TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

Your Favorite Children's Book Authors

Go To

Nikkolas from Texas Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#1: Mar 20th 2012 at 8:27:44 PM

I wasn't sure if this should go in teh "who reads children's books?" thread because this isn't just about who still reads them. It's more a topic about which authors were your favorites growing up, even if you don't read them now.

The inspiration for this topic comes from the fact I just discovered that several of my favorite books from when I was younger were written by the same authors.

To start off with, I was randomly thinking about Bingo Brown which I mainly remembered because the depiction of Bingo's plight with the girl he loved connected very much with the young me. I looked up the author and found that Betsy Byars also wrote the Herculeah Jones books which I loved.

I also discovered that Louis Sacher, the author of Holes, wrote the Sideways Stories from Wayside School series.

In addition to those to, I can't forget Bruce Coville who I mainly know from his Camp Haunted Hills and Red Albright.

Well that's me. How about you all?

edited 20th Mar '12 8:29:14 PM by Nikkolas

Gray64 Since: Dec, 1969
#2: Mar 20th 2012 at 9:45:01 PM

Lloyd Alexander, for The Chronicles of Prydain. On the children's book illustrator front, I'll say Trina Schart-Hyman.

DoktorvonEurotrash Lex et Veritas from Not a place of honour (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#3: Mar 21st 2012 at 3:40:27 AM

Diana Wynne Jones. I'd also add Meredith Ann Pierce, except I think she's at the upper edge of YA.

FreezairForALimitedTime Responsible adult from Planet Claire Since: Jan, 2001
Responsible adult
#4: Mar 21st 2012 at 2:25:49 PM

[up] Oh yes, seconded on DWJ. Emphasis on her middle name!

Also, Jane Yolen rocks as well. I've always liked Yolen since she had a lot of depth and breadth to her works. She's got fantasy! She's got sci-fi! She's got long books! She's got short books! She's got something for everyone.

And if we're talking about writers with something for everyone, we can't forget ol' one-name himself: Praise be to Avi!

EDIT: @_@ We don't have a page on Avi? Madness! This must be rectified immediately!

edited 21st Mar '12 2:26:16 PM by FreezairForALimitedTime

"Proto-Indo-European makes the damnedest words related. It's great. It's the Kevin Bacon of etymology." ~Madrugada
DomaDoma Three-Puppet Saluter Since: Jan, 2001
Three-Puppet Saluter
#5: Mar 21st 2012 at 3:53:16 PM

Avi totally stood me up for a book-signing in 1998. I have never forgiven him.

Zilpha Keatley Snyder is boss, though. I reread The Changeling a few months back, and I mangled a lot of the details in my head in the twelve years since I last read it, but it is exactly as beautiful as I remembered it being.

Hail Martin Septim!
Carciofus Is that cake frosting? from Alpha Tucanae I Since: May, 2010
Is that cake frosting?
#6: Mar 21st 2012 at 4:02:02 PM

Michael Ende. Michael Ende. Michael Ende.

...

Michael Ende.

But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.
Aondeug Oh My from Our Dreams Since: Jun, 2009
Oh My
#7: Mar 21st 2012 at 4:26:41 PM

Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were my favorite authors as a child. I also rather liked Louis Sachar and Emily Rodda when it comes to books solely aimed towards children. Tolkien and Lewis were my things though.

Strangely I never read Lot R all the way through till high school. I had more or less eaten all of the First Age material by the time I was 13 though.

edited 21st Mar '12 4:27:07 PM by Aondeug

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah
DomaDoma Three-Puppet Saluter Since: Jan, 2001
Three-Puppet Saluter
#8: Mar 21st 2012 at 5:11:23 PM

[up][up] I never actually read him until a year ago (Neverending Story and Momo), but oh my god, yes. He left a pretty deep impression on me even then; I can't imagine how much he'd have blown my mind if I'd read him when I was ten.

Hail Martin Septim!
DoktorvonEurotrash Lex et Veritas from Not a place of honour (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#9: Mar 22nd 2012 at 2:42:23 AM

Michael Ende is awesome. I tend to find his books depressing, though. (But not The Neverending Story, which is surely one of the greatest works of modern literature.)

I haven't read anything by Jane Yolen, but I want to. Her books sound interesting and well-written.

Carciofus Is that cake frosting? from Alpha Tucanae I Since: May, 2010
Is that cake frosting?
#10: Mar 22nd 2012 at 4:37:59 AM

[up][up]I read Momo and the Neverending Story when I was ten or so, if I remember correctly, and The Night of Wishes shortly afterwards. And then I somehow got hold of the mirror in the mirror, a collection of rather dark and very surreal short stories by him.

That book shattered my mind. And it put together again, and then it shattered it again and again and again. I was far too young to really understand it (to be honest, I am not entirely sure if I get it entirely now); but that book is definitely the one which had the most influence on me.

edited 22nd Mar '12 4:38:40 AM by Carciofus

But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.
TheGirlWhoLeaped Since: Jun, 2012
#11: Mar 23rd 2012 at 4:52:35 PM

Astrid Lindgren. Her books are amazing. I read them over and over as a kid, and I still find them magical as an adult (also, Mio, my Mio becomes sadder and sadder). I especially love her girl characters, like Pippi and Ronja. And I also like Emil because he's hilarious.

