The Best Children's Books of All Time

By Southern Living
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

In the likes of Harry Potter and Katniss Everdeen, they’ve produced characters and conceits that have become the currency of our pop-culture discourse—and inspired some of our best writers to contribute to the genre. To honor the best books for young adults and children, TIME compiled this survey in consultation with respected peers such as U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate Kenn Nesbitt, children’s-book historian Leonard Marcus, the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature, the Young Readers Center at the Library of Congress, the Every Child a Reader literacy foundation and 10 independent booksellers. With their help, we’ve created two all-time lists of classics: 100 Best Young-Adult Books and 100 Best Children’s Books. Vote for your favorite in the poll below.

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1 of 31

Where the Wild Things Are

HarperCollins
By Maurice Sendak The adventure that has inspired generations of children to let out their inner monsters, showing how imagination allows for an escape from life’s doldrums. It’s also a moving testament to family love: when young Max returns from his reverie, his mother has saved him a hot dinner.   BUY IT: $7.89; amazon.com
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2 of 31

The Snowy Day

Puffin
By Ezra Jack Keats The journey of Peter through a snowbound New York City made for a milestone: as a successful children’s story focused on a black protagonist, it broke down barriers many white editors may have never noticed. But Keats’ book is memorable too for the sheer beauty of its collage illustrations.   BUY IT: $7.99; amazon.com

3 of 31

Goodnight Moon

HarperCollins
By Margaret Wise Brown, illustrations by Clement Hurd Somewhere a child is being put to sleep right now to Brown’s soothing, repetitive cadences. While the lines may be etched in every parent’s memory, Hurd’s illustrations, with their quirky hidden jokes, provide amusement on the thousandth reading.   BUY IT: $5.99; amazon.com
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4 of 31

Blueberries for Sal

Viking
By Robert McCloskey The block-printed illustrations show just how similar families of different species can be, as child Sal and a baby bear covet Maine blueberries on a berry hunt with their respective mothers. It’s an instructive read for any kid who’s ever felt a bit like a wild animal, or parents who’ve ever felt like they’re raising one.   BUY IT: $10.49; amazon.com

5 of 31

Little Bear (series)

HarperTrophy
By Else Holmelund Minarek, illustrations by Maurice Sendak Minarik wrote these stories, which convey a young cub’s yearning for his absent father, but it’s Sendak’s illustrations that catch the eye and allow for endless imaginings of life among woodland critters.   BUY IT: $9.08; amazon.com

6 of 31

Owl Moon

Philomel Books
By Jane Yolen, illustrations by John Schoenherr Many young bird watchers likely owe their passion to this story of a father-daughter trip to find the elusive great horned owl takes flight thanks to Schoenherr’s evocative woods-at-night illustrations.   BUY IT: $13.88; amazon.com
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7 of 31

The Giving Tree

Harper & Row
By Shel Silverstein It’s hard to imagine a story more poignant than the tale of a tree that gives its life for a boy turned self-centered young man. It’s been interpreted along environmentalist and religious lines, but all can agree on the beauty of its underlying theme of generosity.   BUY IT: $10.39; amazon.com

8 of 31

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

Puffin
By Jon Scieszka, illustrations by Lane Smith This ironic, witty book, which revises the story of the pigs as an exculpatory memoir by the wolf—who claims he’s not so big and bad at all!—is a welcome corrective to more saccharine tales. It also introduces young readers to the notion of dueling perspectives.   BUY IT: $7.90; amazon.com

9 of 31

Tuesday

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
By David Wiesner Who needs text? Not this illustrator, who also “wrote” the very few words that make up his tale. His stunning, propulsive watercolors show flying frogs on a surreal adventure. Reading may be fundamental, but here the pictures do almost all the talking.   BUY IT: $7.90; amazon.com
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10 of 31

Where the Sidewalk Ends

Harper & Row
By Shel Silverstein Silverstein wasn’t just good at tales of leafy self-sacrifice. His loopy poems have been speaking to kids’ concerns and sparking their imaginations for decades. Any child who’s ever fantasized about playing “hug o’ war” instead of tug-of-war will find a kindred spirit in these pages.   BUY IT: $11.19; amazon.com

