HarperCollins Children’s Books Marks 100 Years with 100 Influential Titles

HarperCollins Children’s Books celebrates its 2026 centenary with 100 influential titles, honouring a century of children’s classics, bestselling authors and award-winning literature.
on Oct 21, 2026

HarperCollins Children’s Books Marks 100 Year Anniversary With 100 Significant Titles

As HarperCollins Children’s Books celebrates the 100-year anniversary of its children’s book division, it has compiled a list of 100 books that highlight their legacy in the field of children’s and young adult literature. Since its founding in 1926, HarperCollins Children’s Books has been publishing stories that have defined generations of young readers’ literary experience.

Some of the most significant titles published by HarperCollins include classic children’s stories and popular young adult fiction. Some of their bestsellers include “Charlotte’s Web” by E. B. White, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” by C. S. Lewis, and “Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown.

Children's Publishing Over the Centuries

For more than a century, HarperCollins has been publishing children's books, but it formed the Department of Books for Boys and Girls in 1926 through Virginia Kirkus.

In the following years, the editors played significant roles in introducing the works of talented authors and illustrators to people. For instance, Louise Raymond promoted Margaret Wise Brown who was responsible for such titles as The Runaway Bunny and Goodnight Moon. In the future, editor Ursula Nordstrom gave her support to famous authors such as Maurice Sendak, Shel Silverstein, E. B. White, Arnold Lobel, and Ruth Krauss.

Such works contributed to a collection of titles that includes picture books, middle-grade and young adult novels.

Children’s Classics and Bestsellers for Young Adults

The list of publications contains books that have left their mark on readers of all ages and generations. Apart from timeless classics, the collection of the publisher comprises modern books, such as Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Giver by Lois Lowry, and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.

Among other popular books are Curious George by H. A. and Margret Rey, The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, and Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle.

As stated by HarperCollins, there are over 750 bestsellers published by the publisher's children’s books department. Altogether, the authors and the books of the publisher have won over 1,300 literary awards, including 27 Caldecott Medals, 37 Newbery Medals, and 11 National Book Awards.

Moving Further from Traditional Publishing

HarperCollins Children’s Books has expanded itself over time through the addition of new acquisitions, imprints and partnerships which has enabled it to offer an array of authors and genres.

Some of the existing imprints under HarperCollins include Clarion Books, Greenwillow Books, Heartdrum, Quill Tree Books, Versify and Walden Pond Press. These imprints offer an array of stories that appeal to various readers ranging from illustrated titles to contemporary fiction.

In recent times, HarperCollins has moved further from traditional publishing by adding screen and digital entertainment through HarperCollins Productions.

Constructing the Next Generation of Children's Literature

According to Liate Stehlik, President and Publisher of HarperCollins Children’s Books, the centennial marks a celebration of the division’s history as well as its duty in nurturing new voices and maintaining those tales that have inspired readers throughout the generations.

The centennial allows for reflection upon the books that have helped create children’s literature as well as honoring the editors, authors and illustrators behind the books. As HarperCollins moves into its next century, the emphasis will be on telling new stories and giving new life to old ones.