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50 Childhood Favourites: Picture Books from the 80s and 90s

When I first published my 50 Classic Picture Books and 20 Classic Chapter Books to Read Aloud With 5-8 Year Olds book lists (both of which feature books published prior to the 1980s) I had many people comment to me that there are also many fabulous titles that were published in the 80s and 90s. Of course they were right. Some of my all time favourite picture books fall into that category. In fact I LOVE pretty much every single book on today’s list! I hope that you’ll find some favourites on this list too! How many of these 50 Childhood Favourites from the 80s and 90s have you read?

50 Childhood Classics: Picture Books from the 80s and 90s

1. The Jolly Postman by Janet & Allen Ahlberg First published 1986

2. Duck in the Truck by Jez Alborough First published 1999

3. Where’s My Teddy? by Jez Alborough First published 1992

4. Who Sank the Boat? by Pamela Allen First published 1996

5. Rumble in the Jungle by Giles Andreae First published 1996

6. Animalia by Graeme Base First published 1986

7. The Eleventh Hour: A Curious Mystery by Graema Base First published in 1989

8. Mr Magnolia by Quentin Blake First published 1980

9. Franklin in the Dark by Paulette Bourgeois First published 1986

10. But Not the Hippopotamus by Sandra Boynton First published 1982

11. The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton 1982

12. Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell First published 1982

13. The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle First published 1984

14. The Magic School Bus At the Waterworks by Joanna Cole First published 1985

15. Maisy’s Bedtime by Lucy Cousins First published 1999

16. Jamberry by Bruce Degan First published 1995

17. Hairy Maclary From Donaldson’s Dairy by Lynley Dodd First published 1983

18. Slinky Malinki by Lynley Dodd First published 1998

19. Go Away, Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley First published 1992

20. Koala Lou by Mem Fox First published 1984

50 Childhood Classics: Picture Books from the 80s and 90s

21. Hattie and the Fox by Mem Fox First published 1986

22. Possum Magic by Mem Fox First published 1991

23. The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash by Trinka Hakes Noble First published 1992

24. Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill First published 1980

25. Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes First published 1996

Continue scrolling to see the rest of our Classic Picture Books from the 80s and 90s

26. The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins First published 1995

27. The Wind Blew by Pat Hutchins First published 1986

28. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff First published 1985

29. Edwina The Emu by Sheena Knowles First published 1997

30. Edward the Emu by Sheena Knowles First published 1998

31. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jnr First published 1989

32. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney First published 1994

33. I Love You Stinky Face by Lisa Mccourt First published 1997

34. Stephanie’s Pinytail by Robert Munsch First published 1992

35. The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch First published 1992

36. Love You Forever by Robert Munsch First published 1995

37. Peace at Last by Jill Murphy First published 1980

38. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn First published 1993

39. The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister First published 1999

50 Classic Picture Books from the 80s and 90s

40. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen First published 1989

41. How Much is a Million? by David M. Schwartz First published 1985

42. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka First published 1989

43. Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh First published 1989

44. Can’t You Sleep Little Bear? by Martin Waddell First published 1987

45. Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell First published 1991

46. Bunny Cakes by Rosemary Wells First published 1997

47. I Went Walking by Sue Williams First published 1989

48. The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don Wood First published 1984

49. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg First published 1985

50. Owl Moon by Jane Yolen First published 1987

Each title is linked to an Amazon page where you can find reviews and age recommendations for those titles you are not  personally familiar with. I hope this list re-connects you with a story or two that you had forgotten all about and that you will take pleasure in re-visiting with the children in your life!

So tell me, how many of the books on this list have you read? Are there any you would add to my list?

Christie Burnett is a teacher, presenter, writer and the mother of two. She created Childhood 101 as a place for teachers and parents to access engaging, high quality learning ideas.