11 of 31

Harold and the Purple Crayon

HarperCollins
By Crockett Johnson A creative boy crafts entire worlds of his own devising, using only his trusty crayon.   BUY IT: $5.99; amazon.com

12 of 31

Make Way for Ducklings

Viking
By Robert McCloskey A loving mother duck ferries her eight young ones through Boston.   BUY IT: $10.49; amazon.com
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13 of 31

Olivia

Atheneum Books
By Ian Falconer Minimalist charcoal illustrations enrich the quietly funny narrative about a confident little pig.   BUY IT: $12.34; amazon.com

14 of 31

Madeline (series)

Viking
By Ludwig Bemelmans A spunky French girl navigates boarding school and the removal of her appendix with confidence and poise.   BUY IT: $25.31; amazon.com 

15 of 31

Anno's Journey

Puffin
By Mitsumasa Anno  This visual feast doesn't need a single word to showcase the beauty of northern Europe.   BUY IT: $7.90; amazon.com
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16 of 31

Frog and Toad (series)

HarperCollins
By Arnold Lobel Two inseperable best friends keep each other company during all their adventures.   BUY IT: $6.79; amazon.com

17 of 31

Click, Clack, Moo

Simon & Schuster
By Doreen Cronin, illustrations by Betsy Lewin This story about farm animals sticking up for their rights wryly reveals the power of peaceful protest.   BUY IT: $8.55; amazon.com

18 of 31

The Story of Ferdinand

Grosset & Dunlap
By Munro Leaf, illustrations by Robert Lawson Contrary to the stereotype of his species, Ferdinand is a calm, peaceful bull who likes to relax under the cork tree.   BUY IT: $3.99; amazon.com
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19 of 31

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus

Hyperion Press
By Mo Williams One stubborn pigeon refuses to give up on his bird-brained dream of driving a vehicle.   BUY IT: $10.65; amazon.com

20 of 31

The Lorax

Random House
By Dr. Seuss Seuss takes on serious subject matter without compromising his playful style in this environmentalist fable.   BUY IT: $9.60; amazon.com

21 of 31

Corduroy

Puffin
By Don Freeman In the middle of the night, a toy bear comes to life and hops off the shelf to replace his missing button.   BUY IT: $5.99; amazon.com
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22 of 31

I Want My Hat Back

Candlewick Press
By Jon Klassen The witty account of a bear seeking out his lost hat; the illustrations are studded with subtle clues.   BUY IT: $10.63; amazon.com

23 of 31

Miss Rumphius

Puffin
By Barbara Cooney The true story of a woman who spread flower seeds everywhere she went, filling the coast of Maine with blossom.   BUY IT: $7.99; amazon.com

24 of 31

Brave Irene

Square Fish
By William Steig A dressmaker's daughter bravely ventures into a snowstorm to deliver the duchess her new gown in time for the ball.   BUY IT: $5.64; amazon.com
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25 of 31

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Atheneum Books
By Judith Viorst, illustrations by Ray Cruz Alexander's nonstop misfortunes pile up comically over the course of one outrageous day.   BUY IT: $5.59; amazon.com

26 of 31

The Cat in the Hat

Random House
By Dr. Seuss A big cat surprises Dick and Sally, transforming their dreary day at home into a wild adventure.   BUY IT: $6.19; amazon.com

27 of 31

Press Here

Chronicle Books
By Herve Tullet An innovative, interactive work that gets kids to play with the physical form of the book.

BUY IT: $9.09; amazon.com

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28 of 31

The Day the Crayons Quit

Philomel
By Drew Daywalt, illustrations by Oliver Jeffers All the crayons in Duncan's box go on strike, citing all kinds of hilarious grievances.   BUY IT: $10.79; amazon.com

29 of 31

Whistle for Willie

Puffin
By Ezra Jack Keats Richly colorful illustrations accompany this tale about a boy learning to whistle.   BUY IT: $5.69; amazon.com

30 of 31

The Garden of Abdul Gasazi

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
By Chris Van Allsburg An elegant, eerie story about an enchanted garden where it is not easy to separate what's real from what isn't.   BUY IT: $14.06; amazon.com
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