This list was compiled by kids from an online survey that the National Education Association ran from November 1, 1999 through February 1, 2000. It’s not so different from the Teacher’s Choice list also compiled by the National Education Association. Great minds think alike!
Best Books for Kids Chosen by Kids
- Harry Potter (series) by J. K. Rowling
- Goosebumps (series) by R. L. Stine
- Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
- The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
- Arthur (series) by Marc Brown
- Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
- Shiloh (trilogy) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
- Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
- Holes by Louis Sachar
- The Giver by Lois Lowry
- The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
- Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (series) by Judy Blume
- Sideways Stories from Wayside School (series) by Louis Sachar
- The BFG by Roald Dahl
- The Boxcar Children (series) by Gertrude Chandler Warner
- One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
- Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (series) by Beverly Cleary
- Pokemon (series) by Tracey West, Maria S. Barbo
- The Babysitters Club (series) by Ann M. Martin
- Ralph S. Mouse (series) by Beverly Cleary
- Little House on the Prairie (series) by Laura Ingalls Wilder
- Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
- The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
- Clifford the Big Red Dog (series) by Norman Bridwell
- Stuart Little by E. B. White
- Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
- The Adventures of Captain Underpants (series) by Dav Pilkey
- The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
- The Berenstain Bears (series) by Jan and Stan Berenstain
- Animorphs (series) by K. A. Applegate
- The Witches by Roald Dahl
- Nancy Drew Mystery Stories by Carolyn Keene
- The Hobbit (series) by J. R. R. Tolkien
- American Girls (series) by Susan Adler, Valerie Tripp, Connie Porter, Janet Shaw, et al
- Matilda by Roald Dahl
- The Call of the Wild by Jack London
- The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
- James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
- Junie B. Jones (series) by Barbara Park
- Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner
- Falling Up by Shel Silverstein
- A Wrinkle in Time (series) by Madeleine L’Engle
- Brian’s Winter by Gary Paulsen
- Amber Brown (series) by Paula Danziger
- The North Star by http://www.peterhreynolds.com/
- Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks by Mick Foley (Mankind)
- Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
- The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
- A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
- Chicken Soup for the Soul (series) by various authors
- Curious George (series) by Margret and Hans Augusto Rey
- The Teacher from the Black Lagoon (series) by Mike Thaler
- If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff
- The Bailey School Kids (series) by Debbie Dadey, et al
- The Hardy Boys (series) by Franklin W. Dixon
- The Mitten by Jan Brett
- Amelia Bedelia (series) by Peggy Parish
- Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien
- Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
- Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater
- The River by Gary Paulsen
- Magic Tree House (series) by Mary Pope Osborne
- The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by John Scieszka
- Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
- Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss
- The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne
- Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
- Redwall by Brian Jacques
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
- Wringer by Jerry Spinelli
- Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
- Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
- Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls
- Sweet Valley High (series) by Francine Pascal
- The Adventures of Mary-Kate and Ashley (series) by Judy Katschke, Cathy Dobowski, Lisa Eisenberg, Nancy E. Krulik, Nina Alexander, Frances Lin Lantz, et al
- Garfield (series) by Jim Davis
- Magic School Bus (series) by Joanna Cole
- Math Curse by John Scieszka
- White Fang by Jack London
- I Spy (series) by Walter Wick, Jean Marzollo, Diana Noonan, et al
- Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
- My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
- The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White
- Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
- Draw 50 Airplanes, Aircraft and Spacecraft (series) by Lee J. Ames
- Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
- The Rock Says by Dwayne Johnson (The Rock)
- Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- All About Sam by Lois Lowry
- Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
- Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
- Hank the Cow Dog (series) by John R. Erickson
- Piggie Pie by Margie Palatini
- Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
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p.s. Related posts:
Top 100: Best Books for Kids by Teachers (for ages 2-18)
Best Books for Kids: Classic Children’s Books Still Beloved Now
Top 10: Best Poetry Books for Kids
Top 10 Best Historical Fiction Books for Kids
Best Books for Kids Who Like Aliens that Build Vocabulary!
Best Books for Kids about Ancient Egypt
Best Books for Kids By Kids: The Children’s Choice Book Awards
BEST #OWNVOICES CHILDREN’S BOOKS: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Ages 1-12 is a book that I created to highlight books written by authors who share the same marginalized identity as the characters in their books.