Top 50 Picture Book Authors of All Time

Picture books are where the love of reading begins. Long before children can read independently, they are experiencing stories — held in a parent's lap, hearing words read aloud, turning pages and discovering that those marks on paper mean something, that stories can make you laugh and feel safe and understand the world a little better. The picture books a child encounters in their earliest years don't just teach them to read — they teach them to feel.

The best picture book authors understand something profound: very young children deserve the same quality of imagination, the same emotional honesty, and the same respect for their intelligence as any other reader. The picture books that endure for generations are not simple. They are precise — every word chosen with extraordinary care because there are so few of them, every image carrying as much meaning as the text. Writing a great picture book is one of the most difficult things a writer can do.

The authors on this list have created books that parents have read aloud hundreds of times without ever getting tired of them. They have created characters — a very hungry caterpillar, a mischievous rabbit, a boy in a wolf suit, a little engine that could — that have become as much a part of childhood as first steps and first words. Some wrote for the very youngest children, creating board books and rhyming texts that introduce babies to the music of language. Others created more complex picture books that work on multiple levels, delighting the child listening and the adult reading aloud simultaneously.

Here are the 50 best picture book authors of all time.

1. Dr. Seuss The undisputed king of picture books, Dr. Seuss — the pen name of Theodor Seuss Geisel — revolutionized early childhood literacy with his rhyming, rhythmic stories using deliberately limited vocabularies that made beginning reading feel like a game. The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, The Lorax, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas have sold over 650 million copies combined. Seuss once said "I don't write for children, I write for people" — and his books prove it, delighting parents as much as the children on their laps. Browse Dr. Seuss books in order →

2. Eric Carle Author and illustrator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar — one of the bestselling picture books of all time with over 55 million copies sold — Eric Carle created a distinctive tissue-paper collage illustration style that has become instantly recognizable across generations. His books including Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?, The Very Busy Spider, and The Very Quiet Cricket have taught millions of children colors, numbers, animals, and the joy of reading. Browse Eric Carle books in order →

3. Maurice Sendak Author and illustrator of Where the Wild Things Are — the most celebrated picture book of the 20th century and winner of the Caldecott Medal — Maurice Sendak understood the inner emotional life of young children with extraordinary depth. His books took children's fears, frustrations, and fantasies seriously in ways that transformed picture book publishing. Where the Wild Things Are has sold over 19 million copies and inspired an opera, a film, and generations of artists. Browse Maurice Sendak books in order →

4. Beatrix Potter Author and illustrator of The Tale of Peter Rabbit — one of the bestselling picture books of all time — Beatrix Potter created a world of meticulously observed animal characters that have enchanted children for over 120 years. Potter taught herself to draw using her own pets as models, and her delicate watercolor illustrations remain some of the most beautiful in the history of children's publishing. Her 23 Tales have sold over 50 million copies combined. Browse Beatrix Potter books in order →

5. Shel Silverstein Author of Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic — two of the bestselling poetry collections ever published for children — Shel Silverstein created verse that was funny, subversive, and deeply humane. His illustrated poems introduced generations of children to the joy of poetry, and The Giving Tree remains one of the most emotionally resonant picture books ever created. His books have sold over 20 million copies combined. Browse Shel Silverstein books in order →

6. Margaret Wise Brown Author of Goodnight Moon — one of the bestselling picture books of all time with over 48 million copies sold — Margaret Wise Brown created the most calming bedtime ritual in children's literature. The Runaway Bunny is equally beloved. Brown's understanding of the specific emotional world of very young children — their need for comfort, routine, and the reassurance that the world will still be there in the morning — made her picture books among the most enduring ever published. Browse Margaret Wise Brown books in order →

7. A.A. Milne Creator of Winnie-the-Pooh — one of the most beloved fictional characters in history — A.A. Milne wrote four books featuring the inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood that have sold hundreds of millions of copies worldwide. Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, and their friends have become cultural icons across generations and cultures, and the Disney adaptations have introduced Milne's gentle, wise characters to children around the globe. Browse A.A. Milne books in order →

