1. Eleanor Estes (1906)

American Children's Writer

Children's author who wrote nearly two dozen books and won the Newbery Medal for her 1951 work, Ginger Pye. Her other works include The Moffats, The Hundred Dresses, and Pinky...

2. Anne Parrish (1888)

American Children's Writer

An American novelist and author of children's books, she is best known for works such as The Dream Coach, Floating Island, and The Perennial Bachelor. Her 1950 work, The Story...

3. Sterling North (1906)

American Children's Writer

An American children's author, he is best known for Midnight and Jeremiah (1943) and the Newbery Honor-winning Rascal (1963). He also worked as a reporter and editor for the New...

4. Joseph Krumgold (1908)

American Children's Writer

An American novelist, screenwriter, and author of children's literature, he is best known for his screenplays for Dream No More and Seven Miles from Alcatraz. His books for children include...

5. Louis Sachar (1954)

American Children's Writer

Acclaimed children's author of the Sideways Stories from Wayside School book series. He is also known for his 1998 book, Holes, which won both the U.S. National Book Award and...

6. Nathaniel Benchley (1915)

American Children's Writer

Novelist and screenwriter who wrote a biography of Humphrey Bogart.

7. Jean Fritz (1915)

American Children's Writer

American children's writer who won the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for her work in children's literature in 1986. 

8. Beverly Cleary (1916)

American Children's Writer

Acclaimed children's writer who created the popular Henry Huggins and Ramona series. Her numerous literary honors include the Newbery Medal, the National Book Award, and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award.

9. Mary Stolz (1920)

American Children's Writer

An American writer of children's and young adult fiction, she is known for novels such as The Leftover Elf and Truth and Consequences. Her 1974 work, The Edge of Next...

10. Lloyd Alexander (1924)

American Children's Writer

A popular author of fantasy and young adult literature, he is best known for his Chronicles of Prydain series. A Newbery Medal recipient, he also won National Book Awards in...

11. Maurice Sendak (1928)

American Children's Writer

Popular children's author and illustrator who is best known for the classic book, Where the Wild Things Are. His numerous literary honors include the Caldecott Medal, the Laura Ingalls Wilder...

12. Eve Bunting (1928)

American Children's Writer

Notable for her works of children's and young adult literature, she received a Golden Kite Award for her 1976 work One More Flight and an Edgar Award for her 1992...

13. Katherine Paterson (1932)

American Children's Writer

Writer of Bridge to Terabithia, Jacob Have I Loved, The Master Puppeteer, and other acclaimed works of children's literature.

14. Natalie Babbitt (1932)

American Children's Writer

Famous for her 1975 children's work Tuck Everlasting, this writer, illustrator, and 1982 Hans Christian Andersen Award nominee is also notable for her books Jack Plank Tells Tales (2007); Knee-Knock...

15. Jamie Gilson (1933)

American Children's Writer

American children's book author most well known for her novels Do Bananas Chew Gum?, Hello, My Name is Scrambled Eggs, and Thirteen Ways to Sink a Sub.

16. Lois Lowry (1937)

American Children's Writer

Children's author who won Newberry Awards for Number the Stars and The Giver. Known for tackling controversial subjects in her books for children, she also received the prestigious Hans Christian...

17. Patricia MacLachlan (1938)

American Children's Writer

Children's writer who won the 1986 Newbery Medal for Sarah, Plain and Tall. Her other works in the Sarah, Plain and Tall series include Skylark, Caleb's Story, and More Perfect...

18. Judy Blume (1938)

American Children's Writer

American author whose popular novels include Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and SuperFudge. Her books, intended for adolescent readers, address such taboo issues as menstruation, masturbation, and bullying.

19. Jane Yolen (1939)

American Children's Writer

An author of young adult fantasy books, she is known for Owl Moon, How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight, and the Nebula Award-winning story, Sister Emily's Lightship. Perhaps her best-known work,...

20. Gary Paulsen (1939)

American Children's Writer

Author of over 400 wilderness-themed short stories, books, plays, and magazine articles intended for teens and young adults. His best known works include Hatchet, Dogsong, Woodsong, The Voyage of the...

21. Jerry Spinelli (1941)

American Children's Writer

Award-winning author of young adult novels whose best known works include Wringer, Stargirl, and Maniac Magee. His first children's book, Space Station Seventh Grade, was published in the early 1980s.

22. Karen Cushman (1941)

American Children's Writer

Newbery Medal-winning historical fiction author who became known for the 1995 novel The Midwife's Apprentice and the 1994 novel Catherine, Called Birdy.

23. Sara Zarr (1970)

American Children's Writer

American author of essays and young adult fiction. Her 2007 novel, Story of a Girl, was a finalist for the National Book Award.

24. Suzy Kline (1943)

American Children's Writer

Known best for her Horrible Harry and Herbie Jones series of children's books, this American writer also worked as a California-based elementary school teacher.

25. Patricia McKissack (1944)

American Children's Writer

Known best for her contributions to the Dear America historical fiction series, she also penned an installment of Scholastic Press's Royal Diaries series. Between 1990 and 1995, she received three...

