1 SLJ’s AD SPECS Main unit: Opening page, above title Sponsored by Sponsored by Sponsor Page 1 Sky Box 34p X 5p 5.675”SLJ’ X s.833” Sponsored by Sponsor Page 1 Sky Box SLJ’s You could argue that the first books a child encounters will influence how they read for Whether we’re spying with Harriet, spinning with Charlotte, or running away with Bud, the rest of their lives. Stretching the definition of what constitutes a “picture book” to include everything for children between the ages of 9-12, the readers of School Library Journal voted on what they felt were their own individual Top Ten Children’s Novels of all time. Points were given for rank and order and counted ac- from board books to easy titles, the readers of School Library Journal—Betsy voted Bird on what they felt were their own individual Top Ten pictureThe Listbooks of all time. PointsCharlotte were’s Web given for rank and order and counted by E.B. White 1. Charlotte’s Web 1 (1952) accordingly. The result isby E.B. Whitea list (1952) of the Top 100 Picture Books for the 21st century.—Betsy Bird 2. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (1962) VOTED AND QUOTED 3. Harry Potter and I’m sure this will be number one again, and for good reason. A magical the Sorcerer’s Stone barnyard that maintains its “barn”ness. Amazing stuff. by J.K. Rowling (1997) —Heather Christensen The List 4. The Giver BIRD’S WORDS Where the Wild Things Are by Lois Lowry (1993) “‘Where’s Papa going with that axe?’ said Fern to her moth- during the summer between third 5. The Lion, the Witch and the er as they were setting the table for breakfast.” by Maurice Sendak Wardrobe and fourth grades. It was then that And here we reach the end of the Top 100 Children’s 1. Where the Wild Things Are by C.S. Lewis (1950) I decided it was more interesting 1 (1963)to lay in bed and read rather than by Maurice Sendak (1963) 6. Holes the public consciousness that it is impossible to conduct a watch cartoons. I was hooked by Louis Sachar (1998) poll of this sort and expect them to be anywhere but #1. You, from the very start, and I could Charlotte’s Web, you will HARPERalways be number one & to AmericanROW •barely PRE put the book K–3 down long —The 7. From the Mixed Up Files of children and adults everywhere. enough to eat or sleep. Sauls Family Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler Everything I Need to Know by E. L. Konigsburg (1967) 2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar I Learned From a Children’s Book reads, “In Charlotte’s Web, Charlotte, a spider, serves as the main protagonists; Fern, a young girl, plays a supporting role. Both 8. Anne of Green Gables by Eric Carle (1969) by L.M. Montgomery (1908) females work to save the life of Wilbur, the runt pig of the litter.. at the state fair, Charlotte asserts the power of the pen . VOTED. With just seven words, she convincesAND everyone that WilburQUOTED, “some pig,” is 9. The Westing Game truly something special and must be kept alive.” by Ellen Raskin (1978) Ms. Silvey says in 100 Best Books for Children that the book “began as an essay for the At- 3. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus Arguably the single greatest picture book ever created.1 —Hotspur Closser by Mo Willems (2003) 4. Goodnight Moon BIRD’S WORDS by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd (1947) Was there ever any doubt in your mind about what would be voted the #1 picture book? After all, I can say nothing about it that my clever readers haven’t said better. Some of these comments make it clear that 5. The Snowy Day when this poll was conducted Mr. Sendak was still alive and well. With that in mind, you cannot claim by Ezra Jack Keats (1962) that it has arrived here at #1 due to its creator’s passing. Again and again the masses cry out that this is the ultimate picture book. The evolution of picture 6. Make Way for Ducklings books can be broken down The synopsis from Anita Silvey’s 100 Best Books for Children by Robert McCloskey (1941) into two time periods: Pre- reads, “the hero rages against his mother for being sent to bed with- Wild Things and Post-Wild 7. Knuffle Bunny: out any supper. Banished, an angry Max wills his bedroom to Things. Sendak’s 1963 A Cautionary Tale change into a forest. In that forest he finds the Wild Things. After book was that instrumental by Mo Willems (2004) taming them and enjoying a wild rumpus, Max grows homesick in ushering in the modern and discovers supper waiting for him—still hot. Through his fan- age of picture books. While 8. Alexander and the Terrible, tackling