Read the comments or scroll down to add your own:

  1. Candice says

    Hello, This is incredibly far fetched, but I am not having much luck, I am searching for a children's picture book. It is a book that means a lot to a friend of mine. I don't have the title, so it is finding itself incredibly difficult to locate. Do you know of any sites or sources that would be helpful in locating a book where I have some plot history, but no author or title? The book is a green hard cover, I think the name of the book is the name of the main character. The story is about a boy who is raised by bears, in one scene he is living weights with the bears, I think it takes place in a sort of industrial time. The reading level is probably around 6 or 7? Thank you, Candice

    • Sandy Johnson says

      Abebooks has a book search forum, I have found books through those wonderful people that I have looked for for over 60 years. I have also told them 8 seconds of a movie my son wanted and in short order I knew the name and where to buy it. These people are all over the world and book freaks who are totally brilliant. If it can be found, they will find it for you. Good Luck, Grandmajia

    • Kathryn says

      "James used to be my friend. But today he is my enemy." from Janice May Udry's book, illustrated by Maurice Sendak, "Let's Be Enemies" Could this be what you are looking for? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHEhfeDDA0g

  5. Julie Smith says

    Can anyone remember these two books: One about kittens that come to life at night that in the day ,I've on a pussy willow Tree? One about a boy with rabbit (?) called Pacca. He sleeps in the flower bed by the greenhouse when he feels unloved. I've looked everywhere. Both were published in the 1990's. Thanks. Julie

  6. Cherie Smetana says

    Looking for a toddler book talking about animal tails that I read to my kids. I believe last page says "hey, I don't have a tail!" Does anyone know the name of this book? It's not "Tails"

    • Cecilia says

      Cherie- it is called A Tale of Tails. I loved it as a kid and my kids loved it too. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Tale-Tails-Little-Golden-Book/dp/0385378637

      • Cherie says

        This isnt the book but thank you. I believe the book i’m talking about was a flip book too, dont think it was a Golden Book. Still searching...

  7. Natalee says

    Hello there! I'm looking for a children's book about a dog who, after getting groomed, starts to put on airs. The dog starts to ignore her owner - she won't sit with him, she won't play with him. She becomes quite naughty. She then invites all of the neighbourhood dogs to party at her house. There was such a ruckus that the police are called and the pound paddy wagon comes and collects all of the dogs, even "naughty dog". Eventually her human comes to 'bail' her out of the pound. After that she stops taking her human for granted. Sorry for recanting pretty much the entire story! Any ideas?

  8. Hayley says

    Hello, I am looking for a book that my mum used to read to me when I was a child, in the 90s. She is desperate to find it! The story was about yawning and on almost every page said 'and he gave out a great big yawn'. It made us yawn the whole way through the book until we fell asleep. Any help in finding the name/author of this book would be greatly appreciated.

    • Risa says

      After I commented I realized that you said it was from the 90's...the only book I can find with yawning around that time is Barney Saltzberg's book from 1985 "The Yawn." I wish you luck!

  9. Karen Vizzoca says

    Do you know an adventure series where you have to identify types of trees as part of an overall mission?

  10. Mackenzie says

    Looking for a book about a cat that I believe is looking for a "better house" and walk around the neighborhood. He passes a house with a bunch of fish and a few other nice homes. Finally he comes to his own house and decides it is best.

  11. Jen Frank says

    Can anyone help me find a picture book my daughter loved (mid 90s) about a boy who goes to a restaurant with his parents and everyone is a monster / vampire? but he is the only one who can see them. Thanks

  12. Zahara says

    Hi there! Looking for an old children's book about a lady with a blue hat and flowers on it. She went to the market and it also includes a child. Sorry, can't remember much of it now, besides that.

  13. Laura-Jane says

    Great list! I'm hoping someone here might be able to help, I'm trying to remember a book from the late 80s/early 90s which had a teddy and a toy duck (I think) who were in a toy shop and broken, a little girl would come in and not pick them so they went on a mission in the snow to be fixed and then they were adopted?

