School Library Journal top 100 children's novels

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Considering only fictional titles
for children between the ages of 9-12, the readers of School Library Journal voted on what they felt were their
own individual Top Ten Children's Novels of all time. Points were given for rank and order and counted
accordingly. The result is a list of the Top 100 Children's Novels for the 21st century.  Check more details at SLJ website.

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Love That Dog

Love That Dog
With a fresh, simple style, acclaimed author Creech tells a story with enormous heart. Written as a series of free-verse poems, "Love That Dog" shows how one boy finds his own voice with the help of a teacher, a writer, a pencil, some yellow paper, and, of course, a dog. Illustrations.

The Boxcar Children (The Boxcar Children Mysteries #1)

The Boxcar Children (The Boxcar Children Mysteries #1)
Orphaned siblings Henry, Jessie, Benny, and Violet are determined not to be separated after the deaths of their parents. Fearing being sent away to live with their cruel, frightening grandfather, they run away and discover an abandoned boxcar in the woods. They convert the boxcar into a safe, comfortable home and learn to take care of themselves. But when Violet becomes deathly ill, the children are forced to seek out help at the risk of their newfound freedom. This original 1924 edition contains a few small difference from the revised 1942 edition most readers are familiar with, but the basic story beloved by children remains essentially untouched.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
The fourth book in the Harry Potter franchise sees Harry returning for his fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, along with his friends, Ron and Hermione . There is an upcoming tournament between the three major schools of magic, with one participant selected from each school by the Goblet of Fire. When Harry's name is drawn, even though he is not eligible and is a fourth player, he must compete in the dangerous contest. --- Contains: - [Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. 2/4](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL17910198W/Harry_Potter_and_the_Goblet_of_Fire._2_4)

The Diamond in the Window

The Diamond in the Window
Eleanor and Edward Hall are orphans being raised by their Aunt Lily and Uncle Freddy in a faded old Victorian mansion. When they stumble upon the hidden bedroom of another aunt and uncle who disappeared from the house as children, they begin a series of dream adventures in hopes of discovering the fate of their lost relatives and restoring the family fortunes. An imaginative and exciting tale that weaves the philosophical themes of Transcendentalism with good old magic and just enough danger to keep you on the edge of your seat.

The Horse and His Boy

The Horse and His Boy
A boy and a talking horse share an adventurous and dangerous journey to Narnia to warn of invading barbarians.

The Little Prince

The Little Prince
Few books have been as universally cherished by children and adults alike as The Little Prince. A beautiful slip-cased gift edition of this touching and wise classic children's book, with the original translation by Katherine Woods and full-colour illustrations. A pilot stranded in the desert awakes one morning to see the most extraordinary little fellow standing before him. "'Please...' asks the stranger, 'draw me a sheep...'" And the pilot realises that when life's events are too difficult to understand, there is no choice but to succumb to their mysteries. He pulls out a pencil and paper ... and thus begins this wise and enchanting fable that, in teaching the secret of what is really important in life, has changed the world forever for its readers. This stunning new collector's edition of the classic children's book celebrates the original English translation of Saint-Exupéry's work by Katherine Woods, with original colour illustrations that will capture the hearts of readers of all ages. Featuring bonus non-fiction content, exploring the history of The Little Prince, the real-life plane crash that inspired the story, the life of the author and more! Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900-1944) was born in Lyons, France. He wrote The Little Prince in the United States during a two-year self-imposed exile from occupied France. A year after the book's publication in 1943, Saint-Exupéry disappeared over the Mediterranean while flying a reconnaissance mission for his French air squadron. Best known throughout the world as the author and illustrator of The Little Prince, Saint-Exupéry wrote several other books that have also become classics of world literature. Katherine Woods (1886-1968) produced the original English translation of The Little Prince in 1943. It was later followed by several other English translations, but her classic translation is treasured by fans and is often considered to be the definitive English translation. Her poetic translation perfectly captures the enchantment and charm of Saint-Exupéry's storytelling.

Ramona and Her Father

release date: Mar 19, 2013
Ramona and Her Father
Lately Ramona had the terrible feeling that she was the only happy member of the Quimby family. Since her father lost his job, he seemed too worried to love her anymore. Ramona's mother and big sister Beezus had become awfully busy and and grouchy. Even Picky-picky, the family cat, was grumpy. He didn't like her new cheaper food and had eaten the Quimby's Halloween jack-o'-lantern instead. Ramona tried everything she could to make things better. With Beezus's help she launched a campaign to stop her father from smoking so much, but he didn't seem to appreciate it. Ramona also tried to act adorable, like kids in TV commercials. Mr. Quimby said the boy who sang the Whopperburger jingle made a million dollars year! Ramona wanted to make a million dollars, too, because then her father would surely be fun again. --- Also included in: - [The Trouble with Ramona and Beezus](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL17377136W)

Journey to the River Sea

Journey to the River Sea
Sent with her governess to live with the dreadful Carter family in exotic Brazil in 1910, Maia endures many hardships before fulfilling her dream of exploring the Amazon River.