8. Sandra Boynton One of the most beloved and prolific board book authors in history, Sandra Boynton's Moo, Baa, La La La!, Hippos Go Berserk!, and But Not the Hippopotamus have delighted babies and toddlers for decades. Her quirky animal characters and deadpan humor make her books as funny for parents reading aloud as for the children listening. Her books have sold over 70 million copies worldwide. Browse Sandra Boynton books in order →

9. Mo Willems The most beloved picture book author of the 21st century, Mo Willems' Pigeon series, Elephant & Piggie series, and Knuffle Bunny trilogy have earned him three Caldecott Honors and a devoted global following. His books are celebrated for their expressive cartoon characters, their laugh-out-loud humor, and their ability to convey genuinely complex emotions — frustration, jealousy, grief — in ways that young children immediately recognize and understand. Browse Mo Willems books in order →

10. Robert Munsch Author of Love You Forever — one of the most emotionally powerful children's books ever written with over 30 million copies sold — Robert Munsch is Canada's most beloved children's author. His playful, repetitive storytelling style and his gift for absurdist humor have made books like The Paper Bag Princess, Mud Puddle, and Mortimer beloved by children across generations. Love You Forever in particular has become a rite of passage for parents — virtually impossible to read aloud without crying. Browse Robert Munsch books in order →

11. Tomie dePaola One of the most prolific and beloved author-illustrators in American children's publishing, Tomie dePaola created over 270 books during his career including Strega Nona, The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush, and his autobiographical 26 Fairmount Avenue series. His warm, folk-art-inspired illustrations and his gift for storytelling rooted in family, tradition, and community earned him the Children's Literature Legacy Award. Browse Tomie dePaola books in order →

12. Kevin Henkes A Caldecott Medal winner and Newbery Honor recipient, Kevin Henkes is one of the most celebrated author-illustrators working in children's publishing today. His mouse character picture books — including Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, Chrysanthemum, and Owen — are beloved for their emotional accuracy and their gentle humor about the genuine dramas of early childhood. Browse Kevin Henkes books in order →

13. Bill Martin Jr. Author of Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? — one of the most widely read picture books ever published — Bill Martin Jr. wrote over 300 children's books during his career. His simple, rhythmic texts helped generations of children learn to read, and his collaboration with Eric Carle on Brown Bear and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? produced two of the most enduring books in the picture book canon. Browse Bill Martin Jr. books in order →

14. Arnold Lobel One of only a handful of authors to receive both Caldecott and Newbery recognition as both author and illustrator, Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad series — beginning with Frog and Toad Are Friends — is considered one of the finest examples of early reader literature ever written. His gentle, philosophical stories about an unlikely friendship have sold millions of copies and remain beloved by children and educators worldwide. Browse Arnold Lobel books in order →

15. Laura Numeroff Author of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie — one of the most inventive and beloved picture book series ever published — Laura Numeroff created a circular storytelling format so clever and satisfying that it spawned a dozen sequels and introduced a generation of children to cause-and-effect thinking. Her books have sold over 40 million copies worldwide. Browse Laura Numeroff books in order →

16. Jan Brett One of the most beautifully illustrated picture book authors working today, Jan Brett's The Mitten, The Hat, and Hedgie's Surprise are celebrated for their extraordinarily detailed artwork and their clever use of border illustrations to tell parallel stories. Her meticulous research into Scandinavian and Eastern European folk traditions gives her books a richness that rewards repeated reading. Browse Jan Brett books in order →

17. Leo Lionni A four-time Caldecott Honor winner, Leo Lionni's Frederick, Swimmy, and Little Blue and Little Yellow are celebrated for their boldly designed collage illustrations and their gentle fables about community, creativity, and individual gifts. His books introduced a generation of children to abstract art and remain among the most beautifully designed picture books ever published. Browse Leo Lionni books in order →

