1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up discussion

Got any books you think should be on the list but aren't? A childhood favourite, or a rare book that's often overlooked? Any omissions from the 1001 you're outraged about? I'd love to hear about them!

I'm going to bite the bullet here: I actually think the list does a good job at being quite inclusive, and I say this as someone from a relatively small cultural/language zone, observing that a many of my own childhood favorites made it on this list, despite most of them probably having limited distribution among english speaking readers. It would be interesting to see a breakdown of this list into country of origin, but I suspect the list may be strongly biased towards American (or at least anglophone) authors.

So, I couldn't call it outrageous omissions, but I regretted that Norway's greatest children's author Anne-Cath. Vestly (or Anne-Catharina Vestly) didn't make it onto the list with any of the Ole Alexander, Aurora or Eight Children books. On the other hand, I was delighted to see authors such as Ole Lund Kirkegaard, Tove Janson and Maria Gripe on there.

This said, some of the book choices arouse questions. For instance: Italo Calvino has 5 books on the list, almost outranking children's author Roald Dahl's contribution of 6 books. (Since I don't have a copy of 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up, I can't tell if these choices are justified in detail in Eccleshare's compendium. Obviously, I don't know the criteria applied in picking books for the list either.)

Another example that's staring me in the eye: Jon Scieszka has 3 books on the list. After reading the Stinky Cheese Man, I would have been tempted to conclude that his True Story of the 3 Little Pigs was just more of the same (not that I couldn't be wrong about that). Meanwhile, Dr. Seuss contributes no more than 3 books to the list: The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham and Oh, the Places You'll Go! Okay, but not Grinch? Not the Lorax?! Didn't the Horton stories deserve to be included, or McElligott's Pool? Any way I look at it, Dr. Seuss' output just seems so major, nothing superfluous should be on the list as long as those masterpieces of his don't have a place there.

Also, most of the time, in the case of book series, the author of 1001 seems to pick a single book from the series, as a representative. She'll make a few exceptions to this (maybe these are the series that she REALLY liked?!) In any case you'd have to think that if you like one book in the series, you're likely to hunt down more/all of them. Yet, I have to question whether it's doing justice to comics writer/illustrator Hergé to summarize his large output with Tintin in the Land of the Soviets?!? Not only has that volume never been largely distributed, it's also just so vastly different from the rest of his work and besides it was totally dismissed by Hergé himself. In fact, if I'm to take offense with anything on this list, it would have to be this. It's just a very strange choice.

Oh, and I'm curious why Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder didn't make it. There's a book I would think belonged to the canon of children's literature. I do think it has its flaws, but even if I thought it was a little bit so-so when I read it as an adult, this is the type of book I wish I'd read in my tweens. What do others think? Is it an omission?

Fjóla wrote: "Oh, and I'm curious why Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder didn't make it. There's a book I would think belonged to the canon of children's literature. I do think it has its flaws, but even if I tho..."

Oh yes yes yes - fabulous YA intro to philosophy!

A book I'm really missing on the list is Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl. I think any child/young adult should read.
And I absolutely have to agree with Fjóla: I'm also curious why they didn't add Sophie's World.

Ellinor, I agree that Anne Frank's diary should be on the list too!

Fjola, that is strange about Tin Tin ... I wonder why other better-known Tin Tin novels weren't included?

I really wish Outside Over There was on the list. It's my favourite Maurice Sendak book, very creepy and cool.

I just noticed that Oliver Twist also isn't on the list. I always thought it was. It's a classic I read as a child and I really loved it. And it's also much better known than Magic fishbone(also by Charles Dickens) which is on the list.

I did not have a copy of 1001 when I first joined this group, but I now do, and I have to say that I'm mighty impressed. It's beautiful, detailed, well organized and inspiring.

I think the Tintin entry is a blunder however, and as a die-hard Tintin fan since the age of 7, I'm totally outraged by it. If the inclusion of Tintin in this compendium was an opportunity to introduce Tintin to a new audience, it's a missed opportunity thanks to this awful choice. Nothing in the review for Tintin in the Land of the Soviets suggests it is not the typical Tintin volume. It doesn't explain this is the only one of Hergé's books never to have been put in color. Nor does it mention, that it wasn't even issued as a book until 1981 (more than 50 years after it was written), and then only "as a result of the persistent demand for pirated versions." (see Michael Farr's Tintin: The Complete Companion). I seriously doubt the contributor for this entry (going by initials CK) even read the story. Unfortunately she's one of the main contributors of 1001, but even if most of her entries are highly popular books, I do keep rolling my eyes at some of them.

