100 Books That Shaped the 20th Century
from School Library Journal

Picture Books
Why mosquitoes buzz in people's ears : a West African tale
by Verna Aardema

A mosquito's lie sets off a series of reactions in the jungle that results in the owl's refusal to wake the sun and the lion's decision to call a meeting of the animals
Madeline
by Ludwig Bemelmans

A commemorative edition of the classic story about the spirited little redhead features a lavish slipcase and a full-color panoramic pop-up spread of Paris that offers details about famous landmarks and Madeline's house.
The five Chinese brothers
by Claire Huchet Bishop

Five brothers who look just alike outwit the executioner by using their extraordinary individual talents
Goodnight moon
by Margaret Wise Brown

Before going to sleep, a little rabbit says goodnight to many different things
Smoky night
by Eve Bunting

When the Los Angeles riots break out in the streets of their neighborhood, a young boy and his mother learn the values of getting along with others no matter what their background or nationality. A Caldecott Medal winner.
Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel
by Virginia Lee Burton

A 75th anniversary edition of the beloved classic by the late Caldecott Medal-winning author includes a bonus downloadable audio component, read by Tony Award-winner Matthew Broderick, to celebrate this timeless picture book tale of transportation and cooperation.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
by Eric Carle

Follows the progress of a hungry little caterpillar as he eats his way through a varied and very large quantity of food until, full at last, he forms a cocoon around himself and goes to sleep.
The magic school bus at the waterworks
by Joanna Cole

When Ms. Frizzle, the strangest teacher in school, takes her class on a field trip to the waterworks, everyone ends up experiencing the water purification system from the inside
Freight train
by Donald Crews

The train rolls along slowly at first, slowly enough to count the cars, name their colors, and identify their functions, until it starts to pick up speed, chug-chugging across the page in a blur of color, speed, and sound.
Strega Nona
by Tomie DePaola

When Strega Nona leaves him alone with her magic pasta pot, Big Anthony is determined to show the townspeople how it works
Millions of Cats
by Wanga Gag

This is the classic story about the gentle old man, who looks for one cat for his loney wife, and returns with 'millions and billions and trillions of cats'.
Chester's way
by Kevin Henkes

The close friendship of Chester and Wilson, two mice who do everything together, is threatened when Lilly moves into the neighborhood.
The snowy day
by Ezra Jack Keats

A half-century tribute edition of the 1963 Caldecott Medal winner follows the simple tale of a young boy who, upon waking, discovers that snow has fallen and ventures out in his red snowsuit to experiment with making footprints, creating snow angels and trying to preserve a snowball.
Frog and Toad are friends
by Arnold Lobel

A 60th anniversary paper-over-board commemorative edition of the Caldecott Honor-winning classic follows the shared adventures of best friends Frog and Toad.
George and Martha
by James Marshall

Relates several episodes in the friendship of two hippopotamuses.
Chicka chicka boom boom
by Bill Martin

In a rhythmic alphabet chant, all the letters race one another up the coconut tree.
Make way for ducklings
by Robert McCloskey

An anniversary release of the Caldecott Medal-winning classic is complemented by an audio CD recording and McCloskey's full-color map of Boston, a collectible that reflects beloved landmarks including the State House, the Old North Church and the Swan Boats in the Public Garden.
Mirandy and Brother Wind
by Pat McKissack

To win first prize in the Junior Cakewalk, Mirandy tries to capture the wind for her partner
Little Bear
by Diane Namm

When it comes to eating, Little Bear definitely prefers honey to potatoes, peas, tomatoes, or cheese
The Little Engine That Could
by Watty Piper

When the other engines refuse, the Little Blue Engine tries to pull a stranded train full of toys and good food over the mountain.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
by Beatrix Potter


Peter disobeys his mother by going into Mr. McGregor's garden and almost gets caught.
Yo! Yes?
by Christopher Raschka

Follows the blossoming of a friendship between a black and a white boy, depicted in zany illustrations.
Curious George
by H. A. Rey