18. Lois Ehlert A Caldecott Honor winner celebrated for her bold, graphic illustration style, Lois Ehlert's Eating the Alphabet, Growing Vegetable Soup, and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom — co-authored with Bill Martin Jr. — introduced millions of children to colors, shapes, and the natural world through some of the most visually striking picture books ever created. Browse Lois Ehlert books in order →

19. Mem Fox Australia's most beloved picture book author, Mem Fox's Possum Magic, Time for Bed, and Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge are celebrated for their lyrical prose and their emotional resonance. Fox is also one of children's literature's most passionate advocates for reading aloud, arguing that the act of sharing books between adults and children is one of the most important things a family can do. Browse Mem Fox books in order →

20. Ezra Jack Keats Author and illustrator of The Snowy Day — the first picture book to feature a Black child as its protagonist and winner of the Caldecott Medal — Ezra Jack Keats created a quiet revolution in children's publishing in 1962. His collage illustrations and his simple, beautiful story about a boy experiencing his first snow day remain as fresh and moving today as when first published. Browse Ezra Jack Keats books in order →

21. Chris Van Allsburg Creator of Jumanji and The Polar Express — two of the most celebrated picture books of the modern era — Chris Van Allsburg is known for his hauntingly beautiful black and white illustrations and his ability to create picture books that feel genuinely mysterious and magical. The Polar Express won the Caldecott Medal and was adapted into a major animated film. His books have sold tens of millions of copies. Browse Chris Van Allsburg books in order →

22. David Shannon Author of No, David! — a Caldecott Honor book based on a drawing Shannon made as a child — David Shannon created one of the most beloved picture book characters of the late 20th century. His books including A Bad Case of Stripes and Duck on a Bike are celebrated for their bold illustrations and their humor about the universal experiences of early childhood. Browse David Shannon books in order →

23. Watty Piper Author of The Little Engine That Could — one of the most inspirational picture books ever written with over 30 million copies sold — Watty Piper created a simple story about perseverance and positive thinking whose central phrase "I think I can, I think I can" has become one of the most recognizable in all of children's literature. The book has been in continuous print for nearly a century. Browse Watty Piper books in order →

24. Jacqueline Woodson A National Book Award winner and former Young People's Poet Laureate, Jacqueline Woodson writes prolifically and poetically about the Black experience in America across every age group from picture books to adult novels. Her picture book Each Kindness and The Day You Begin are beloved for their emotional intelligence and their celebration of empathy, belonging, and the power of simple acts of connection. Browse Jacqueline Woodson books in order →

25. P.D. Eastman Author of Are You My Mother? and Go, Dog. Go! — two of the most beloved early reader picture books ever published — P.D. Eastman created simple, funny stories with just enough vocabulary challenge to make beginning readers feel accomplished. His books have sold tens of millions of copies and remain essential early literacy tools in classrooms and homes worldwide. Browse P.D. Eastman books in order →

26. Robert McCloskey A two-time Caldecott Medal winner, Robert McCloskey's Make Way for Ducklings and Blueberries for Sal are considered classics of American picture book art. His warm, detailed pencil and watercolor illustrations of Boston and coastal Maine capture a world of childhood that feels simultaneously nostalgic and timeless. Make Way for Ducklings has been in continuous print since 1941. Browse Robert McCloskey books in order →

27. Virginia Lee Burton Author and illustrator of The Little House — winner of the Caldecott Medal — and Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Virginia Lee Burton created picture books of extraordinary emotional depth about the tension between progress and preservation that remain as relevant today as when first published. Her intricate, detailed illustrations reward close examination and her books have sold millions of copies across generations. Browse Virginia Lee Burton books in order →

28. Don Freeman Author and illustrator of Corduroy — one of the most beloved picture books ever published about a small teddy bear in a department store who longs to be loved — Don Freeman created a story of belonging and friendship that has sold millions of copies and been a fixture in nurseries and kindergartens for over 50 years. Browse Don Freeman books in order →

