August 9 is National Book Lovers Day! We’re celebrating by reading the lesser known books by some of our favorite children’s authors. While you might not find The Giving Tree or Where the Wild Things Are on this list, you’ll still find some treasures by these beloved authors. So grab a cup of tea (iced—it’s summer, after all) and gather your little learners around to celebrate all things book-related.
Outside Over There
By Maurice Sendak
Replete with Sendak’s signature captivatingly eerie style, Outside Over There tells the story of a brave girl who must track down her baby sister who has been stolen by goblins and return her to their mother.
By John Burningham
One of the more underrecognized British children’s authors, John Birmingham, penned and illustrated Would You Rather?, which gives children the support to make important life decisions such as would you rather have supper in a castle, breakfast in a balloon, or tea on the river?
There’s a Nightmare in My Closet
By Mercer Mayer
While Mayer’s beloved character Little Critter is nowhere to be found in this book, it does provide children with a way to acknowledge fear of the unknown in the form of creatively imagined monsters.
If I Ran the Zoo
By Dr. Seuss
The Cat in the Hat is a staple for any child first learning to read, but If I Ran the Zoo is an equally essential what-if tale that finds a patron of the zoo plotting to free the animals and replace them with more exotic and Seuss-esque creatures.
Ellen Tebbits
By Beverly Cleary
Sometimes overshadowed by the pint-size powerhouse that is Ramona (Cleary’s most popular character), Ellen Tebbits tells the story of a friendship and a secret between Ellen and Austine as they navigate the politics of ballet class and more.
To build young authors in your own classroom, check out our Building Writers student editions for grades K–5 that provide supplemental writing practice on varied writing styles including narrative, information, and opinion writing.