Complemented by a bonus downloadable audio reading by John Krasinski, an anniversary edition of the beloved classic that started it all follows the first encounters between the ever-curious monkey and the man with the yellow hat, who becomes his best friend.
The Stinky Cheese Man and other fairly stupid tales
by Jon Scieszka

A revisionist storyteller provides his mad, hilarious versions of children's favorite tales in this collection that includes "Little Red Running Shorts," "The Princess and the Bowling Ball," "Cinderumpelstilskin," and others.
Where the Wild Things Are
by Maurice Sendak

A naughty little boy, sent to bed without his supper, sails to the land of the wild things where he becomes their king.
Caps for Sale : A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys, and Their Monkey Business
by Esphyr Slobodkina

A band of mischievous monkeys steals every one of a peddler's caps while he takes a nap under a tree.
Sylvester and the magic pebble
by William Steig

In a moment of fright, Sylvester the donkey asks his magic pebble to turn him into a rock but then cannot hold the pebble to wish himself back to normal again
Rumpelstiltskin : From the German of the Brothers Grimm
by Paul O. Zelinsky

The funny little man who spun straw into gold and helped the beautiful miller's daughter marry the king gives her three days to guess his name or he will take away her child.
William's doll
by Charlotte Zolotow

William's grandmother is the only member of the family who understands why he wants a doll as well as a basketball and an electric train
Kids' Books
Ramona the pest
by Beverly Cleary

Ramona Quimby's entry into kindergarten becomes an earth-shattering event for all concerned when she makes her irrepressible presence known.
Tuck everlasting
by Natalie Babbitt

The Tuck family is confronted with an agonizing situation when they discover that a ten-year-old girl and a malicious stranger now share their secret about a spring whose water prevents one from ever growing any older.
The secret garden : an illustrated classic
by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Ten-year-old orphan Mary Lennox comes to live in a lonely house on the Yorkshire moors and discovers an invalid cousin and the mysteries of a locked garden
Harriet the spy
by Louise Fitzhugh

A 50th-anniversary edition of the classic coming-of-age story follows the misadventures of 11-year-old Harriet, whose friendships are tested when her not-so-generous notebook observations are discovered.
Joyful noise : poems for two voices
by Paul Fleischman

A collection of fourteen poems to be read aloud by two voices features works whose subjects include grasshoppers, butterflies, and other creatures.
One-eyed Cat
by Paula Fox

Ned Wallis, a minister's son in a Hudson Valley town in the 1930s, accidentally wounds a cat with his new air rifle, is befriended by an elderly neighbor, and must deal with the care required by both.
Lincoln : A Photobiography
by Russell Freedman

Photographs and text trace the life of the Civil War President.
The Wind in the Willows
by Kenneth Grahame

The adventures of four amiable animals--Rat, Toad, Mole, and Badger--along a river in the English countryside.
M.C. Higgins, the Great
by Virginia Hamilton

As a slag heap, the result of strip mining, creeps closer to his house in the Ohio hills, M.C. is torn between trying to get his family away and fighting for the home they love.
Out of the dust
by Karen Hesse

A poem cycle that reads as a novel narrates the story of fifteen-year-old Billie Jo and her battle against the elements during the Oklahoma Dust Bowl of 1934.
Paddle-to-the-Sea
by Holling Clancy Holling

A toy Indian and his canoe travel from Lake Nipigon to the Atlantic Ocean
Just so stories
by Rudyard Kipling

.A collection of the author's well-known stories includes tales of a massive whale swallowing a mariner, how a lazy camel got his hump, and why the leopard's spots were painted on
Volcano : the eruption and healing of Mount St. Helens
by Patricia Lauber

Studies the eruption of Mount St. Helens, its impact on scientific knowledge, and the gradual return of life to its barren slopes
Rabbit Hill
by Robert Lawson

When a new family moves into the neighborhood the animals of Rabbit Hill are very curious about how these human inhabitants will act. A Newbery Medal Winner. Reissue.
From the mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
by E. L Konigsburg