Erich Kastner. He really understood children and respected them. I was quite surprised to find out he's not very known in the English speaking world, I always thought his books are… universal, I guess.

edited 23rd Mar '12 4:53:04 PM by TheGirlWhoLeaped

Twentington Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Desperate
#12: Mar 23rd 2012 at 5:53:31 PM

I actually found one of Avi's books at the used book section. Had never heard of him before, but Keep Your Eyes on Amanda just looked cool.

Always loved Wayside School but haven't read Sachar's other works.

FreezairForALimitedTime Responsible adult from Planet Claire Since: Jan, 2001
Responsible adult
#13: Mar 23rd 2012 at 7:03:16 PM

Holes is excellent, and definitely worth your time. The movie is also good, too, probably because Sachar wrote most of it himself.

"Proto-Indo-European makes the damnedest words related. It's great. It's the Kevin Bacon of etymology." ~Madrugada
SnowyFoxes Drummer Boy from Club Room Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: I know
Drummer Boy
#14: Mar 24th 2012 at 11:50:04 AM

Beverly Cleary is definitely one of the writers that got me thinking about writing myself. Kate DiCamillo as well. And C. S. Lewis. And E. B. White. I owe them a lot.

The last battle's curtains will open on stage!
Aondeug Oh My from Our Dreams Since: Jun, 2009
Oh My
#15: Mar 24th 2012 at 12:50:39 PM

Oh my god. Beverly Clarey. How could I have forgotten about her...She was what I read in early elementary...

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah
FreezairForALimitedTime Responsible adult from Planet Claire Since: Jan, 2001
Responsible adult
#16: Mar 24th 2012 at 7:48:57 PM

I believe she's still alive, too, despite being well into her 90's. Quite remarkable. Still, the world will be a sadder place without her in it.

Incidentally, I'm reading Armageddon Summer right now, which is by both Jane Yolen and Bruce Coville. It's a two-for-one bonus!

"Proto-Indo-European makes the damnedest words related. It's great. It's the Kevin Bacon of etymology." ~Madrugada
TamH70 Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
#17: Mar 27th 2012 at 11:40:32 PM

Ho boy. Showing my age here. C.S. Lewis. J.K. Rowling.

And since my childhood wasn't at all normal, Sven Hassel, Leo Kessler and J.T. Edson. (Seriously, I knew who Sven, Tiny, Porta, the Old Man, Heide, Gregor Martin, Steige and Colonel Hinka were before I was twelve.)

LoniJay from Australia Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
#18: Mar 28th 2012 at 5:48:45 AM

Dianna Wynne Jones, Emily Rodda, and Catherine Jinks. Oh, and Isobelle Carmody.

edited 28th Mar '12 5:49:12 AM by LoniJay

Be not afraid...
DomaDoma Three-Puppet Saluter Since: Jan, 2001
Three-Puppet Saluter
#19: Mar 29th 2012 at 4:00:23 PM

How is liking J.K. Rowling as a kid "showing your age" on this forum? Twenty-something is the standard here.

Hail Martin Septim!
blueflame724 Since: May, 2010
#20: Apr 2nd 2012 at 8:44:12 PM

Bill Peet for me. Always loved that his illustrations were grounded in realism, but had a bit of whimsy as well.

Enjoyed reading his books even before I knew he was a Disney animator.

I treat all living things equally. That is to say, I eat all living things
TamH70 Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
#21: Apr 3rd 2012 at 6:17:13 AM

I meant that more about Lewis than Rowling. I loved the Narnia books when I was younger.

wuggles (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#22: Apr 3rd 2012 at 8:41:45 AM

Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, Ann Martin. Especially Beverly Cleary. I remember her book was the very first chapter book I read.

whataboutme -_- from strange land, far away. Since: May, 2010
-_-
#23: Apr 3rd 2012 at 11:36:07 AM

Pamela L. Travers, Astrid Lindgren, Johanna Spyri and Erich Kästner, for me. Their books were among my most favorite works of fiction, while I was growing up.

edited 3rd Apr '12 11:38:19 AM by whataboutme

Please don't feed the trolls!
DomaDoma Three-Puppet Saluter Since: Jan, 2001
Three-Puppet Saluter
#24: Apr 3rd 2012 at 3:43:25 PM

Noisy Village doesn't get enough love. And I'm stunned that the Kalle Blomkvist books still haven't been translated into English.

Hail Martin Septim!
MistressofCeremonies Ringmaster of the Circus from South Florida Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
Ringmaster of the Circus
#25: Apr 3rd 2012 at 8:36:33 PM

In my personal opinion, for every dollar I contribute to Ms. Rowling's coffers, she should really be forwarding at least fifty cents thereof to Roald Dahl's estate because, had it not been for Roald Dahl laying down the foundation for my literary sensibilites, I don't know if I would nearly have been as attracted to the series as I found myself in my adolescency.

"I will flip a shit if it ends up being like anything I imagined. I will become a shit-juggler-extraordinaire, so many shits will I flip"

Total posts: 45
Top