101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up (Revised Edition): Timeless Tales and New Adventures Kids Will Love to Read

by Bianca Schulze

Discover new books, document your favorites, learn fun facts about books and authors, and develop a lifelong reading habit.

101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up (Revised Edition) is the ultimate reading guide for kids ages 4 to 12+, packed with 101 kid-friendly book recommendations and interactive features to inspire young readers. This revised edition includes diverse voices and graphic novels and reflects current educational trends, making it a modern and inclusive reading guide for young readers today. From classics like Where the Wild Things Are, Beezus and Ramona, and The Phantom Tollbooth to newer favorites such as Big, New Kid, and Brown Girl Dreaming, this inspiring guide covers every stage of a young reader’s journey. Designed as an engaging journal, this book allows you to document your reading journey by noting which books you’ve read, why you love them, and how you rate each one. 

Each book entry

Brief description and Provides insight into the book’s story, theme, and style.Engaging Feature characters or key elements from each book.“Did you know?” Fun tidbits about the book or author to spark curiosity.“What to read next?”: Recommendations to help you find more books you’ll love.Interactive rating and note A place for you to rate and write about your experience with each book.
Organized by book format (picture books, early readers, chapter books, and more) and cross-indexed by subjects like fairy tales, fantasy, sports, and nonfiction, 101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up promotes family reading time and encourages lifelong reading habits.

Genres: Nonfiction, Childrens, Reference, Books About Books, Education

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

Bianca Schulze is the author of Don't Wake the Dragon (2020), Who Loves the Dragon? (2021), Just Be Yourself, Dragon (2021), and Tell the Truth, Dragon (2022), as well as the founder and editor of The Children's Books Review—a resource devoted to children's literature and literacy. Bianca is also the bestselling author of 101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up (2016). She is a reader, reviewer, mother, and children’s book lover. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s bookseller, Bianca’s goal is to share her passion to help grow readers.

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children in Boulder, Colorado.

You can visit her at www.biancaschulze.com and www.thechildrensbookreview.com.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am hoping to read a few more juvenile books over the next several books so I skimmed through this book to find titles. Fun to read about books that I have heard of but never read. Created a TBR list from it that I plan to check out in 2019.

[Carole P. Roman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bianca Schulze has put together a comprehensive and wonderful book that is the perfect guide to help parents pick books when they navigate their children through childhood. She starts with those early books, the ones you read at night to your child when they are tucked into bed, cozy and warm. Books that evoke giggles as well as questions, sometimes rhyming silliness like The Seven Silly Eaters or deeply moving like The Giving Tree. She gives ages range for the book, genre, the publisher, publication date as well as page count. She spices up the page with tidbits of trivia, just enough to tickle the interest of both parents and children, and lastly there is a suggestion of books to read next. She includes a spot for young readers to rate the book and leave notes, creating a diary to go back and remember their thoughts. Thoughtful, thorough, and diverse, this is the ultimate guide to help develop a well-read child. It provides them a piece of our literary world, preparing them with a strong foundation to want to read and search out more as they grow into adulthood. This book will satisfy both children and parents preparing them to embrace reading and the wonder of a good book for the rest of their lives.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genius little book -- the Table of Contents organizes books by children's ages...and the index in the back organizes by genre. In between is a totally clever presentation of 101 books for kids. The range is impressive...classics like THE LITTLE PRINCESS and PIPPI LONGSTOCKINGS, and Matt de la Pena's newest Newbery-award winner: LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET.

Each book is described and illustrated...most have a 'did you know' text bubble and clever commentary. Some have a quote that could resonate. ALSO on each page is a list called, "What to Read Next." AND at the bottom of each page is a place for kids to write! Review, rate, date...This could be a great challenge...I'd so take this into my HS class and share these books

I picked this up at the Scholastic Book Fair at my Grand's school, and it's a little gem.

I found several books I'd grown up without reading...and have bookmarked the ones I really need to get after...

Super resource for parents and educators.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I normally dislike someone coming up to me and giving their own particular idea of what they consider "must-reads" for whatever age group I chose that I wouldn't mind taking a look over what was now out for children as I am on a project on working to track down previously read books from a long time ago. With this thought in mind I ended up getting the two books that I know that the PL carries for a starter.

