We are four authors who’ve read thousands of books. These are our childhood faves!
Matilda, by Roald Dahl
Christine Evans, award-winning author
of picture books Dear Mr. G, Evelyn the Adventurous Entomologist, and chapter book series The Wish Library. Pre-order her latest Middle Grade book Top Secret Animals, coming July 2027! Follow her at https://pinwheelsandstories.com.
I was a big reader as a kid (nothing’s changed)! Even after my parents thought I’d gone to bed I’d keep reading using the light coming in my bedroom door from the hallway. One of my favorites was Matilda by Roald Dahl. I loved how she was strong and stood up for what was right. And the book was very funny! I couldn’t ever imagine being like Matilda but I loved her story (and many other Roald Dahl books too like the BFG).
Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls
Margaret Chiu Greanias, author
of Maximillian Villainous, Amah Faraway, Hooked on Books, and How this Book got Red. Margaret writes books to delight children. Pre-order her latest book, Friendship is an Invitation, coming July 2027.
I really loved “Where the Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls, which is about a boy in the Ozark Mountains of Oklahoma who longs for and then trains two hounds for raccoon hunting. This may seem like a strange choice for an Asian girl growing up in an immigrant family in California, but I think this speaks to the power of a good story and a lively imagination. I found my way into the story through my love of dogs. I remember being riveted, and it is the first book that made me cry.
Corduroy, Don Freeman
Shirley Ng-Benitez, author/illustrator/maker
Shirley Ng-Benitez is an author, illustrator, and maker of stories by hand & heart. Her picture book debut, DOWN, THROUGH, UP, arriving 3/2/2027 from Harper, is available for preorder at shirleyngbenitez.com!
My favorite book as a child was CORDUROY by Don Freeman. There was something that drew me right into sweet little Corduroy and his quest to find his missing button. I wanted to help him find it too. He was so determined after feeling that he might have been “less than”. I was a really quiet child and stayed to myself, so I didn’t have friends. Reading Corduroy must have given me comfort as I looked at the characters in my children’s books and felt that they were my best friends. I felt that little Corduroy deserved all the love and attention that he finally got from the one who saw how awesome he was, just as he was. And when he found what he’d been looking for (and vice versa for the little girl) it was pure magic! I still am so grateful for this book, and so many other children’s books through the years.
The 14 Mice series, by Iwamura Kazuo
Karen E. Hong, author-illustrator
of “Tea Leaf Eggs” coming out Feb 2027. Pre-order now at https://karenhong.art/books. Check out this Instagram post to see how the 14 Mice influenced her main character in “Tea Leaf Eggs”!
The 14 Mice series by the late Iwamura Kazuo. I loved seeing the everyday scenes of the three generations of mice living in nature! I believe his worldview was that people should live in gentle companionship with one another, and in harmony with nature.
I also really enjoyed Roald Dahl’s books for children. As an adult, I understand why some parts are highly problematic (I had a lot to explain to my kids!), but his books still hold a lot of magic when read aloud.
This week, my 9-year-old was especially cranky waking up one morning. That same day, I went to put his bedsheets into the wash. As I took off the pillowcase, a stack of Roald Dahl books fell out. He had been reading them in the middle of the night!
Podcast recommendation for the grown-ups:
The Secret World of Roald Dahl
(iHeart, Apple Podcasts, Spotify).
“No children’s author of the past 30 years has regularly sparked more controversy than Roald Dahl. On the one hand, kids consistently name him their favorite writer.” - The Washington Post’s obituary for Dahl in 1990, quoted in the podcast.
Here’s a dark, twisty, fascinating documentary of the well-known writer, from creator and host Aaron Tracy.