29. H.A. Rey Creator of Curious George — one of the most beloved picture book characters in history — H.A. Rey and his wife Margret escaped Nazi-occupied Paris on bicycles carrying the original Curious George manuscript and eventually published it in 1941. The series has sold over 75 million copies and the irrepressibly curious little monkey has become one of the most recognizable characters in children's culture worldwide. Browse H.A. Rey books in order →

30. Mercer Mayer Creator of the Little Critter series — one of the most beloved early picture book series ever published — Mercer Mayer has sold over 300 million copies of his books worldwide. His relatable, slightly mischievous little creature character navigating the ordinary challenges of early childhood has made his books a staple in homes and classrooms for over four decades. Browse Mercer Mayer books in order →

31. Crockett Johnson Author and illustrator of Harold and the Purple Crayon — one of the most imaginative and beloved picture books ever created — Crockett Johnson created a story about a small boy who draws his own world into existence that has captivated children and inspired artists for over 70 years. Harold's purple crayon has become a symbol of creative possibility and imaginative freedom. Browse Crockett Johnson books in order →

32. Jean de Brunhoff Creator of Babar the Elephant — one of the most iconic characters in picture book history — Jean de Brunhoff published The Story of Babar in 1931 and created a series that has sold hundreds of millions of copies worldwide. The Babar stories, continued after Jean's death by his son Laurent, have been beloved by children across generations and adapted into numerous films and television series. Browse Jean de Brunhoff books in order →

33. Eric Hill Creator of Spot the Dog — one of the bestselling picture book series in history with over 60 million copies sold — Eric Hill invented the interactive lift-the-flap format with Where's Spot? in 1980 and revolutionized board book publishing. Spot's simple adventures introduced a generation of toddlers to the joy of books while teaching basic concepts of hiding, finding, and language. Browse Eric Hill books in order →

34. Russell Hoban Author of the Frances series — a beloved collection of picture books about a young badger navigating the ordinary dramas of early childhood — Russell Hoban created one of picture book literature's most relatable and endearing characters. Bedtime for Frances, Bread and Jam for Frances, and A Baby Sister for Frances are considered classics of the genre. Browse Russell Hoban books in order →

35. Rosemary Wells Creator of Max and Ruby — one of the most beloved early picture book series ever published — Rosemary Wells has written and illustrated over 120 books for children. Her bunny characters, her board books for babies, and her thoughtful picture books about the first experiences of early childhood have made her one of the most trusted names in children's publishing. Browse Rosemary Wells books in order →

36. Jon Scieszka Author of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales — two of the most brilliantly subversive picture books ever published — Jon Scieszka brought postmodern humor and meta-fictional wit to picture books in ways that delighted children and their parents equally. He served as the first National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. Browse Jon Scieszka books in order →

37. Karma Wilson Author of the beloved Bear series — beginning with Bear Snores On — Karma Wilson creates warm, rhyming picture books about friendship, community, and the simple pleasures of life with animals that are as satisfying to read aloud as they are to listen to. Her books have sold millions of copies and are a staple of preschool and kindergarten classrooms. Browse Karma Wilson books in order →

38. Ian Falconer Creator of Olivia — the stylish, imaginative, inexhaustible pig who became one of picture book publishing's most beloved characters — Ian Falconer won a Caldecott Honor for his debut and created a series that has sold millions of copies worldwide. Olivia's boundless energy, creativity, and self-confidence have made her an icon of modern picture book fiction. Browse Ian Falconer books in order →

39. Todd Parr One of the most beloved and important picture book authors of the current era, Todd Parr's The Family Book, The Peace Book, and It's Okay to Be Different celebrate diversity, inclusion, and the full range of human family structures with bright, bold illustrations and simple, powerful messages. His books have sold millions of copies and are widely used in classrooms and homes to introduce young children to values of acceptance and empathy. Browse Todd Parr books in order →

40. Patricia Polacco One of the most beloved picture book storytellers working today, Patricia Polacco's Thank You, Mr. Falker, The Keeping Quilt, and Pink and Say are celebrated for their emotional power, their celebration of family and cultural heritage, and their authentic drawing on her own experiences with dyslexia and growing up in a multicultural family. Browse Patricia Polacco books in order →