  14. Amy Rodriguez says

    I'm looking for a book that had many short stories. One that I can kind of remember was about a little girl who went to visit her grandmother. I think the book had a chicken on it. I dont remember really

  15. Ines says

    Searching for a children's book in the early 80s about a young girl who is tasked by her mother to get a few items, so she decides in order to remember to tie a red string to her finger. I can't remember the title of this book & I would love to get it for my daughter.

  16. Di Dell says

    I remember with pleasure these books: The Story about Ping by Marjorie Flack, Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel and Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag. Millions of Cats is the oldest American picture book still in print!

  17. Jessie Elliott says

    Im looking for a book my mom read to me all the time i thought it was called goodnight moon but thats not it. It wad a mom and her daughter and a moon and doing activities before bed i think there were pancakes involved and pigs i could be wrong but the moon was a big part of it. I am dying to find the name, i had the book my original and it seems to be gone. Any answers would be helpful thank you!

  18. Nathan says

    I'm looking for the nonfiction children's science book that came out in the 80's all I can remember is the cover art....kind of lol. I seem to remember the illustrations looked almost like kid house rock but not quite. Can anybody help me?m

  19. Theresa Ho says

    We have been trying to find a picture book from his childhood. It's probably from the 80s and is about a boy who has to remember a shopping list for his grandma but along the way lost of things happen (i.e. a burglary) and he changes the list to remember it wrongly.

  20. Priscilla says

    I am looking for a picture book with a mauIn character of a young snake that keeps having hissy fits . I read it to my preschool kids between 1996 and 2000

  21. Robyn says

    I'm looking for a book, it's about a little girl hiding from her mom in different areas of the house, and her mom keeps getting more angry with her, she cries at one point, but you never actually see the little girl, she is is just eyes in the book. I think it might be about going to bed.

  22. Katie says

    Hi hope you can help. I’m trying to find a book about two pigs that dress up as a knight and a princess and the knight pig tries to slay a dragon that turns out to be a pile of rubbish and the princess pig saves him? I loved it as a child and would love to read it to my little one.

  23. Molly Tominack says

    I'm looking for a children's book about a kitten whose mother has to leave to shopping. The babysitter is a wise older lady cat who keeps him entertained until his mother returns.

  24. Michael B says

    I'm a kindergarten teacher. Not that this matters in my question but I'm looking for a book that had a Japanese theme, it was a story about a warrior who is sent a quest or something and he encounters elements like fire, ice, water, earth, lighting, sun. Something like this... I don't remember the the title of the book or the plot for that matter. I could be totally off base but I remember reading this book around 1992-1995 when I was in grade school. The book is definitely a picture book the colors used om certain pages were dark and color specific to the elements previously mentioned. I this maybe a long shot but maybe someone out there might have an idea of what I am taking about. I want to say the character was samurai or shogun. Any help?

  25. Sue says

    Hello I'm hoping someone can help. I'm looking for a book I used to read to my children in the late 1980s/early 1990s and think it was called 'Doodletown Zoo' and featured animals with names like 'Joe Kangraoodle'. It was a part story, part rhyming and part tongue twister. I have been searching for this book high and low but cannot find anywhere that sells it (wish I hadn't got rid of the copy we had now). Does anyone know where I can purchase another copy, who published it or the author? I am hoping that someone out there knows what book I am referring to or can help me. Many thanks in anticipation.

  26. Katie S. says

    It's a long shot but maybe someone will know it here. I used to read this book in the late 80s/maybe early 90s when I was a kid. It was about a little girl who did not want to go to bed, because she felt like she was going to miss something... I'm pretty sure that was a line in the book. Her mom, dad, older brother and sister got to stay up and were downstairs. Then she drifted into dreamland, the illustrations were beautiful, pretty sure it was watercolor. This has been racking my brain for at least a decade trying to remember the title of this book. Now I'm a mother myself and would love to read this book to my son - any help would be appreciated, thank you!