Having run away with her younger brother to live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, twelve-year-old Claudia strives to keep things in order in their new home and to become a changed person and a heroine to herself.
A wrinkle in time
by Madeleine L'Engle

Meg Murry and her friends become involved with unearthly strangers and a search for Meg's father, who has disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government.
The lion, the witch, and the wardrobe
by C. S. Lewis

Four English school children enter the magic land of Narnia through the back of a wardrobe and assist Aslan, the golden lion, in defeating the White Witch who has cursed the land with eternal winter
Anastasia Krupnik
by Lois Lowry

Anastasia's tenth year is filled with some wonderful happenings, like falling in love and really getting to know her grandmother, but other things, including a name that is too long and a new baby brother, are awful.
The way things work now : from levers to lasers, windmills to Wi-Fi, a visual guide to the world of machines
by David Macaulay

An update of the worldwide best-seller incorporates the latest technological developments that impact life today, guiding readers through the fundamental principles of machines while explaining how historical developments are building the future.
Sarah, plain and tall
by Patricia MacLachlan

When their father invites a mail-order bride to come live with them in their prairie home, Caleb and Anna are captivated by their new mother and hope that she will stay
The Pushcart War
by Jean Merrill

The outbreak of a war between truck drivers and pushcart peddlers brings the mounting problems of traffic to the attention of both the city of New York and the world.
Anne of Green Gables
by Anne Rooney

Anne, an eleven-year-old orphan, is sent by mistake to live with a lonely, middle-aged brother and sister on a Prince Edward Island farm and proceeds to make an indelible impression on everyone around her
The complete tales & poems of Winnie-the-Pooh
by A. A. Milne

A large format, colorfully illustrated compilation celebrates the 75th anniversary of the publication of Winnie-the-Pooh through a collection of classic tales and poems, including "Rice Pudding" and "Disobedience."
Bridge to Terabithia
by Katherine Paterson

Jess Aarons gains the strength to cope with unexpected tragedy by going to a secret kingdom in the woods invented by Leslie Burke, a newcomer to his rural Virginia community.
The Westing game
by Ellen Raskin

The mysterious death of an eccentric millionaire brings together an unlikely assortment of heirs who must uncover the circumstances of his death before they can claim their inheritance.
Harry Potter and the sorcerer's stone
by J. K Rowling

Rescued from the outrageous neglect of his aunt and uncle, a young boy with a great destiny proves his worth while attending Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Where the sidewalk ends : the poems & drawings of Shel Silverstein
by Shel Silverstein

This masterful collection of poems and drawings is at once outrageously funny and profound, and this special edition, which marks 40 years in print, contains 12 extra poems that did not appear in the original collection.
Zlateh the goat, and other stories
by Isaac Bashevis Singer

Tells the stories of four sisters who mixed up their feet in bed one night, the first shlemiel, and the famous and foolish seven Elders of Chelm
And then what happened, Paul Revere?
by Jean Fritz

Recounts Paul Revere's life as a silversmith and his exciting adventures during the Revolutionary War
Mary Poppins
by P. L. Travers

An extraordinary English nanny blows in on the East Wind with her parrot-headed umbrella and magic carpetbag and introduces her charges, Jane and Michael, to some delightful people and experiences
Charlotte's web
by E. B. White

Fern raises the little runt pig, Wilbur, only to have her father give him away
Little house in the big woods
by Laura Ingalls Wilder

A year in the life of two young girls growing up on the Wisconsin frontier, as they help their mother with the daily chores, enjoy their father's stories and singing, and share special occasions when they get together with relatives or neighbors
Young Adult Books
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
by Avi

Accused and convicted of murder, thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle decides to reveal what really happened aboard the Seahawk--a ship piloted by a tyrannical captain and crewed by mutinous seamen--during the summer of 1832.
Are you there God? It's me, Margaret.
by Judy Blume

Faced with the difficulties of growing up and choosing a religion, a 12-year-old girl talks over her problems with her own private God.
The Incredible Journey
by Sheila Every Burnford

