Check out some of the most popular, best-selling children’s picture book authors of all time!
We couldn’t possibly cover all of the most talented, beloved children’s picture book authors in one list, so we’ve rounded up just a few to help you pick the best for your kid. From familiar classics to current faves, learn more about some of the greatest children’s picture book authors and their most popular works, loved by generations of kids below!
Top Children’s Picture Book Authors on Epic
Arnold Lobel
Among one of the most prolific and beloved American writers and illustrators of the 20th century, Lobel loved his work, once saying: “I cannot think of any work that could be more agreeable and fun than making books for children.” Many of us remember his heartwarming stories from our own childhoods, mostly revolving around animals and their misadventures. He was one of the few people to receive Caldecott and Newbery medals as both an author and illustrator of over a hundred works. You can find several of his books on Epic to share with your young children, including “Frog and Toad Are Friends” and “What Will Bear Do?”
Drew Daywalt
Drew Daywalt had an established career in children’s media way before he began writing children’s books. He started out as a writer for Disney and Universal Studios before publishing his first book: the outrageously popular, “The Day the Crayons Quit.” The book was a huge success, spending an entire year on the New York Times Bestseller List’s top spot before turning into the Crayons book series. He continues to write for film, TV and children’s books to this day.
Doreen Cronin
Doreen Cronin worked as a lawyer before becoming a full-time children’s book author. Known for her clever animal characters and hilarious plots satirizing modern politics, she’s won numerous awards, including a Caldecott Medal in 2000. She now has over 60 books, and we’re excited to see what comes next! In the meantime, you can keep your young reader laughing for over an hour on Epic animated and audio versions of her books, including the popular “Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type,” “Giggle, Giggle, Quack,” “Boom Snot Twitty” and more.
Dr. Seuss
Theodor Seuss Geisel, known by his pen name Dr. Seuss, is a renowned author and illustrator beloved by several generations since his first published book in 1937. His works, including “The Cat in the Hat,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and many others, are often written in rhymes, making them a joy to read aloud. They also tend to include life lessons that can be appreciated by children and grownups alike. He also had a profound respect for kids, saying: “I don’t write for children, I write for people. Once a writer starts talking down to kids, he’s lost.” If your kid want to learn more about this literary great, we have several books about him on Epic, including “Dr. Seuss” from the popular Blast off! Readers series.
Eric Carle
If you’ve encountered a fictional caterpillar who ate their way through apples, pears, strawberries, and the like, you (like many of us) have likely read Eric Carle’s most famous book, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” It is one of the most well-known children’s books in recent history, selling over 50 million copies. Before writing his own books, Eric Carle was a graphic designer and illustrator. Many of his board books have interactive elements, which contribute to the playfulness of his work. Some of his best books like “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” and its counterpart “Polar Bear, Polar Bear What Do You See” are available as Read-To-Me books on Epic, as well as animated videos like “A House for Hermit Crab.”

Ezra Jack Keats
Ezra Jack Keats changed children’s literature with his 1962 Caldecott Medal-winning “The Snowy Day.” As a Jewish man who struggled with anti-semitism and poverty, he was passionate about wanting kids to see themselves in their books because he wanted no child to be an outsider. These experiences gave him the perspective to relate with other marginalized groups, and he became known for being one of the first children’s authors to feature multiracial kids as main characters. You can find animated versions of his works on Epic, including “The Snowy Day” and “Peter’s Chair.” We have several audiobooks as well.
Jerry Pinkney
Jerry Pinkney’s vibrant watercolors have accompanied many books throughout his 50-year career. Not only was he a talented illustrator, he was also an accomplished author. The books he worked on were frequently imbued with Black culture and characters. Most of his characters had brown or black skin, and many of his stories were reinterpretations of classic tales. His unique takes made “old” stories new for kids of all ages. Two of his most famous works were “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi,” and “Noah’s Ark.” You can listen along to the audio versions on Epic. You can also find his picture book account of the making of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I have a dream” speech, “A Place to Land” on our platform.