Flipped

Flipped
The first time she saw him, she flipped. The first time he saw her, he ran. That was the second grade, but not much has changed by the seventh. She says: "My Bryce. Still walking around with my first kiss." He says: "It's been six years of strategic avoidance and social discomfort." But in the eighth grade everything gets turned upside down. And just as he's thinking there's more to her than meets the eye, she's thinking that he's not quite all he seemed.This is a classic romantic comedy of errors told in alternating chapters by two fresh, funny new voices. Wendelin Van Draanen is at her best here with a knockout cast of quirky characters and a hilarious series of misunderstandings and missed opportunities. But underlying the humor are two teens in transition. They are each learning to look beyond the surface of people, both figuring out who they are, who they want to be, and who they want to be with.From the Hardcover edition.

Pippi Longstocking

Pippi Longstocking
Pippi Longstocking is the strongest and kindest and funniest and richest girl in the whole world. She lives all alone in Villa Villekulla with her horse and her monkey Mr. Nilsson. She also has a whole duffel bag full of gold money. Tommy and Annika live in the house next door, and since Pippi moved in, everything has become much more fun!

The Children of Green Knowe

The Children of Green Knowe
Tolly comes to live with his great-grandmother at the ancient house of Green Knowe and becomes friends with three children who lived there in the seventeenth century.

The Mouse and the Motorcycle

The Mouse and the Motorcycle
The Mouse and the Motorcycle is a children's novel written by Beverly Cleary and published in 1965. It is the first in a trilogy featuring Ralph S. Mouse, a house mouse who can speak to humans (though typically only children), goes on adventures riding his miniature motorcycle, and who longs for excitement and independence while living with his family in a run-down hotel. The book was released as a selection of the Weekly Reader Children's Book Club (Intermediate Division) and won the William Allen White Children's Book Award in 1968.

The BFG

The BFG
This book is a great book for all ages. It is a fantasy/adventure book.The BFG stands for 'Big Friendly Giant'. He isn't like other giants, instead of going out to different countries to eat children he catches dreams. When he find's a little orphan girl watching him, he kidnaps her because he doesn't want anyone to find out that he was there, but when they arrive at giant's land they become friends and set off into the world to save all the children from the hungry giants.

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda
Sixth-grader Tommy and his friends describe their interactions with a paper finger puppet of Yoda, worn by their weird classmate Dwight, as they try to figure out whether or not the puppet can really predict the future. Includes instructions for making Origami Yoda.

Peter Pan

Peter Pan
The adventures of the three Darling children in Never-Never Land with Peter Pan, the boy who would not grow up.

Ella Enchanted

release date: Jan 01, 2000
Ella Enchanted
This beloved Newbery Honor-winning story about a feisty heroine is sure to enchant readers new and old.  At her birth, Ella of Frell receives a foolish fairy's gift—the “gift” of obedience. Ella must obey any order, whether it's to hop on one foot for a day and a half, or to chop off her own head! But strong-willed Ella does not accept her fate... Against a bold backdrop of princes, ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, and fairy godmothers, Ella goes on a quest to break the curse forever. A tween favorite for 25 years—now shared with today's young readers by moms, teachers, and other adults who remember the pleasure of discovering this fun fairy-tale retelling themselves!

The Long Winter

The Long Winter
After an October blizzard, Laura's family moves from the claim shanty into town for the winter, a winter that an Indian has predicted will be seven months of bad weather.

Ozma of Oz

release date: Jan 01, 2010
Ozma of Oz
When a storm blows Dorothy to the land of Ev where lunches grow on trees, she meets the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion, and Princess Ozma, and together they set out to free the Queen of Ev and her ten children.

The Cricket in Times Square

The Cricket in Times Square
An updated version of the timeless children's classic featuring a business-savvy mouse, a kind alley cat, and a talented country cricket, featuring a new foreword and revisions by YA author Stacey Lee. Tucker is a streetwise city mouse. He thought he'd seen it all. But he's never met a cricket before, which really isn't surprising, because, along with his friend Harry Cat, Tucker lives in the very heart of New York City—the Times Square subway station. Chester Cricket never intended to leave his Connecticut meadow. He'd be there still if he hadn't followed the entrancing aroma of liverwurst right into someone's picnic basket. Now, like any tourist in the city, he wants to look around. And he could not have found two better guides—and friends—than Tucker and Harry. The trio have many adventures—from taking in the sights and sounds of Broadway to escaping a smoky fire. Chester makes a third friend, too. It is a boy, Mario, who rescues Chester from a dusty corner of the subway station and brings him to live in the safety of his parents' newsstand. He hopes at first to keep Chester as a pet, but Mario soon understands that the cricket is more than that. Because Chester has a hidden talent and no one—not even Chester himself—realizes that the little country cricket may just be able to teach even the toughest New Yorkers a thing or two. The Cricket in Times Square is George Selden at his best, and the new illustrations and interior images by Garth Williams make this edition a special treat.