Upon basic exam the first one, which was this one, was a shoo-in automatically due to the fun colorful pages, the illustrations on each side, the included journal information at the very far bottom of the right page. And on some of the entries there were bubbles included that looked to provide more information. Unfortunately once I got to take a closer and more intimate look this became my second choice.

The book is easy to read but what it does is then goes on to give a summary of what the book is about besides other important details. And not every entry was given the did you know bubbles but those that did, half the bubbles were geared towards when a movie adaptation had been made for that particular movie, which I am not a fan of. Furthermore the growing up stage only starts for you when you are four years old or so the book suggestions imply.

The other thing that I didn't like about this book is the fact that it was definitely not put together when I was a child. While I was looking over the entries that were included there weren't as many of the older classics I would hope to have seen but instead a bunch of newer books that had just come out while the author did make a point to emphasis on what forefront of the equality battle they were spearheading.

Otherwise for a nice and quick dip into reading for children it was a well put together book and one that acknowledges the hardness of choosing how to number them down. For those who don't mind a lot newer types of books this book would be my recommendation but if you are hoping your child may enjoy something that you had enjoyed as a child then please move onto the next one such as 100 Best Books for Children by Anita Silvey.

[Rahmadiyanti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tadinya saya pikir buku ini sama seperti "buku berisi daftar buku yang harus dibaca" lainnya, ternyata lumayan berbeda. Daftarnya juga cukup komprehensif. Merangkum buku anak yang recommended, dari Alice in Wonderland yang pertama kali terbit 1865, Black Beauty (1877), The Story of Ferdinand (1936), A Wrinkle in Time (1962), hingga buku yang terbit pada 1990an s.d 2015 seperti The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Harry Potter (tentu), Esperanza Rising, The One and Only Ivan, Rickshaw Girl, dan Mango, Abuella, and Me.

Buku disusun berdasar level usia. Mulai dari rekomendasi buku untuk anak usia 4 tahun, 5 tahun, 6 tahun, hingga 11 tahun. Tiap judul rekomendasi dilengkapi dengan peruntukan usia, genre, penerbit, tahun pertama kali terbit, dan ketebalan buku. dilengkapi pula trivia tentang penulis atau hal lain yang menarik terkait buku.

Yang juga menarik, dilengkapi pula form/kotak yang berisi check list, rating, karakter favorit, dan catatan, untuk diisi oleh anak. Jadi semacam jurnal.

Dari 101 judul yang direkomendasikan oleh penulis/penyusun buku ini, saya yang sudah lewat lewat grow up, bahkan sangat grow (badannya :D), baru membaca 40an judul. Pengen cari baca sisanya, ah.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my kind of list, I think. Only a hundred and one books vs. a thousand and one books on my other Must Read list. Lots of books I've loved that were not on my other list, like Stargirl and Henry's Freedom Box and Mango, Abuela, and Me. A very diverse list. And I've already read eighty percent of them!

[Sunny Welker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great list and fun read in itself. Gave me a bunch more books I need to read.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the books were to be expected, but some I had never heard of before. Overall, it's a pretty wide-ranging and comprehensive list.

Note: I received a finished hardcover of this book from the publisher at ALA Midwinter 2018.

[Sharie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Includes classics as well as fairly new releases; wish it included book covers

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book suggestions to read (Picture Books, Juvenile Books, Young Adult Books).

[Smitchy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must have for teachers, parents and eager young readers - I often get asked about suitable books for advanced, independent readers as finding the right level of interest and suitable content can be challenging. Most parents don't have the time to read every single item before their child to ensure its appropriateness, so this book will save many headaches.

Mostly aimed at independent readers aged between 7 and 14, this book gives 101 suggested reads divided into age group appropriateness (ex: 4+, 5+, 6+, etc.) For each book there are some basic facts: Genre, publisher & publication date, number of pages, as well as an overview of the book and the reasons why you need to read it. The only thing I'd love to have added would be information on country of publication / author nationality but that's just me being picky.
What I love most is that for every book there are 3 or 4 more books suggested for further reading! So if your child loved it they have an instant idea of what to read next.

