75 Authors/Illustrators Everyone Should Know
• Preschool-Kindergarten
• Grades 1 to 3 (Primary)
• Grades 6 to 8 (Older Readers)
Other Reading Lists
ARNOLD ADOFF — Poet and anthologist who celebrates the multicultural nature of our world.
Eats: Poems
Sports Pages
MITSUMASA ANNO — Japanese illustrator of international renown who plays with mathematics in exquisite paintings.
Anno's Counting Book
Anno's Journey
NATALIE BABBITT — A superb fantasy writer who grapples with universal concerns in poetic prose.
Tuck Everlasting
The Eyes of the Amaryllis
JUDY BLUME — Popular writer for pre-teens who captures in realistic language concerns about growing up.
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret
Fudge-A-Mania
ASHLEY BRYAN — Artist, poet, and storyteller who lets the melodies of spirituals ring through his retellings of folk stories.
The Dancing Granny
Beat The Story Drum, Pum Pum
BETSY BYARS — Her novels capture both the humor and pathos of children facing problems as they grow up.
The Pinballs
The Cybil War
BEVERLY CLEARY — Children's natural language and basic concerns ring true and with humor in her early chapter books.
Henry Huggins
Ramona Quimby, Age 8
PAM CONRAD — Engaging writer who captures strong images and vivid themes in historical and contemporary scenes.
Prairie Songs
My Daniel
RUSSELL FREEDMAN — Impeccable research and intriguing writing draws interest to topics he treats in biographies and informational books.
The Wright Brothers
Lincoln: A Photobiography
JEAN FRITZ — This superb writer of historical fiction and biography became fascinated with American heroes when she was a child growing up in China with missionary parents.
And Then What Happened Paul Revere?
Homesick: My Own Journey
JEAN CRAIGHEAD GEORGE — The author grew up in a family of naturalists and her ecological concerns permeate both the novels and informational books she writes.
Julie Of The Wolves
My Side Of The Mountain
LEE BENNETT HOPKINS — Poet and anthologist whose generous spirit and enthusiasm for poetry inspires children and adults.
Dinosaurs
Good Books, Good Times
JOHANNA HURWITZ — Well-meaning but naive characters make simple mistakes and display child-like humor in short novels children read on their own.
Class Clown
The Adventures of Ali Baba Bernstein
MYRA COHN LIVINGSTON — A first-rate poet and anthologist who established high standards of excellence in word and image.
I Like You If You Like Me
Celebration
LOIS LOWRY — Subtle humor or tender pathos permeate Lowry's stories of adolescents who grow up in suburbia or a war-torn city.
Number The Stars
Anastasia Has The Answers
DAVID MACAULAY — A spirited artist helps us to see stories, time, and the way things work in new ways.
The Way Things Work
Black And White
PATRICIA MCKISSACK — Wonderful African-American storyteller who spins a yarn with drama and pizzazz. She also writes excellent informational books with husband Fredrick McKissack.
Flossie And The Fox
Sojourner Truth: Ain't I A Woman
PATRICIA MAC LACHLAN — Captures strong human emotions as she weaves historical or contemporary stories.
Sarah, Plain And Tall
Skylark
ANN MARTIN — Popular series writer who conveys the real feelings and tribulations of 10-12 year-old girls.
The Babysitters Club
Babysitter's Little Sister
JACK PRELUTSKY — Popular and prolific versifier and anthologist who writes and compiles humorous collections.
The Dragons Are Singing Tonight
Something Big Has Been Here
CYNTHIA RYLANT — Everything she writes sounds like poetry because the melody of her sentences ring in the ear.
When I Was Young In The Mountains
Missing May
SEYMOUR SIMON — An excellent informational science writer states what we know, what is theory, and how information changes.
Autumn Across America
Mars
LANE SMITH/JON SCIESZKA — Children get a kick out of the way this team spoofs fairy tales and the art of book-making.
The True Story of The Three Little Pigs!
The Stinky Cheese Man & Other Fairly Stupid Tales
WILLIAM STEIG — His sophisticated stories have several layers of meaning that delight adults who read to children.
Doctor DeSoto
Abel's Island
75 Authors/Illustrators Everyone Should Know
• Preschool-Kindergarten
• Grades 1 to 3 (Primary)
• Grades 6 to 8 (Older Readers)
Other Reading Lists