Scholastic Parent & Child ® Magazine Unveils Their List of "100 Greatest Books for Kids" in the March 2012 Issue

Charlotte's Web Named Number One

By Scholastic Parent & Child

Published: Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012 - 9:11 am

NEW YORK, Feb. 15, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Scholastic Parent & Child® magazine today released its "100 Greatest Books for Kids" issue celebrating literary excellence. Earning the coveted top spot is the 1952 best-selling children's novel Charlotte's Web by acclaimed author E.B. White. Good Night Moon (Margaret Wise Brown), scores the number two spot, followed by A Wrinkle in Time (Madeleine L'Engle), The Snowy Day(Ezra Jack Keats), Where the Wild Things Are (Maurice Sendak), Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (J.K. Rowling), Green Eggs & Ham (Dr. Seuss), The Diary of a Young Girl (Anne Frank),The Giving Tree (Shel Silverstein) and Frog & Toad Are Friends (Arnold Lobe).  "100 Greatest Books for Kids" debuts in the March 2012 issue released today, which features author and mom J.K. Rowling on the cover in a never-before-seen photograph exclusive to Parent & Child.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100907/SCHOLASTICLOGO )

To create "100 Greatest Books for Kids," Scholastic Parent & Child enlisted a team of highly respected literacy experts. Reading, writing and book experts included Ruth Culham, Ed.D, Shawna Hamilton Doster, Phyllis Hunter, Tim Rasinski, Ph.D., and Laura Robb. Scholastic's own experts, Chief Academic Officer Francie Alexander and Editorial Director Adrienne Betz, also contributed to the list along with Parent Bloggers Melissa Cleaver, Amy Murphy, and Crissy Page. For full bios of the contributors, click here.  With nearly 500 books considered, the final titles were chosen based on the rankings of the expert review panel as well as each book's overall quality, awards, contemporary popularity and longevity in the marketplace as evaluated by Scholastic Parent & Child editors.

"We are thrilled to offer such a comprehensive and interactive look at the children's books that have resonated with readers, young and old, for generations," said Nick Friedman, editor-in-chief,Scholastic Parent & Child. "Today, we not only celebrate the compilation of timeless titles, but also the critical importance for every child to experience the love of reading and the joy of owning his or her own book."

In anticipation of the issue, Scholastic Parent & Child launched a 10-week countdown and an online Interactive Bookshelf that allows readers to sort the 100 titles by age group and categories including: fiction, nonfiction, award winners, traditional tales and poetry, plus Parent & Child "Superlatives," the ten books that wowed the editors. Readers can also visit the 100 Greatest Books for Kids album at the Scholastic Parents page on Facebook and share their favorite book memories.

"Choosing the top titles was quite the challenge, but it was comforting to see that the same books that many of us loved as kids still resonate with young audiences today," added Friedman. "We hope that parents will take the opportunity to revisit some of these classic titles with their children, and of course to continue reading together every day, all year long."

For the complete "100 Greatest Books for Kids" list, click here www.scholastic.com/100books.

About Scholastic Parent & Child® Scholastic Parent & Child is one of today's leading parenting magazines, reaching more than 7.5 million parents. Parent & Child was created for families with children ages birth to 12, and one hundred percent of the editorial content is dedicated to informing parents on topics that serve the entire family, including child development, well being, health, activities, travel, fashion, and food. To visit the magazine's online site, log on towww.scholastic.com/parents. To learn more about Scholastic, visit our online media roommediaroom.scholastic.com.   

SOURCE Scholastic Parent & Child