Each of the 101 books has a little space for children to write down their favourite character, when they read it and how many stars they give it.

My only real issue with this book is that some (not many) of the titles are older American ones, which might make them a little hard to find here. But having said that there are Australian classics in here too, which sometimes get neglected in these compilation books.

Primary school teachers will find this a really handy guide, not just for the suggested reading but also the 'what to read next' section and the fact the index is divided by genre, making it a great resource for finding the perfect book for a picky reader!

[Stephanie Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reading reference book for every bookshelf! As a bonafide list maker, I have countless spreadsheets, checklists and good old-fashioned handwritten logs organising the books that I’ve read or want to read. It will save me hours of inputting info with this newly revised edition of 101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up by Bianca Schulze.

This collection of (far more than) 101 children’s books for each and every age group goes far beyond a simple list. In colourful graphics, each book description is designed on colourful pages and gives information such as genre, target age range, publication date, page count and other essentials. Then, there’s a mini review that calls out countless reasons that readers will enjoy the story as well as fun trivia and (my favourite part), suggestions for other books to read if you like the one on that page.

It’s not just a brilliant resource — it’s a lot of fun to flip through, too. The layout and design is completely engaging. Plus, the book is an interactive keepsake that allows readers to check the boxes and make notes about the books they choose to read.

Notice I haven’t said “children” when I mention who this book is for? In my opinion, 101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up is perfect for yes, children, but also everyone interested in children’s books and anyone who is yet to officially grow up! Highly recommended!

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

What I liked:
The space to mark a book as “read” and give it a rating (like Goodreads in book form!)
The fantastic quotes from the various books made me want to start collecting book quotes.
The idea of listing other similar books to read if you liked that one (although there was a lot of repetition there that was frustrating considering how many amazing books exist)
The wide variety of genres and diversity of characters was appreciated. I was surprised by the number of older “classics” that were included.

What I didn’t like:
The inclusion of LGBTQ books could be problematic for some parents. If the book was geared at parents as a resource book, I wouldn’t have any issue with it, but since it’s aimed at kids with the implicit instruction to read and check off ALL the books, it doesn’t leave room for parents to individualize based on a child’s maturity level or readiness to encounter certain concepts.
On a related note, age recommendations seemed off to me. For example, I love The Crossover, but wouldn’t recommend a book about kids in junior high to a 3rd grader.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and varied collection of books written for children, grouped by age and genre with helpful notes about page numbers and publishers for adults. Kids will like the fun illustrations and how each book has a section for a rating and short review. I also appreciated the “What To Read Next” sections on each book, giving four similar books based on author or genre. While I appreciated that there is a mix of classic and new as well as books with diverse characters and tough topics, I was a bit surprised to see some incredibly racist classics included and some books that are amazing but contain very traumatic situations that are glossed over. These are important books, but I would recommend adults check in with students to give them a deeper understanding of some of the situations, such as war, violent racism, and the Holocaust. It would also be good to check in with kids on the older books that have very problematic depictions of BIPOC and use that time to discuss things like racist attitudes and how those are not ok.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely and endearing book! I didn't know such a book existed! I found this book at a thrift store and couldn't believe my luck as I am an avid collector of children's books and series being in the education field.

I love how this book gives a list of titles by age, a brief synopsis of each book, suggestions on what to read next, age level, genre, publisher info and date, and page count. It even gives readers a rating section to tell what they think of it! A very informative book that can grow with the reader as they age.

As a reader who has yet to have children of their own, I intend to read the books I have not yet read on the list and finish the entire list (even though I am already grown up ;). Or am I? :o Who says we truly ever grow up?) I am going to put my thoughts in sticky notes, rather than write in them, as it's a mortal sin to write in a book. ^^' If and when I ever have children, I'll write their notes along with mine, to compare and carry on the bookworm tradition.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years ago, I got this book for my kids, but, recently found out that I liked it as well. It introduced books that I had never heard of, which I really liked. And 101 books is a list that I can do, even though I've already read 16 of them (as I said, some of them I had never heard of and a few I refuse to read). But, that's what I like about this book, there were old classics and newer ones as well. My favorite part was the "Did you know", I liked the little tidbits about the authors. I would have given this book a 5 star, but, I didn't like that "What to read next?" was full of books that were already on the 101 list. The "What to read next?" should have been books that weren't part of the 101 Books or as happened a couple of times, other books in the series. I was hoping to get better suggestions. Honestly, that was the only problem that I had with it. Now, it's helping me plan out my 2024 TBR.