Karma Wilson
Much of Karma Wilson’s work is know for its rhythmic humor and celebration of life’s own rhythms. She’s best known for her Bear series, which now consists of over a dozen titles. Wilson has already published over 40 books with more to come. She currently has a young adult novel in the works. Aside from writing, Karma is also a passionate educator. She loves conducting talks in schools where she teaches writing fundamentals and shares her process. You can find audiobook versions of her two most famous books on Epic: “Bear Snores On” and “Bear Wants More.”
Lewis Carroll
Lewis Carroll, is best known for the classic “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” about a little girl falls down a rabbit hole and into a fantasy world. The eldest of 11 siblings, Lewis loved to entertain his family through poems and shows. This appreciation for poetry influenced his work as well, and many of his works were full of wordplay, rhyming and fantasy. In addition to being a writer of children’s books, Carroll was also a mathematician and a lecturer at Christ Church in Oxford. After 150 years, the illustrated chapter book is now a renowned children’s classic that remains in print today. You can read “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” its sequel “Through the Looking Glass” and several variations on Epic.
Mo Willems
Having worked as a writer and award-winning animator for the show Sesame Street, acclaimed writer, illustrator and animator Mo Willems is no stranger to children’s media, Throughout his career, he’s worked on over 50 books, including his most popular: “Don’t Let the Pidgeon Drive the Bus!” His picture books have a recurring cast of lovable characters, including The Pigeon and best friends Elephant and Piggie. Known for their interactive style and hilarious lessons they impart, several of his books have been turned into animated shorts or adapted for the stage. You can read all about him on Epic in “Mo Willems” from Britannica Beginner Bios.
Maurice Sendak
Maurice Sendak was an American author and illustrator who worked on over 150 books during his career. His book “Where the Wild Things Are” about the misadventures of a little boy who’s transported to a mysterious isle of monsters, is still, ahem, wildly popular to this day. Sendak also pursued a second career in costume and stage design. He worked on several operas and plays later in his career, including Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker and Mozart’s The Magic Flute. You can find an animated version of his acclaimed picture book “Where the Wild Things Are” on Epic.
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl remains, after decades, one of the most well-known storytellers of all time. His books have been a mainstay of children’s literature since the 1961 publication of “James and the Giant Peach.” His books are often macabre and darkly comedic, which seem to spring from an eventful life—he lost his father and sister at a young age and he and five siblings were left to be raised by their mother. Despite this, there is an underlying warmth and kind-heartedness in his funny stories. Other familiar favorites of his include “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and ”Matilda.” You can read all about him in this book on Roald Dahl on Epic.
Philip C. Stead
Philip C. Stead is an American children’s book author and illustrator, most famous for “A Sick Day for Amos McGee,” which has won multiple awards, including the Caldecott Medal. It was also named New York Times Best Illustrated Book and Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book of 2010. Many of his books feature the adventures of animals and their human friends, which are all full of humor and wonder. They’re often illustrated by his very talented wife Erin. Watch these adorable animated versions here on Epic: “A Sick Day For Amos McGee” and “Bear Has A Story To Tell.”
Sandra Boynton
Sandra Boynton is an artist with many talents. In addition to being a children’s book author, she’s also an illustrator, greeting card designer, songwriter, music producer and director. Her books are known for their quirky sense of humor in both her storytelling and illustrations. She’s written and illustrated over 60 children’s books, plus written and produced six children’s albums, and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. Some of her best-known works are “Happy Birthday, Little Pookie,” “Moo Baa La La La” and “The Going to Bed Book,” all of which you can find on Amazon.
That’s our list of famous children’s picture book authors! Want to find more great books that kids of all ages can enjoy? Check out our posts: “Our Favorite Classic Children’s Picture Books” and “Best-Selling Picture Books of All Time.”