A Better Guide to Children's Books: What the NY Times Overlooked

A correction to the New York Times' narrow list of "classics."

When the New York Times highlighted classic children's books this week, the list of ten books included only one female author, and no authors of color, as far as I can tell. No shade to the people on the list, and also, we need a more expansive list.

But wait, you say, “classic books” were all written by white authors and mostly by men. Nope. Jan Brett's delightful books must be classics by now. Ezra Jack Keats made sure to include kids of all colors and shapes. Caldecott Medal winner Jerry Pinkney wrote and illustrated children’s books for decades. And surely Click Clack Moo Cows That Type is a classic now, and Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin have kept the series going with equally entertaining successors.

As I finish my 2024 project, a year of reading picture books, here are some books that deserve to be on the next list of classics:

The ABCs of Kindness by Samantha Berger is a non-boring book with an important message. Snoozefest, also by Berger, is just plain fun.

A dad takes on housework in Chore Pirates by Johan Klungel. City Beetby Tziporah Cohen is an engaging story about community, with delightful illustrations. That book led me to anything illustrated by Udayana Lugo, whose illustrations are rich in detail, and fun for both kids and adults.

Andrea Beaty’s books include Rosie Revere, Engineer and Ada Twist, Scientist, feeding our imaginations about what girls can do.

Emergency Quarters by Carlos Matias and Gracey Zhang is a relatable story about a boy trying to hold onto his money. It led me to crave more illustrations from Gracey Zhang, where I found The Big Bath House, celebrating Japanese culture.

Body differences come to beautiful light in My Mama is a Work of Art by Hana Acabado. Some books highlighting emotional skills were rich in wisdom, including Sometimes All I Need Is Me by Juliana Perdomo. In The Worry Balloon, Monica Mancillas offers gentle tools for anxious days.

I was lucky enough to meet Julie Buchholtz this year, and I love her book Who Am I, which reflects her heritage as a member of the Bay Mills Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

How about you? What classic books endure for you? What should be on a new list of classic books for kids?