41. Wanda Gág Author and illustrator of Millions of Cats — one of the oldest American picture books still in print, first published in 1928 — Wanda Gág created a story and an illustration style that established the template for the American picture book. Millions of Cats was the first American picture book to receive international recognition and its distinctive black and white illustrations remain extraordinary. Browse Wanda Gág books in order →

42. Gail Gibbons The most prolific nonfiction picture book author in American publishing, Gail Gibbons has written and illustrated over 100 books explaining how things work, how places function, and how the natural world operates to young children. Her clear, informative texts and cheerful diagrams have made her the go-to author for parents and teachers introducing young children to nonfiction. Browse Gail Gibbons books in order →

43. William Steig A cartoonist for The New Yorker who turned to picture books in his sixties, William Steig created Sylvester and the Magic Pebble — winner of the Caldecott Medal — and Shrek!, the basis for the massively successful DreamWorks franchise. His picture books are celebrated for their sophisticated vocabulary, their emotional complexity, and their deeply compassionate view of the world. Browse William Steig books in order →

44. Barbara Cooney A two-time Caldecott Medal winner, Barbara Cooney's Miss Rumphius and Ox-Cart Man are considered among the most beautifully illustrated American picture books ever published. Her portraits of New England life and her celebration of individuals who make the world more beautiful have made her books beloved by generations of readers. Browse Barbara Cooney books in order →

45. Graeme Base Author and illustrator of Animalia — one of the most intricately detailed picture books ever created — Australian author Graeme Base creates books that reward examination for hours. His The Eleventh Hour and The Sign of the Seahorse are similarly complex visual puzzles that challenge and delight children and adults alike. Animalia alone has sold over 3 million copies. Browse Graeme Base books in order →

46. Lynley Dodd Creator of Hairy Maclary — one of New Zealand's most beloved picture book characters — Lynley Dodd's rhyming stories about a scruffy little dog and his neighborhood companions have sold millions of copies in New Zealand, Australia, and worldwide. Her books are celebrated for their irresistible rhythm, their detailed illustrations, and their cast of memorably named animal characters. Browse Lynley Dodd books in order →

47. Richard Scarry One of the most beloved and prolific children's illustrators of the 20th century, Richard Scarry's Busytown books — including What Do People Do All Day? and Cars and Trucks and Things That Go — have sold over 100 million copies worldwide. His incredibly detailed illustrations packed with hundreds of anthropomorphic animal characters going about their daily lives have fascinated young children for over 50 years. Browse Richard Scarry books in order →

48. David Wiesner A three-time Caldecott Medal winner — the only author-illustrator to achieve that distinction — David Wiesner's Tuesday, The Three Pigs, and Flotsam are celebrated for their extraordinary visual storytelling and their use of minimal or no text to tell complex, surreal, and deeply imaginative stories. His books demonstrate that a picture book can be genuinely experimental art. Browse David Wiesner books in order →

49. Fancy Nancy's Jane O'Connor Author of the Fancy Nancy series — one of the most successful picture book series of the 2000s with over 30 million copies sold — Jane O'Connor created an irresistible character whose love of elaborate vocabulary, fancy clothes, and all things glamorous has resonated with young readers worldwide. The series has been adapted into a Disney Junior animated series. Browse Jane O'Connor books in order →

50. Drew Daywalt Author of The Day the Crayons Quit — one of the most inventive and hilarious picture books of recent years — Drew Daywalt spent an entire year at the top of the New York Times picture book bestseller list. His brilliant premise — crayons writing complaint letters to their owner about being overused and underappreciated — is perfectly executed and has made it one of the most gifted picture books of the current era. Browse Drew Daywalt books in order →

Looking for books for older children? Browse our Top 50 Early Reader Authors, Top 50 Middle Grade Authors, and Top 50 Young Adult Authors lists.