Books from the 1990s that are for young children or focus heavily on pictures.
Some of the books on this page were featured on Reading Rainbow (I have a list of others). Reading Rainbow was an educational children’s television program on PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) that encouraged young children to read. The show ran from 1983 to 2006 and was an iconic part of childhood to kids who grew up during those decades, introducing many of us to some of our favorite childhood books.
Individual Books
Amazing Grace (1991)
Grace wants the role of Peter Pan in her school play, but some of the other kids say that she can’t do it, both because she’s a girl and because she’s black. Can she prove them wrong?
Aunt Flossie’s Hats (and Crab Cakes Later) (1991)
Sarah and Susan visit Aunt Flossie on Sunday afternoons for tea and cookies (and crab cakes later) and learn the stories behind her collection of hats. By Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard.
Black and White (1990)
This picture book contains four stories which are all being told at once, but they are connected to each other, and readers are invited to spot the connections. By David Macaulay.
The Bone Keeper (1999)
An old woman who lives in a cave collects bones, arranges them into skeletons, and restores them to life. Based on a Mexican folktale. By Megan McDonald, paintings by G. Brian Karas.
Brother Eagle, Sister Sky (1991)
A speech by an American Indian chief in the mid-1850s explains the importance of nature and respecting the environment.
Christmas Trolls (1993)
Some mischievous trolls steal a family’s Christmas decorations until young Treva teaches them how to celebrate Christmas themselves. By Jan Brett.
Dancing with the Indians (1991)
An African American family in the 1930s joins the Seminole tribe in Oklahoma for a celebration. By Angela Shelf Medearis.
The Dragons Are Singing Tonight (1993)
A picture book of poems about dragons. By Jack Prelutsky.
The Fourth Question (1991)
A young man wants to ask the Wise Man why he is so poor, but it is only in asking questions that help others that he finds the solution to his problem. A Chinese folktale, retold by Rosalind C. Wang, illustrated by Ju-Hong Chen.
The Girl Who Loved Caterpillars (1992)
Izumi is an unusual girl at the court of Medieval Japan because of her love of the creeping creatures in the natural world. Adapted by Jean Merrill, illustrated by Floyd Cooper.
Grandfather’s Journey (1993)
A young man from Japan travels to the United States during the early 1900s, and the experience changes him and his family forever. By Allen Say.
The Great Kapok Tree (1990)
A man who is about to help cut down trees in a rain forest is confronted by the animals who live there, warning what will happen if he doesn’t stop. By Lynne Cherry.
Harlequin and the Green Dress (1994)
Harlequin steals Rosaura’s dress so that Columbine can go to the costume ball, but chaos ensues when various schemes collide. By Laura Fischetto, illustrated by Letizia Galli,.
Josephine’s Toy Shop (1991)
Josephine the Cat lives in a toy shop that bears her name. The toy shop is full of all kinds of wonderful toys, but Josephine’s favorite toy is Toy Mouse. There is also a real mouse in the shop, and Josephine is looking for it.
The Kissing Hand (1993)
By Audrey Penn.
The Log Cabin Quilt (1996)
Elvirey and her family are homesteading in a log cabin they built themselves, but it isn’t until winter, when they have to find a way to make the cabin warmer, that it really begins to feel like home. By Ellen Howard, illustrated by Ronald Himler.
Ma Dear’s Aprons (1997)
Little David knows the day of the week and what tasks his mother will do based on which apron she wears that day. However, the best day of all is the one where she doesn’t wear an apron and can spend time with him. By Patricia C. McKissack, illustrated by Floyd Cooper.
Mailing May (1997)
A young girl in 1914 wants to go visit her grandmother, but her family can’t afford the train ticket . . . until they realize that they can afford for her to travel as mail. Based on a true story. By Michael O. Tunnell.
Maria’s Comet (1999)
Young Maria Mitchell discovers her love of the night sky through her family and later becomes an astronomer. Based on a real person. By Deborah Hopkinson.
Monster Slayer (1991)
Navajo hero twins defeat a monster, giving one of them a new name.
Mrs. Armitage and the Big Wave (1997)
Mrs. Armitage wants to go surfing, but it isn’t easy waiting for the Big Wave.
Mrs. Gigglebelly is Coming for Tea (1990)
Elizabeth Ann knows that Mrs. Gigglebelly will join her for tea because she always has time for her in a game of pretend between mother and daughter. By Donna Guthrie, illustrated by Katy Keck Arnsteen.
One Stormy Night (1993)
An elderly man and woman have trouble sleeping because of the noises from a storm. By Joy Cowley.
Owl Babies (1992)
Three baby owls worry that their mother will not come back home when she goes out to get food, but she comes back.
Papa Gatto (1995)
Papa Gatto, a wise cat in a fairy tale Italy, needs help to care for his young kittens. When he finds a worthy girl who gives the kittens the love and care they need, he rewards her well, saving her from her wicked stepmother and spoiled stepsister.
Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland (1992)
The life and legends of St. Patrick. By Tomie dePaola.
Picking Peas for a Penny (1990)
African American children during the 1930s help their grandparents harvest crops on their family farm. By Angela Shelf Medearis.
The Rag Coat (1991)
A girl’s rag coat helps her to make new friends as the other children realize that her coat contains their stories. By Lauren Mills.
Roxaboxen (1991)
A group of children create a town of their own in the Arizona desert, using whatever they can find and their own imaginations. By Alice McLerran.
Rapunzel (1997)
A retelling of a classic fairy tale, a girl with long hair is kept hidden in a tower until a prince finds her. By Paul O. Zelinsky.
Something Good (1990)
Tyya wants her father to buy “something good” at the grocery store, but what will he do when Tyya herself is mistaken for a store product? By Robert Munsch.
Somewhere in Africa (1990)
A boy in South Africa enjoys his favorite library book and thinks about how different life is in the city from the countryside. By Ingrid Mennen and Niki Daly, illustrated by Nicolaas Maritz.
Somewhere in the World Right Now (1995)
A children’s picture book showing what people and animals around the world are doing at the same time in different time zones. By Stacey Schuett.
Stellaluna (1993)
A baby fruit bat who is separated from her mother is raised by a mother bird until she is old enough to learn how to be a bat.
The Stinky Cheese Man (1992)
A collection of very short stories parodying popular folk tales and fairy tales.
The Story of Ruby Bridges (1995)
Based on the real life experiences of Ruby Bridges, one of the first black children to attend desegregated schools in New Orleans. By Robert Coles.
Ten Little Rabbits (1991)
Children’s picture book with a counting rhyme based on ten little rabbits in the dress of Native Americans.
Thank You, Mr. Falker (1998)
Young Trisha has serious trouble learning to read until she meets a teacher, Mr. Falker, who understands and helps her. By Patricia Polacco.
This House is Made of Mud (1991, 1994)
A poetical book about an adobe house in the Southwestern United States.
Thunder Cake (1990)
A girl talks about how her grandmother, who she likes to call “Babushka” because she originally came from Russia, cured her of her fear of storms by teaching her to make a special kind of cake, Thunder Cake. By Patricia Polacco.
The True Tale of Johnny Appleseed (1997)
Johnny Appleseed, a figure from American folklore, journeys westward to plant apple trees.
The Twelve Dancing Princesses (1990)
Twelve princesses’ shoes are mysteriously worn through every morning even though they are locked in their room every night. Retold and illustrated by Ruth Sanderson.
The Unbreakable Code (1996)
When John’s mother remarries, and he learns that he has to move, John’s grandfather tells him about his time as a code talker during World War II and gives him a sense of identity that he can carry with him to his new home.
When Aunt Lena Did the Rhumba (1997)
When Sophie’s Aunt Lena sprains her ankle and can’t go to her usual matinee musical performance, the rest of the family entertains her to cheer her up. By Eileen Kurtis-Kleinman, illustrated by Diane Greenseid.
Series
The adventures of Arthur the aardvark and this family and friends. By Marc Brown. 1976-2011.
A family of bears teaches children life lessons. By Stan and Jan Berenstain. 1962-Present.
Clifford is a giant red dog who has adventures with his owner, a girl named Emily Elizabeth. 1963-2015.
A teddy bear finds the right owner for him and has adventures with toy friends. 1968-2011.
Maggie, her grandmother, and Mr. Whiskers the sailor have adventures in the small town of Cranberryport. By Wende and Harry Devlin. 1971-1995.
Little Witch is a young witch in a family of witches. She is sometimes nicer than her family wishes that she would be and has adventures with her human children friends. By Deborah Hautzig. 1984-2004.
The adventures of a little girl who lives in a boarding school in Paris. 1939-2013.
An educational series. Ms. Frizzle takes her students on impossible field trips in a magic school bus to teach them science lessons. 1986-Present.
A young bear loves the moon, but he is easily confused by natural phenomena. 1978-2014.
This is a loose series of picture books about young mice who experience life, growing up, and school, much like young human children. 1986-2013.
The characters of Misterland use their distinctive personality traits to teach moral lessons. Created by Roger Hargreaves and continued by Adam Hargreaves. 1971-Present.
Stuffed animal friends have adventures together and teach children lessons. By Jane Hissey. 1986-2016.
The Sherlock Street Detectives are a group of neighborhood friends who live on Sherlock Street and like to solve mysteries. The stories are educational, and the kids use basic scientific concepts to solve their mysteries. By Mary Blount Christian. 1989-1991.
Spot is a puppy who has fun and adventures with his parents and animal friends. 1980-2013.
Strega Nona is a witch in a small town. Big Anthony is an assistant that she hired to help her with chores but sometimes messes up because he doesn’t know what he’s doing or doesn’t listen to what Strega Nona says. 1975-2013.
Jestress's Forgotten Books and Stories 