Top 100 Picture Books

As you know, Betsy Bird conducted another Picture Book Poll this spring. I wanted to see how many of them I'd read.

Titles I've read are in bold.


#1 Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (1963)
#2 The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (1979)
#3 Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems (2003)
#4 Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd (1947)
#5 The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (1962)
#6 Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey (1941)
#7 Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems (2004)
#8 Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst, illustrated by Ray Cruz (1972)
#9 Bark, George by Jules Feiffer (1999)
#10 The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone, illustrated by Mike Smollin (1971)
#11 Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes (1996)
#12 Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss (1960)
#13 Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney (1982)
#14 Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina (1947)
#15 Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel (1970)
#16 Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson (1955)
#17 The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, illustrated by Robert Lawson (1936)
#18 A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead (2010)
#19 The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter (1902)
#20 Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean (2010)
#21 Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag (1928)
#22 Corduroy by Donald Freeman (1976)
#23 Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert (1989)
#24 Tuesday by David Wiesner (1991)
#25 Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes (2004)
#26 We Are in a Book by Mo Willems (2010)
#27 Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Lillian Hoban (1964)
#28 Go, Dog, Go! by P.D. Eastman (1961)
#29 Miss Nelson is Missing! by Harry Allard, illustrated by James Marshall (1977)
#30 Owl Moon by Jane Yolen (1987)
#31 Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey (1948)
#32 The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton (1942)
#33 The Lorax by Dr. Seuss (1971)
#34 Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola (1975)
#35 The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith (1989)
#36 The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss (1957)
#37 The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney (2009)
#38 Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.,
illustrated by Eric Carle (1967)
#39 Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin (2000)
#40 Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann (1994)
#41 Curious George by H.A. Rey (1941)
#42 Freight Train by Donald Crews (1978)
#43 Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion, ill. by Margaret Bloy Graham (1956)
#44 The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Audrey and Don Wood (1984)
#45 Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman (1960)
#46 Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say (1993)
#47 Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans (1939)
#48 George and Martha by James Marshall (1972)
#49 Press Here by Herve Tullet (2011)
#50 The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg (1984)
#51 The Library by Sarah Stewart, illustrated by David Small (1995)
#52 Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth (2005)
#53 Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco (1998)
#54 Olivia by Ian Falconer (2000)
#55 Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig (1969)
#56 The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (1985)
#57 Doctor De Soto by William Steig (1982)
#58 Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt (2006)
#59 Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann (1995)
#60 There Is a Bird on Your Head by Mo Willems (2007)
#61 How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss (1957)
#62 Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley (1992)
#63 The Sneetches and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss (1961)
#64 King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood, illustrated by Don Wood (1985)
#65 The Arrival by Shaun Tan (2006)
#66 Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes (1991)
#67 Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Garth Williams (1960)
#68 The Three Pigs by David Wiesner (2001)
#69 Moo Baa La La La by Sandra Boynton (1995)
#70 Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas (2009)
#71 Stellaluna by Janell Cannon (1993)
#72 But Not the Hippopotamus by Sandra Boynton (1982)
#73 May I Bring a Friend? by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers, illustrated by Beni Montresor (1964)
#74 I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen (2011)
#75 Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett, illustrated by Ron Barrett (1978)
#76 Eloise by Kay Thompson (1955)
#77 Flotsam by David Wiesner (2006)
#78 Zoom at Sea by Tim Wynne-Jones, illustrated by Eric Beddows (1993)
#79 Pierre by Maurice Sendak (1962)
#80 Madeline’s Rescue by Ludwig Bemelmans (1953)
#81 Fortunately by Remy Charlip (1964)
#82 A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton (2008)
#83 Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman (2002)
#84 Not a Box by Antoinette Portis (2006)
#85 The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (1964)
#86 The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch (1980)
#87 My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza (2005)
#88 No, David! by David Shannon (1998)
#89 Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel, ill. by Blair Lent (1968)
#91 The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith (1992)
#90 Arnie the Doughnut by Laurie Keller (2003)
#92 The Gardener by Sarah Steward, illustrated by David Small (1997)
#93 Traction Man is Here! by Mini Grey (2005)
#94 The Mitten by Jan Brett (1989)
#95 The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn (2007)
#96 Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber (1972)
#97 Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox, illustrated by Judy Horacek (2004)
#98 Duck On a Bike by David Shannon (2002)
#99 The Maggie B by Irene Haas (1975)
#100 The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss, illustrated by Crockett Johnson (1945)

I've read 43 of the 100. That's not bad, but it's not great either. I might make a project out of reading the rest.


For more information on the Top 100 Picture Books Poll, click here.