  27. Del Hutton says

    I am looking for a book from the 80's maybe from New Zealand. I read this to my girls. From memory it was called Alfie and the Dark. It was about a little boy who talked to the Dark when he went to bed. The dark was a friendy character who also talked teliing the boy about where he went when the light came. i would love to find it again for my grandchildren.

    • Mia says

      It is called Alfi and the Dark. You can still purchase it on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Alfi-Dark-S-Miles/dp/0877015279

  28. Brenda Persaud says

    I am looking for a book that I used to read to my children late 80s- 90s. It had a plastic dial on the cover , which I think was blue and it was about pigs. It was possible to use the dial as if you were calling someone- it may have had a ring too. I can't remember exactly. I would like to buy it for my grandson.

  29. Shannon says

    I am looking for a book that when you scrolled it would scroll black and white or color, depending on if you put your fingers from the top, bottom or middle of the outside of the books pages.

  30. Dan Clarke says

    Hi there, I see that a few posts here go unanswered (I known it would hard to address them all) but I will try anyway. One of my hobbies is trying to track down my old classroom books (1980s/1990s - Australia) for my kids. I have managed to find some! I remember a short-story picture book which basically revolved around a boy at school. I remember the illustrations being very "new-age" and had what I can only describe as a "graffiti-hip-hop" style of illustration. I can't remember the plot entirely but it focuses on the boy trying to perform a magic trick where a school tie is cut up and placed in a brown paper-bag and then the tie is meant to be pulled out intact. I think - the boy decides he can't master the trick and decides to just do an act at the school talent quest where the trick doesn't work - as a comedy act. But a member of the crowd pushes-in in place of the planned volunteer and expects the trick to work, along with the rest of the audience. Miraculously, the tie comes out of the bag whole! Is it ringing any bells for anyone? Much thanks

  31. Melt1 says

    Hello everyone The book I'm searching for (it's haunting me really) is from the 70's-80's and is about a dragon (remember the dragon as being fierce, black and "chinese" looking with long red tendrils) that wants to eat some humans, but instead they befriend it by making a huge cake..! -Does anybody have a clue..?

  32. Juli anne says

    Hey I’m looking for an old potty training book. Sometime between early 90s and 2000s. It had a soft cover with a little girl on it sitting on a toilet. She had black hair bob with bangs. No shirt. The book was small in size. Every page was about why this animal can’t use toilets. Ex: “Elephants cant use the toilet cause they would crush it, Goats can’t use the toilet cause they would eat all the toilet paper, snakes can’t use the toilet cause they would curl up inside of it”. The end of the book is the little girl sitting on the toilet and it reads something like “ toilets are made for little girls like you”.

  33. Casey Best says

    I am looking for a book that had a bunch of animal songs in it. It had a cassette tape to with all the songs. There was one with an elephant Stomp and the last song and Pages were the owl. Does anyone have any idea what that book would be called or who wrote it?

  34. Andy smale says

    I'm trying to track down a book from the late 70s onwards.it was a child's picture reading book.not a long book.it was basically about a boy who see's a hand puppet fox in a shop.the boy buys the fox and at nightime under moonlight the fox would come alive and enjoy having legs.i believe it was called Peter and the magic fox but could be wrong.on the front cover were woods.ivy.brick wall.snakes.the fox.the cover also continued on the back as one.

  35. Nancy Puleo says

    Hello, Anyone remember a book about a boy who makes a wish for ice cream and the Machine keeps making it and making it and he can't make it stop?