I agree about Anne Frank's Diary, probably a more appropriate pick than The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. And it would have been logical to include Oliver Twist (which however DOES get mention in the book in the "Recommended" box next to at least two other entries), just as other popular classics such as Gulliver's Travels, Treasure Island, Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo (omitted) and Les Misérables (omitted).

I'm really surprised that The Count of Monte Cristo was omitted. Like Oliver Twist it's SUCH a classic that I took it absolutely for granted that it was on the list!
Another author I'm missing on this list is Janosch. I just LOVE his books. Oh, wie schön ist Panama/ The Trip To Panama or Ich mach dich gesund, sagte der Bär (I'll make you well, Tiger, said the Bear) still are two of my absolutely favorite books. I don't know how often I've read them.

While not old at all, I think that Rebecca and the Strangest Garden on Earth would make a great addition to the list. It has classic elegance, a beautiful storyline, and was a very enjoyable read!

I also think that they should add the "Martha Speaks" by Susan Meddaugh. They are a riot and great pictures. And how about "Blueberries for Sal" and "Ferdinand"?

The Stream That Stood Still by Beverley Nichols - A little prince is turned into a fish by an evil witch. His sister has to make a magic mask that allows her to live underwater and rescue him. Truly good vs. evil. The witch is really nasty and cruel. The princess makes friends with the fish, frogs and beavers, who help her. The author obviously loves nature and wildlife. The prose is lovely and evocative. A grand little fantasy.

David and the Phoenix by Edward Ormondroyd - This is a magical story of a boy befriended by the mythical Phoenix and the adventures they share. Fun, funny, exciting and poignant. A grand read.

The Shades by Betty Brock - A sweet and whimsical low fantasy novel that should never have gone out of print. The water from a dolphin statue in a garden allows eight year-old Hollis to see and interact with a family of shadows. This is a small scale fantasy. The characters are well drawn and plausible, the writing is concise and easy to read, but never forced or condescending. I love fantasy stories where extraordinary things happen to ordinary people. This is one I highly recommend.

Miss Suzy by Miriam Young - Really wonderful story. I loved Miss Suzy's house. I adore stories with toy soldiers - and these come to her rescue. The illustrations by Arnold Lobel are outstanding. A story with a message and a moral.

I was stunned when I found there was no Bill Peet to be found in the entire book! I could nominate tons of them, but I'll stick to
http://www.amazon.com/Kermit-Hermit-B...
And (different reasons and for different ages of corse)
http://www.amazon.com/Walt-Disneys-Go...

Also I would submit
http://www.amazon.com/Pudgins-Nancy-P...

For the ages of 4-6
http://www.amazon.com/Tumtum-Nutmeg-A...

For a little older
http://www.amazon.com/Enchanted-Castl...

is The cristal/glass flower on the list?

It's a Dutch book. i don't know if it's ever been translated but if it is than it's a must read.
It's about a boy who lost something and ends up finding a different world where certain creatures save all lost objects. He'll meet different characters and goes through a journey. It may give you an Alice in wonderland vibe.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Are there any Science Fiction or Fantasy in young adult books?

Several. Right off hand, I know that Twilight, The Neverending Story, and Wrinkle in Time are all on the 12+ list.

Moby Dick
I searched the list and don't see it. Hard to believe. I must have overlooked it, right?

Sarah wrote: "I was stunned when I found there was no Bill Peet to be found in the entire book! I could nominate tons of them, but I'll stick to
http://www.amazon.com/Kermit-Hermit-B......"

thanks, never heard of Bill Peet but just read Kermit the Hermit and The Whingdingdilly
Very engaging!

Blue wrote: "Are there any Science Fiction or Fantasy in young adult books?"

On the list-- enjoyed reading The Borrowers and Rowan of Rin

L wrote: "is The cristal/glass flower on the list?

It's a Dutch book. i don't know if it's ever been translated but if it is than it's a must read.
It's about a boy who lost something and ends up finding a ..."

couldn't find much about this , but sounds like a nice plot

I second The Diary of a Young Girl as an omission

From my own childhood, I cherished The Poky Little Puppy

my children enjoyed series-The Invasion and The Lightning Thief

or anything by Rick Riordan or K.A. Applegate

Darcy wrote: "Moby Dick
I searched the list and don't see it. Hard to believe. I must have overlooked it, right?"
yes, hard to believe