Scholastic's Top 100 Greatest Books for Kids

Kid lit enthusiasts: Let the debating begin.

For the first time, Scholastic's Parent & Child magazine has released its picks for the top 100 Greatest Books for Kids. The 9-year-old publication enlisted help from a committee made up of literary experts, educators, and parents to narrow down an initial list of 500 books—no easy task considering the quantity of quality tomes over the years. So just how does one determine the best from such a wide variety?

The answer, according to Scholastic's website, is based on different categories including age groups, literary and/or illustration excellence, popularity, longevity, and innovative freshness. Curious book lovers can find detailed explanations on the interactive bookshelf (pictured above), which displays all the winners, by clicking on the individual title. The top 100 features classics, such as Where the Wild Things Are, The Giver, as well as newfound favorites like The Hunger Games and The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Also included are non-fiction works, such as Counting Kisses and An Egg Is Quiet: It's a genre Scholastic's site describes as “a rarity among these kinds of lists, but a must, given the high demand for it in schools today and the great quality of these works.”

Fiction, however, dominates the list, including the number one pick: E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web. Describing the perennial best-seller, Scholastic says “its whimsical brand of fantasy, coupled with the message of a little girl’s unconditional love and a noble spider’s resourcefulness, make it not only a treasured must of childhood, but A Number One inspiration. Children love it and for adults who last read it as children, it’s a treat to pick up again.”

Peruse all 100 of Scholastic's picks at scholastic.com/100books.