Best Children’s Book Authors: Who To Know and What To Read

Are you looking for the best children’s book authors? Picture books are something special, and there are several writers with a talent for communicating effectively with young readers.

Children’s literature is a special genre, as many authors know they will be presenting children with their first book ever. Many of these books are designed to be read aloud, and children’s books can vary widely in terms of complexity and scope. For example, there are lots of award-winning books that are meant for babies and toddlers, where their parents might read directly to them. Then, there are chapter books meant for teenagers that bear a lot of similarities to the books that adults read.

From Beverly Cleary to C.S. Lewis, and from Roald Dahl to Dr. Seuss, there are lots of amazing, creative authors who have given their talents to children and parents everywhere. Learn more about some of the greatest children’s book authors of all time, and consider adding a few of these to your reading list for your children.

1. Dr. Seuss (1904 – 1991)

Of course, no list of the top children’s book authors in the world would be complete without including the famed Dr. Seuss. Originally from Springfield, Massachusetts, he also worked as a successful animator, poet, and cartoonist. Theodore Seuss Geisel is one of the most iconic names in all of literature, let alone books for children.

During the course of his storied career, he wrote more than 60 books specifically for kids. He has a Whimsical art style that makes his characters instantly relatable. Furthermore, most of his books have a unique rhyming scheme, making it easier for children to learn how to read. His books are still among the best sellers of all time, with countless generations learning how to read thanks to his characters.

It is difficult to hone in on his top works because there are so many of them. Some of his favorites include the Cat in the Hat, The Lorax, Green Eggs and Ham, and Oh, the Places You’ll Go. Many of his books have inspired television series and movies, making sure that every generation knows about the unique talents of Dr. Seuss. If you want to check out the adventures of The Cat in the Hat, you can purchase a copy of the book from Amazon. 

2. Roald Dahl (1916 – 1990)

Roald Dahl wrote more than 20 books for children, and many of them have created numerous adaptations. So many of his stories have been loved by children for numerous decades, and many of them have found their way onto required reading lists. Dahl himself was born to an affluent family in Wales. In addition to his work as an author, he also served as a fighter pilot during WWII. He was a popular poet and screenwriter, but he is best known for Matilda and her adventures.

Many people have fallen in love with the unique relationship between Matilda and Mrs. Trunchbull, watching it evolve during the course of the story. Some of his other popular works include James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The BFG. You can learn more about Matilda for yourself by getting a copy of the book from Amazon.

3. Judy Blume, Born 1938

Another one of the greatest children’s book authors of all time is Judy Blume. She has been writing children’s books since 1959.

During her illustrious career, she has published more than two dozen novels. She was born and raised in Elizabeth New Jersey. She has two children of her own, and she has donated her time reading books out loud to other children as well. With decades in the field, her work has served as an inspiration for numerous other children’s book authors. Even though she has written a variety of books for kids of all ages, her most popular series, Superfudge, is largely meant for elementary school and middle school students.

If you are interested in checking out some of the books written by Judy Blume, you might want to try out Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, and Superfudge. You can even pick up a copy of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing for yourself off of Amazon

4. C. S. Lewis (1898 – 1963)

C.S. Lewis is a British writer who spent most of his career as an academic; however, he is best known for his work as an author. He taught English literature at Cambridge University and Oxford University, and is known for his science fiction works. During the course of his career, he wrote more than 30 books, with many of them being translated into thousands of languages. A lot of his books are meant for school-age children and teenagers, with his most notable work being The Chronicles of Narnia.

The Chronicles of Narnia takes its reader on the story through a fantasy world filled with giant battles, magic, and talking animals. It is a series that has several books, but the most popular one is The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. When the characters walk through a wardrobe at the back of the closet, they are instantly transported to a fantasy world. It has even been adapted into a successful movie. If you want to take a journey to Narnia for yourself, you can purchase the entire collection from Amazon.

5. Beverly Cleary, (1916 – 2021)

Beverly Cleary developed a reputation as a creative, straightforward, and talented children’s book author. She is one of the most successful authors of all time, and her books have sold more than 91 million copies. Her first book was published in 1950, and she immediately became a literary sensation. During her long and storied life, she inspired countless children all over the world, and her books continue to be read to this day.

Her literary style was direct, as she drew inspiration from the kids in her neighborhood. She believed that kids wanted to read about people who are just like them, and she proved correct. All she had to do was watch the kids play where she lived, and she got her ideas for her books. 

Even though she published a wide variety of books, her most popular character is Ramona Geraldine Quimby. She is one of the most relatable literary figures, and many people remember what happened when she broke an egg on her forehead in the middle of her school. She wrote more than 30 books specifically for young children, and she also novelized the popular TV show, “Leave It to Beaver.”

Some of her most popular books include Beezus and Ramona, Dear Mr. Henshaw, and The Mouse and the Motorcycle. You can check out Ramona for yourself by getting the book series from Amazon.

6. Eric Carle, (1929 – 2021)

Eric Carle is another one of the top children’s book authors of all time. He has been writing children’s stories for decades, and he has published more than 50 of them. Even in his 80s, he continued to write amazing books for children. His writing style is known for hand-painted papers, unique collage images, and images that are colorful and cheerful. Because he gives his characters an appearance of energy, he is able to hold the attention of young readers. Furthermore, he uses simple phrases that children can often memorize.

For more than six decades, he has inspired children to fall in love with reading. You have probably heard about a lot of his books, including The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Brown Bear, Brown Bear what do you see, and The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse. You can grab a copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar for yourself and your children from Amazon.

7. Arnold Lobel (1933 – 1987)

Arnold Lobel is a popular American children’s book author. During the course of his life, he wrote and illustrated countless books for children, and he also won the Caldecott medal in 1981, given to the best Illustrated picture book in the United States. He once stated that he could not think of any work more fun or agreeable than making books for children. Fortunately, he felt the same way, donating his unique talents to children all over the world.

Many of his books talk about friendship, the importance of accepting differences we have in one another, and living life with humor. A lot of people love reading about the adventures of Frog and Toad, so it should come as no surprise that Frog and Toad Together remains one of the most popular children’s books of all time. 

If you would like to reminisce about Frog and Toad, you can purchase the entire collection from Amazon.

8. Jon Scieszka, Born 1954

Jon Scieszka is a relatively recent children’s book writer, but he has already positioned himself among the greats. She is known for creating picture books with Lane Smith, a popular illustrator. He is originally from Flint, Michigan, it has two children of his own. He has already written dozens of books, with some of his most popular titles being The True Story of The Three Little Pigs, Math Curse, Kat’s Mystery Gift, and Science First. 

In addition to his work as a children’s book author, he also started a foundation called Guys Read. The goal of the foundation is to encourage boys to learn how to read. Today, there was a lot of competition for the time of children, and many kids do not read as much as they used to. Scieska’s foundation wants to make sure that people do not forget about the joys of reading. 

If you want to check out some of Scieszka’s works, you may want to start with The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. You can pick up a copy of the book from Amazon.

The Final Word On The Best Children’s Books Authors

These are just a few of the many talented authors who have generously donated their time, creativity, and wisdom to help children all over the world learn how to read. Reading is still an important skill, and it has to be burned at a young age.

There is no one way to teach children how to read, but picture books with short praising and entertaining images are a great place to start. Then, as children get older, they can progress to chapter books or a board book, learning more about how ideas are formulated in literature.

Reading is a great way for people of all ages, including children, to expand their horizons. Therefore, why not explore some of the amazing ideas that have been put the paper by these talented writers? You might want to take a trip down memory lane for yourself, and this is a great way to teach your children how to read as well. 

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