Grade 3-6

75 Authors/Illustrators Everyone Should Know

from The Children’s Book Council (CBC)

ARNOLD ADOFF — Poet and anthologist who celebrates the multicultural nature of our world.  Eats: Poems and  Sports Pages

MITSUMASA ANNO — Japanese illustrator of international renown who plays with mathematics in exquisite paintings. Anno's Counting Book  and Anno's Journey

NATALIE BABBITT — A superb fantasy writer who grapples with universal concerns in poetic prose. Tuck Everlasting  and The Eyes of the Amaryllis

JUDY BLUME — Popular writer for pre-teens who captures in realistic language concerns about growing up. Are You There God? It's Me Margaret and Fudge-A-Mania

ASHLEY BRYAN — Artist, poet, and storyteller who lets the melodies of spirituals ring through his retellings of folk stories. The Dancing Granny Beat  The Story Drum, and Pum Pum

BETSY BYARS — Her novels capture both the humor and pathos of children facing problems as they grow up. The Pinballs and The Cybil War

BEVERLY CLEARY — Children's natural language and basic concerns ring true and with humor in her early chapter books. Henry Huggins and Ramona Quimby, Age 8

PAM CONRAD — Engaging writer who captures strong images and vivid themes in historical and contemporary scenes. Prairie Songs and My Daniel

RUSSELL FREEDMAN — Impeccable research and intriguing writing draws interest to topics he treats in biographies and informational books. The Wright Brothers and Lincoln: A Photobiography

JEAN FRITZ — This superb writer of historical fiction and biography became fascinated with American heroes when she was a child growing up in China with missionary parents. And Then What Happened Paul Revere? and Homesick: My Own Journey

JEAN CRAIGHEAD GEORGE — The author grew up in a family of naturalists and her ecological concerns permeate both the novels and informational books she writes. Julie Of The Wolves and My Side Of The Mountain

LEE BENNETT HOPKINS — Poet and anthologist whose generous spirit and enthusiasm for poetry inspires children and adults. Dinosaurs and Good Books Good Times

JOHANNA HURWITZ — Well-meaning but naive characters make simple mistakes and display child-like humor in short novels children read on their own. Class Clown and The Adventures of Ali Baba Bernstein

MYRA COHN LIVINGSTON — A first-rate poet and anthologist who established high standards of excellence in word and image. I Like You If You Like Me and Celebration

LOIS LOWRY — Subtle humor or tender pathos permeate Lowry's stories of adolescents who grow up in suburbia or a war-torn city. Number The Stars and Anastasia Has The Answers

DAVID MACAULAY — A spirited artist helps us to see stories, time, and the way things work in new ways. The Way Things Work and Black And White

PATRICIA MCKISSACK — Wonderful African-American storyteller who spins a yarn with drama and pizzazz. She also writes excellent informational books with husband Fredrick McKissack. Flossie and The Fox Sojourner and Truth: Ain't I A Woman

PATRICIA MAC LACHLAN — Captures strong human emotions as she weaves historical or contemporary stories. Sarah, Plain and Tall and Skylark

ANN MARTIN — Popular series writer who conveys the real feelings and tribulations of 10-12 year-old girls. The Babysitters Club and Babysitter's Little Sister

JACK PRELUTSKY — Popular and prolific versifier and anthologist who writes and compiles humorous collections. The Dragons Are Singing Tonight and Something Big Has Been Here

CYNTHIA RYLANT — Everything she writes sounds like poetry because the melody of her sentences ring in the ear. When I Was Young and In The Mountains Missing May

SEYMOUR SIMON — An excellent informational science writer states what we know, what is theory, and how information changes. Autumn Across America and  Mars

LANE SMITH/JON SCIESZKA — Children get a kick out of the way this team spoofs fairy tales and the art of book-making. The True Story of The Three Little Pigs! and The Stinky Cheese Man & Other Fairly Stupid Tales

WILLIAM STEIG — His sophisticated stories have several layers of meaning that delight adults who read to children. Doctor DeSoto and Abel's Island