26. Sharon Creech (1945)

American Children's Writer

Children's author who won both the American Newbery Medal and the British Carnegie Medal. Her best known works include Walk Two Moons, Ruby Holler, and Love That Dog.

27. Mary Pope Osborne (1949)

American Children's Writer

Children's author whose best-known works include over forty books in the Magic Tree House series. Her award-winning Magic Tree House books have been translated into more than thirty languages.

28. Elvira Woodruff (1951)

American Children's Writer

Author of both picture books and novels for children and middle school readers who combines elements of fantasy and history into her work. Some notable titles of hers include Small...

29. Jack Gantos (1951)

American Children's Writer

A popular American children's author, he won the 2011 Newbery Medal for his work, Dead End in Norvelt. His most famous characters are a cat named Rotten Ralph and a...

30. Karen Hesse (1952)

American Children's Writer

Award-winning young adult author who is best known for Out of the Dust (1997) and The Music of Dolphins (1996). Her other popular works include Letters from Rifka (1992) and...

31. Barbara Park (1947)

American Children's Writer

American children's author who is best known for her beloved Junie B. Jones series. Her other popular children's books include Beanpole and Almost Starring Skinnybones.

32. Megan McDonald (1959)

American Children's Writer

Children's writer who penned the popular Judy Moody book series. She is also known for the Stink books, a series based on the adventures of Judy Moody's little brother, Stink.

33. Cynthia Kadohata (1956)

American Children's Writer

Known best for her 2004, Newbery Medal and Asian/Pacific American Literature Award-winning children's novel, Kira-Kira, she also penned such acclaimed young adult works as Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam...

34. Gennifer Choldenko (1957)

American Children's Writer

Author who is widely known for her work in the juvenile fiction genre. She has gained particular popularity for her Al Capone series, including Al Capone Does My Shirts, which...

35. Cynthia Rylant (1954)

American Children's Writer

American children's writer who won a Newbery Medal for her 1993 book, Missing May. Her other acclaimed children's books include A Fine White Dust, I Had Seen Castles, and the...

36. Christopher Paul Curtis (1953)

American Children's Writer

First African American recipient of the Newbery Medal for children's literature, he is best known for works such as Bud, Not Buddy and The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963....

37. Lauren Myracle (1969)

American Children's Writer

Author of young adult fiction whose popular works include The Internet Girls series, The Winnie Years, and the Flower Power books. Her novels, ttyl and ttfn, both appeared on the...

38. Kate DiCamillo (1964)

American Children's Writer

American author of acclaimed children's fiction such as Because of Winn-Dixie and the Newbery Medal-winning The Tale of Despereaux. Her other works include the Mercy Watson series and Flora &...

39. Ann Brashares (1967)

American Children's Writer

Author who wrote the popular young adult series, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Her other works include My Name is Memory and The Here and Now.

40. Rebecca Stead (1968)

American Children's Writer

Known best for her 2010 Newbery Medal-winning children's novel, When You Reach Me. She also received the 2013 Guardian Prize for her young adult novel Liar & Spy.

41. Grace Lin (1974)

American Children's Writer

Grace Lin is an American children's writer and illustrator. Lin's parents were Taiwanese immigrants to the United States and Lin grew up in New York. She later graduated from the...

42. Gloria Whelan (1923)

American Children's Writer

Gloria Whelan is an American poet short story writer and novelist known primarily for children's and young-adult fiction. She won the annual National Book Award for Young People's Literature in...

43. Susan Campbell Bartoletti (1958)

American Children's Writer

Susan Campbell Bartoletti is an American writer of children's literature. She was born in Harrisburg Pennsylvania but eventually the family ended up in a small town in northeastern Pennsylvania. Susan...

44. Joan Blos (1928)

American Children's Writer

Joan Winsor Blos is an American writer teacher and advocate for children's literacy. For her 1979 historical novel A Gathering of Days Blos won the U. S. National Book Award...

45. Betsy Byars (1928)

American Children's Writer

Betsy Cromer Byars is an American author of children's books. Her novel Summer of the Swans won the 1971 Newbery Medal. She has also received a National Book Award in...

46. E. L. Konigsburg (1930)

American Children's Writer

This article is about the American author. For many places mountains and ships see Königsberg. Elaine Lobl Konigsburg was an American writer and illustrator of children's books and young adult...

47. Cynthia Voigt (1942)

American Children's Writer

Cynthia Voigt an American writer of books for young adults dealing with various topics such as adventure mystery racism and child abuse. Her first book in the Tillerman family series...

48. Laurence Yep (1948)

American Children's Writer

Laurence Michael Yep is a prolific Chinese-American writer best known for children's books. In 2005 he received the biennial Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal for his career contribution to American children's...

49. Janet Lee Carey (1954)

American Children's Writer

Janet Lee Carey is an award-winning American author and college professor. She writes fantasy fiction for children and young adults. Her novels The Dragons of Noor won a Teens Read...

50. Kristin Cashore (1976)

American Children's Writer

Kristin Cashore is an American fantasy writer. She grew up in the Pennsylvania countryside the second of four children. Her debut novel Graceling was published in October 2008. The book...