanji_ _The Very Hungry Catepillar_ _The Monster at the End of This Book_ _Bert’s Hall of Great Inventions_ _Sheep in a Jeep_ _Sheep on a Ship_ _Sheep in a Shop_ _Sheep out to Eat_ _Frog and Toad_ _Frog and Toad are Friends_ _Frog and Toad Together_ _The Giving Tree_, Shel Silverstein Mostly “classic” books, as I’ven’t any children of mine own yet. And while you’re at it, take a look at the [Caldecott winners](http://www.ala.org/alsc/caldpast.html). ---
**Author:** ![Soup\_du\_jour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Soup\_du\_jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup_du_jour)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vote-the-best-childrens-books-of-all-time/128563/40 "2002-09-22T03:14:44Z")
Mine all time favorites are… _Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day The Giving Tree Where the Sidewalk Ends Jumanji The Polar Express The Story of Jumping Mouse The Cat in the Hat All of the Berenstein Bears books The Velveteen Rabbit Pancakes for Breakfast If You Give a Mouse a Cookie The Chronicles of Narnia Books by Roald Dahl The Clifford books Goodnight Moon_ That’s all I’ve got. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vote-the-best-childrens-books-of-all-time/128563.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vote-the-best-childrens-books-of-all-time/128563.md?page=3)