[Beth Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found classics that nurture cultural literacy, as well as a diverse range of books to provide window, doors, and mirrors for young readers. More recent releases on their way to becoming classics abound. And seeing many of my personal favorites that I’ve enjoyed year after year with kids in the classroom brought a smile at the feeling of an old friend.
This book is user friendly in so many ways. Each book features stats such as genre, age, year, and page count. “Did you know?” tidbits offer fascinating peeks behind the usual information. The engaging intro to each book provides just the right amount of info to spark interest. And with book recs that springboard from each title, there will never be a problem of what to read next. The space for a reader’s response and rating encourages personal connections.
Super addition to any classroom, library, and child’s bookshelf!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty solid line-up of titles for kids ages 4 through 11. It includes diversity, plus contains classic and modern stories. The titles suggested match the age of interest, not necessarily reading levels. For example, most kids who are 8 are in 2nd grade, but many 2nd graders will struggle with reading "Harry Potter" and "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" on their own. Additionally, lots of graphics illustrate this book, but they do not match the original artwork of titles suggested. However, Bianca Schulze includes "Did You Know?" trivia, fun quotes from the suggested titles, and "What to Read Next?" for further reading. Each title on the list has a chart for the reader to rate the title, list their favorite character, and write notes.

[Country Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

101 Books to read before you grow up by Bianca Schulze is a book about books by the author. I love how each book the author talks about is with pictures and also what recommended age the book is for and book details! Also I love the fun facts about the book and the spot where kids can read the book and give their own rating and tell what they loved about their books! I have read many of these books as a child and some I have not read and this book has inspired me to read them and also to have my own children read the books! I highly recommend this book to families who want to learn classic books with great messages and morality before they grow into adults!

[Angela Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great resource! Beautifully laid out and illustrated with vibrant pictures, this book is brimming with book reviews for younger audiences. Bianca Schulze has splendid taste, since she selected many timeless tales I adore—which makes me think I need to get my hands on all the others! Each review contains a brief description of the book, interesting talking points, fun facts about the author and book, and additional book recommendations on similar topics. Further, this book is divided into helpful sections based on age, format, and genre. A brilliant resource for children’s book lovers.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where was this book when I was a kid? This volume should be on every teacher's, reader's and children's book author's bookshelf. A perfect guide for helping children select age-appropriate books that suit individual interests such as fantasy, mystery, animals. There are contemporary picks as well as the classics. If you're looking for a perfect gift for the teacher or librarian in your life - this is it. Get one for your favorite kid too.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reviews are so enticing! All these children's title that I had before passed up became so glittering after reading this. Plus lots of other features for each title make this a surprisingly wonderful book to pick up and peruse.

[Lupe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute idea but I’m not sure kids would really enjoy this book. It sounded like an adult pretending too hard to talk like a child. However, I did like the list of recommended books, and the sidebar information, including genre and misc trivia about the books.

[Keshia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This list has some great suggestions. Lots of books I'd either already read or had heard of, but there were a few new ones that sounded really interesting! What I didn't like is that I felt like the synopsis on some of them spoiled the story by telling too much information.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great compilation of great bboks that children should read before they grow up, but also many that do not have age restrictions. Mix of modern, classics, fantasy, adventure etc.

For books that are enjoyed each has a small list of books that are recommended. The fun never ends.

[Caitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource, I'm surprised how many I haven't read. I'll need to get cracking on this list.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good choices, and a fabulous set of graphics for the illustrations.

[Amanda Panda · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute and informative. we saved many of these books on good reads so that my daughter and I can go back and read some of the ones that sounded best. lots of nostalgia for me. :)

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great resource to help recommend books to young readers; it also introduces them to reading book reviews as a way to choose books. I'll keep this handy!

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great guide to children's, ya books. Each books has a page to write a small review and rate it. Might be a good family gift.