Three runaway pets--a young Labrador retriever, a wise bull terrier, and a Siamese cat--sustain one another through hardships, hunger, and danger as they travel more than two hundred miles through the Canadian wilderness to make their way home.
The summer of the swans
by Betsy Cromer Byars

A teenage girl gains new insight into herself and her family when her mentally handicapped brother gets lost
The goats
by Brock Cole

Howie and Laura, two misfits among a camping group, are left on an island overnight as a practical joke but the pair escape during the night and are forced to lie, steal, and dodge the police as they search for safety
The dark is rising
by Susan Cooper

An eleven-year-old boy searches for six magical signs in order to save the world from the threatening evil of the Dark
The chocolate war
by Robert Cormier

A high-school freshman who refuses to participate in the annual fund-raising chocolate sale is forced to defend his convictions
The diary of a young girl
by Anne Frank

The autobiographical reminiscences of a young Jewish girl coming of age during World War II describes her life in hiding from the Nazis and offers a poignant study of the tragedy of the Holocaust.
Charlie and the chocolate factory
by Roald Dahl

A collectible hardcover edition of the Roald Dahl classic follows the experiences of an impoverished, chocolate-loving little boy and four brats who each becomes the lucky recipient of a golden ticket that grants them all a tour of the world's most fantastical chocolate factory.
Julie of the Wolves
by Jean Craighead George

While running away from home and an unwanted marriage, a thirteen-year-old Eskimo girl becomes lost on the North Slope of Alaska and is befriended by a wolf pack.
The people could fly : American Black folktales
by Virginia Hamilton

Born out of the sorrow of the slave, but passed on in hope, this collection of retold African-American folktales explores themes of animals, fantasy, the supernatural, and the desire for freedom.
The outsiders : 50th Anniversary
by S. E Hinton

Three brothers struggle to stay together after their parents' deaths, as they search for an identity among the conflicting values of their adolescent society, in which they find themselves "outsiders."
Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack!
by M. E. Kerr

Fifteen-year-old Tucker's life changes in many ways when he meets the unusual overweight girl who gives his cat a homeBook Annotation
The giver
by Lois Lowry

Living in a "perfect" world without social ills, a boy approaches the time when he will receive a life assignment from the Elders, but his selection leads him to a mysterious man known as the Giver, who reveals the dark secrets behind the utopian facade
A wizard of Earthsea
by Ursula K. Le Guin

A boy grows to manhood while attempting to subdue the evil he unleashed on the world as an apprentice to the Master Wizard
Cathedral
by David Macaulay

A stand-alone, full-color revised edition of Macaulay's classic visual journey of a cathedral's construction is based on newly researched information and incorporates intricately detailed, digitally finished depictions of the cathedral at various stages of development. By the Caldecott Medal-winning creator of The Way Things Work. 20,000 first printing.
Fallen angels
by Walter Dean Myers

Seventeen-year-old Richie Perry, just out of his Harlem high school, enlists in the Army in the summer of 1967 and spends a devastating year on active duty in Vietnam
Island of the Blue Dolphins
by Scott O'Dell

After she is left alone on an isolated island off the coast of California, Karana, a young Indian girl, not only learns the art of survival over the next eighteen years, but also finds a measure of happiness in her solitary life
Hatchet
by Gary Paulsen

After a plane crash, thirteen-year-old Brian spends fifty-four days in the Canadian wilderness, learning to survive with only the aid of a hatchet given him by his mother, and learning also to survive his parents' divorce
Roll of thunder, hear my cry
by Mildred D Taylor

This 40th anniversary edition of the 1977 Newbery Medal-winning title tells of a black family's struggle to overcome the prejudices and hatred they face in Mississippi during the Great Depression.
Homecoming
by Cynthia Voigt

Abandoned in a parking lot by their mother, who leaves them with a bag of sandwiches and the address of a distant relative, Dicey, James, Maybeth, and Sammy Tillerman embark on an arduous and eventful journey.