The Witches

The Witches
A young boy and his Norwegian grandmother, who is an expert on witches, together foil a witches' plot to destroy the world's children by turning them into mice.

The Four-Story Mistake

The Four-Story Mistake
The Melendy family leave their New York brownstone and move to the country. The house is quirky with lots of odd additions including the fourth floor, the mistake. The family adjusts to their new home with both small and big adventures.

The Egypt Game

The Egypt Game
A group of children, entranced with the study of Egypt, play their own Egypt game, are visited by a secret oracle, become involved in a murder, and befriend the Professor before they move on to new interests, such as Gypsies.

Ballet Shoes

release date: Jan 01, 2000
Ballet Shoes
When three orphans--Pauline, Petrova, and Posy--vow to make a name for themselves, they have no idea that it's going to be such hard work! With the help of a kindly benefactress, they launch themselves into the world of show business, complete with working papers, the glare of the footlights...and practice, practice, practice. Each girl quickly finds her own special talent. Pauline--with a flair for the dramatic--seems destined for the movies. Posy is a born dancer. Practical Petrova, however, discovers she'd rather pilot a plane than do a pirouette.

My Side of the Mountain

My Side of the Mountain
A young boy relates his adventures during the year he spends living alone in the Catskill Mountains, including his struggle for survival, his dependence on nature, his animal friends, and his ultimate realization that he needs human companionship.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

release date: Jan 01, 2008
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Greg Heffley and his family and friends are back in Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book 8, the latest installment in the #1 bestselling series by Jeff Kinney and one of the most anticipated books of 2013. A global phenomenon, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series has more than 85 million books in print around the world. Greg Heffley's on a losing streak. His best friend, Rowley Jefferson, has ditched him, and finding new friends in middle school is proving to be a tough task. To change his fortunes, Greg decides to take a leap of faith and turn his decisions over to chance. Will a roll of the dice turn things around, or is Greg's life destined to be just another hard-luck story?

The Saturdays

The Saturdays
New York City, the year before Pearl Harbor. The four Melendy children and their father -- a brilliant, impecunious scholar and lecturer -- live in a dilapidated house in the city, under the care of a strict but loving housekeeper. Their allowances don't stretch to much as individuals, so they decide to pool their cash and on each of four subsequent Saturdays one sibling gets to blow the lot. This is a well-written book that doesn't talk down to its audience; the chapter where the youngest boy goes to the circus, gets lost, and comes home riding a policeman's horse should be read out loud for the flavor of the prose. \

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. is a 1970 novel by Judy Blume, typically categorized as a young adult book. It follows a sixth-grade girl who has grown up without a religious affiliation, due to her parents' interfaith marriage. The novel explores her quest for a single religion, while confronting typical issues faced by early adolescent girls going through puberty, such as buying her first bra, having her first period, and feeling attracted to certain boys. The novel has been frequently challenged since the 1980s for its frank discussions of sexual and religious topics. In 2010, the book was placed on Time's list of the top 100 fiction books written in English since 1923.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

release date: Apr 01, 2008
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
America's favorite Christmas book by Barbara Robinson is now a major motion picture! This special movie tie-in edition of the beloved middle grade holiday story will feature cover art from the movie and is the perfect holiday gift. Lionsgate is releasing a live action movie version of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever on November 8, 2024, directed by Dallas Jenkins of The Chosen and featuring actors Judy Greer, Lauren Graham, Elizabeth Tabish, and Pete Holmes, coming to a theater near you! The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, steal, and swear. So no one is prepared when this outlaw family invades church one Sunday and decides to take over the annual Christmas pageant. None of the Herdmans has ever heard the Christmas story before. Their interpretation of the tale--the Wise Men are a bunch of dirty spies--has a lot of people up in arms. And their wild antics cause havoc throughout the play's production. But the actual pageant is full of surprises for everyone, starting with the Herdmans themselves, as they ultimately lead the town in finding the true meaning of Christmas. They will make this year's pageant the most unusual anyone has seen and, just possibly, the best one ever. Barbara Robinson's popular and bestselling tale of the rowdy Herdmans has been beloved and celebrated since the book's original release in 1972. Read the book again before you see the movie!
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Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a fantasy-adventure children's novel inspired by Chinese folklore. It was written and illustrated by Grace Lin and published in 2009. The novel received a 2010 Newbery Honor and the 2010 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature.

Each Little Bird That Sings

Each Little Bird That Sings
Ten-year-old Comfort Snowberger has attended 247 funerals. But that's not surprising, considering that her family runs the town funeral home. And even though Great-uncle Edisto keeled over with a heart attack and Great-great-aunt Florentine dropped dead--just like that--six months later, Comfort knows how to deal with loss, or so she thinks. She's more concerned with avoiding her crazy cousin Peach and trying to figure out why her best friend, Declaration, suddenly won't talk to her. Life is full of surprises. And the biggest one of all is learning what it takes to handle them.
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