  36. Jen says

    Just wondering if anyone knows of a children's book (or books) of bedtime stories. It's not 365 Bedtime Stories. I don't know if it was strictly local in BC, Canada, or if it came from elsewhere. It was maybe between '88 and 92 that I received them as Christmas gifts. The book itself was white on the outside, with a thick dark pink/purple border. The title I believe was in thick black letters. One had a story about a toy elephant getting a howdah for the first time. His name was Rajah I believe, and all of the toys came to life at night. They were all excited when Rajah got his howdah. He had to escort a fairy queen/king/princess (one of them) one day because she didn't have a ride, and he was pleased to be able to do it. She gave him a special jewel or something like it that made him feel special after, and all the other toys wanted to ride too. Another story (maybe in this book) was about a monkey named Mitsy/Misty I think, or Mischief. She likes playing tricks on all of the toys. One day they notice all of their valuables going missing, and because she's a trickster, they blame her for her. (or him, but I think it was a her) She keeps swearing she didn't take it, but because they know she likes to play tricks, they keep blaming her. She is banished from playing with them, and feels alone. She's sitting up by the window one day and she looks out and sees a crows nest (or ravens) and sees something shiny, that's when she realizes that all of their treasures are there. Another book was sort of a blue-ish color, the cover was a hardcover, and fairly big. It had a story of the musicians from Bremen at the end of the book. That's the clearest detail. The cover itself looked almost hand drawn, like pencil crayon scribbles. In this book (or one from the same publisher) there was a story of a girl, similar to Cinderella. The faces were almost illustrated like the "Precious memories" children. More bold colors though. She was treated badly by her step-mother and step-sister. One day she was sent out to make bread in an old style outdoor brick oven. She was being punished for something, and the step-mother made her hang the laundry out to dry but it was raining. Because it wouldn't dry, she was punished again. I don't remember how, but she was outside and wishing that something nice would fall from the sky instead of rain. Because she was such a good girl all the time, and didn't complain about how she was treated, it started raining gold coins. The step-sister watched from the side, and went out after the Cinderella girl left, and wished for something nice to fall on her too. Instead of coins, treacle, or chocolate fell on her, and ruined her hair and clothes. Possibly from this same book there was a story of a hair dresser who came across three scraggly looking animals. She gave them makeovers. She curled their hair, and I think the bunny was worried that she'd cut his ear, but she calmed him down and promised that she wouldn't hurt him. They felt so nice after that they felt bad when they were dressed and styled so pretty, but she looked like a mess. So they gave her a makeover, and she ended up going on a date because of them. (again, possibly from this book) There was a story of a man who was having a really bad day. He was driving a large keg wagon of some sort when he hit a ditch or something, and the wooden wheel broke, leaving him stranded in the middle of nowhere. He didn't have a spare to fix it, and wished that he could at least take a drink of the ale/wine, (sounds so inappropriate for a children's book) or whatever it was he had in his large keg. Cider maybe? A fairy came and fixed his wheel for him, and gave him a really beautiful flower that she turned into a glass. The art for it was beautiful, she had really pretty eyes, and he was in love with her. It was like a fairy glass, or a maiden's glass, maiden's tea-cup, I don't exactly remember the title of the story. I know one of these books had sort of an orange sunset cover over the whole book, and the other had a blue-ish cover. They came out possibly around the same time as the Rose Petal Place stories. I'd gotten them all for that same Christmas, I was between 6 and 10 at the time, and would really love to have them again, or at least see them for nostalgia's sake. Thanks in advance if anyone can help.

  37. Alanna says

    Hello, my sister and I and trying to remember the name of a book we read when we were growing up in the 90's.Neither of us can remember the name or many details of the book. It was based in Japan and there was a little girl drawing pictures with chalk, something about drawing train tracks.... I know it's probably a long shot but any help is much appreciated :) Thanks!

  38. lynn says

    Hi My niece now aged 26 is looking for a childhood book about a little girl who moves house with her family. She put butter on her cats paws to make him stay put. cant remember the name of the book. she thinks it was part of a series

  39. K Saunders says

    Hi, I’m looking a book from the 80s about a Mum who would like help around the house but her family is too busy... the Dad is watching tv, the son is doing his hair the daughter is making doll clothes, the last time she asks them to help her pick apples from the tree in the garden and they help her make a pie and sit down as a family to eat it. Brightly illustrated can’t remember author or title, Thank you

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