themes of anger tasy, Max discharges his anger against his mother and returns Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day and loneliness, Sendak by Judith Viorst, illustrated sleepy, hungry, and at peace with himself.” created one of the few by Ray Cruz (1972) In terms of the scary factor, Ursula Nordstrom has this to say: “I picture books that still think this book can frighten only a neurotic child or a neurotic seems fresh after decades 9. Bark, George in print. by Jules Feiffer (1999) adult.” In spite of some mild controversy, the book won a —Travis Jonker 1 SLJ’s 1 Where the Wild Things Are [continued] Caldecott Medal, thereby proving For me this has to be number 1, not only because it’s that librarians have superior taste a wonderful adventure story for little ones, not only when it comes to these matters. because it demonstrates the power of imagination, not only because love, anger, defiance, and love again This book was originally begun are so inextricably intertwined, not only because it’s in November 1955 under the a amazing example of how an illustrator combines working title Where the Wild Horses the elements of design so successfully, but because Are. The trouble? Sendak didn’t like it does all these things in 32 pages and 1,200 words, how he depicted horses. I find this AND children love it! —Diantha McBride strange, since he did a fair number of illustrations for horse-related books. In any case, horses were eventually substituted for “things.” King Kong proved an inspiration for the book, as did cheek-pinching relatives. Said Sendak of his own story, “From their earliest years, children live on familiar There is no moment in any picture book more perfect than when Max terms with disrupting emotions…. They continually cope returns to his room and his dinner is with frustration as best they can. And it is through fantasy —Katie Ahearn that children achieve catharsis. It is the best means they 10. The Monster at the still hot. Enough said. End of This Book have for taming Wild Things.” by Jon Stone, illustrated by Mike Smollin (1971) Still perfectly crafted, perfectly illustrated. It doesn’t really matter that Maurice Sendak is sick of the thing, this is simply the epitome of a picture book. Sendak, like Shel 11. Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse Silverstein and Roald Dahl, rises above the rest in part because he is subversive. Max by Kevin Henkes (1996) is not a sweet little boy, he’s a crazy little kid like so many are in real life. And yes, the monsters represent his wildness, but that’s boring from a young reader’s standpoint. 12. Green Eggs and Ham The fact is, Max gets to go have a monstrous adventure, and then he comes home and by Dr. Seuss (1960) finds, not only soup, but a slice of cake. Because parents do manage to forgive their crazy little kids, and that’s a nice thing to know. —Kate Coombs 13. Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney (1982) Monsters forever.—Rose Marie Moore 14. Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina (1947) 15. Frog and Toad Are Friends The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Arnold Lobel (1970) by Eric Carle 2 (1969) 16. Harold and the Purple Crayon PHILOMEL BOOKS • GRADE LEVEL: K–2 by Crockett Johnson (1955) 17. The Story of Ferdinand VOTED AND QUOTED by Munro Leaf, illustrated by Robert Lawson (1936) One of the very few pictures books that is just BIRD’S WORDS perfect —language-appropriate, interactive, a great 18. A Sick Day for Amos McGee story, a counting exercise and a science lesson all by Philip Stead, illustrated by Erin One wonders if this book would have rolled together. —Pat Vasilik E. Stead (2010) done quite so well had it been known by 19. The Tale of Peter Rabbit its original title: A Week With Willie by Beatrix Potter (1902) Worm. Now, as we near the end of the Top 100 Poll, voila! Here is the iconic insect with big, expression- less eyes and frighteningly popular standing in the hearts and minds of adults and children everywhere. 20. Pete the Cat: B&N’s description: “A caterpillar hatches out of his egg and is very hungry. On his first day, he I Love My White Shoes eats through one piece of food; on his second, two, and so on. Little holes cut in the pages allow by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean (2010) toddlers to wiggle their fingers through the food…. Vivid and colorful illustrations and ingenious 2 SLJ’s 2 The Very Hungry Caterpillar [continued] layered pages help preschoolers learn the days of the week, Carle is a genius, pure and simple.