Absolutely delicious! Something to be obsessed with in the age group between Candyland and Lord of the Rings.

The most incredible book by the author of Harriet the Spy. Attacks all prejudice and discrimination at the root.

Totally original story with the true appeal of the underdog who wins big.

This is one of the best series ever written for children. The characters are real and the illustrations are perfect!

This and its sequel, The Fred Field, are what is meant by timely, well-written children's LITERATURE. You'll love Oren and his family.

You may very well have already heard of this one, but I COULDN'T leave it out, could I?

This holds a place for every one of this author's books - it is my personal favorite, set in Pennsylvania Dutch country with a timetravel theme.

This may be my favorite of this author's, or it might be another - they're all so GOOD! Also read all of Edward Eager's books, written in frankly admiring imitation of Nesbit's style.

This book can never be replaced. It is perhaps the only "really, truly" FEMINIST novel for youngsters.

A newish addition to the mini-genre of animal characters with human intelligence - like Cricket in Times Square. The trilogy begun here chronicles the continent-spanning quest of a small bat to save his people and unravel the mysteries of their mythology.

My favorite book in my all-time favorite fictional FAMILY. I wish the Melendy family had adopted me! Set during the patriotic Forties against both city and country backgrounds.

Looking for a super-high-quality looong series of books to get into? Every one of these is good. My fave is the second - Anastasia Again! Also read this author's book Rabble Starkey.

Predates the Wayside School books - slightly twisted and very funny and touching.

This is probably my favorite of all her books, most of which I love, although there are a few I don't care for. Some of the others I really enjoy are Witch Week, Drowned Ammet, Time of the Ghost, Power of Three, and Howl's Magic Castle.

There is a whole series of these, not all of which are equally easily available, but you should be able to get most of them cheaply. The main character's next oldest brother is too clever for his own good, and gets family, friends, and the whole small Western town mixed up in his labyrinthine plots. Set some time ago, perhaps near the turn of the 20th century.

The best, and perhaps one of the very first animal-character epic stories. That is a classic is not disputed, but have you actually read it? If not, you are letting yourself down.

As mentioned above, one of the best examples in fiction of the quiet young dreamer, the one who is not very socially adept yet possesses an inner world of intensely felt imagery.

A wish-fulfillment story about a bunch of kids making it without any parents. Sweet and serious.

Another cute series - this one is almost as funny as "When the Boys..." Earth to Matthew is the third, and Make Like a Tree and Leave (which I have yet to acquire) is the second.

This is an incredible example of the diary format book. Trissy's father has moved out and given her a typewriter to write down the things that she should not say out loud. Trissy is eccentric, brilliant and very angry. An accurate picture of parental divorce. Also be SURE and read the novel "Silver" by the same author, which touches upon single parenthood and poverty, among other deep issues.