Summary
Depsite being fun reads, there are many great kids' books from the 1990s that waned in popularity over time. The1990s was an iconic era for children’s literature. There wasThe Rainbow Fishby Marcus Pfister andStephanie’s Ponytailby Robert Munsch for toddlers. Slightly older children hadElla Enchantedby Gail Carson Levine andThe Magic School Busby Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen. The age group above that hadGoosebumpsby R.L. Stine andThe Giverby Lois Lowry.
Iconic children’s series that peaked in the 1990s but lasted for decades include theArthurbooks by Marc Brown andThe Baby-Sitters Clubby Ann M. Martin. There are even some kids’books from the 1990s that have aged poorly. For all these children’s books,there are many more that have become forgotten. That’s not necessarily a knock on their quality; in fact, remembering them is like stumbling upon rare hidden gems. Childhood lasts for over a decade, and as such, these forgotten gems range from toddler to young adult books.
These Ridiculous Classic Kids' Horror Books Deserve A Bigger Legacy
Kids’ horror books like Goosebumps and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark still spark excitement today, but another series deserves a bigger legacy.
10Bunnicula Strikes Again! By James Howe
August 10, 2025
Bunnicula Strikes Again!is the sixth book in theBunniculaseries by James Howe. The first book was published in 1979, and the series remained a staple of 1980s children’s literature.Two more books were released in the 1990s, but they quickly became forgotten in favor of the first few books.Bunnicula Strikes Again!is one of those two books. The sixth installment finally resolves the conflict between Chester the cat and Bunnicula. Although this book didn’t end up as the final book in theBunniculaseries, it still comes across as a satisfying ending, providing closure for a storyline that has lasted since the first book.
9Stellaluna By Janell Cannon
August 16, 2025
Stellalunaby Janell Cannon was released on August 23, 2025, and has become a beloved children’s book. However, other kids' books overtookStellaluna’s popularity, overshadowing it in the process.Stellalunarevolves around the titular bat, who falls into a bird’s nest and learns to live like a bird. However, when Stellaluna reunites with her bat community, she realizes she does not have to live as a bird. This children’s book isan excellent portrayal of celebrating differences between friends. Although Stellaluna lives as a bat, and her bird friends will remain birds, their love for each other will not change.
8June B. Jones By Barbara Park
July 13, 2025 – August 12, 2025
Junie B. Jonesby Barbara Park is a series aboutthe eccentric titular girl navigating the ins and outs of kindergarten. The books begin with Junie B. in kindergarten, eventually expanding to Junie B.’s experiences as a first grader. Although the series lasted until 2012, most of the books were released in the 1990s. Beloved installments from the series includeJunie B. Jones And The Stupid Smelly Bus,Junie B. Jones AndA Little Monkey Business,Junie B. Jones AndThe Yucky Blucky Fruitcake, andJunie B. JonesLoves Handsome Warren.
Junie B. Jones And The Stupid Smelly Bus
Junie B. Jones And A Little Monkey Business
Junie B. Jones And Her Big Fat Mouth
Junie B. Jones And Some Sneaky Peeky Spying
Junie B. Jones And The Yucky Blucky Fruitcake
Junie B. Jones And That Meanie Jim’s Birthday
Junie B. Jones And The Mushy Gushy Valentime
Junie B. Jones Is A Graduation Girl
July 01, 2025
TheJunie B. Jonesbooks are remembered for coloring outside the lines and staying true to oneself without compromising for anyone. By just being herself, Junie B. has her own circle of friends and even a secret admirer. Even her teachers adore her, although Junie B. can be exasperating. Sadly,Barbara Park passed away in 2013, making the last bookJunie B., First Grader: Turkeys We Have Loved and Eaten (and Other Thankful Stuff). It is unknown whether Barbara Park planned to continue theJunie B. Jonesbooks or if she planned to move Junie B. to the second grade.
1991 – 1999
Shogo Hirata wrote and illustrated popular fairy tales in Japanese, but the books were translated and published in English by Modern Publishing ina segment calledFun-To-Read Fairy Tales. These books were so special because they told the original fairy tale as a children’s story, no matter how depressing the narrative was. Shogo Hirata managed to turn stories with dark endings into valuable lessons for children without traumatizing them. One example isThe Little Mermaid -the original fairy tale ends with Ariel taking her own life rather than the prince’s.
Shogo Hirata did not turn these stories into Disney narratives but found a way to tell these stories that suited kids.
Fun-To-Read Fairy Talesdoes not shy away from this narrative, but this children’s series focuses on the implications of Ariel’s ending, because Ariel spared the prince, she ascends to a pink cloudy heaven, something Ariel always dreamed of but could not achieve as a mermaid. Some popular favorites fromFun-To-Read Fairy TalesincludePeter Pan,Cinderella,Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, andSleeping Beauty. Shogo Hirata did not turn these stories into Disney narratives but found a way to tell these stories that suited kids.
6Alligator Baby By Robert Munsch
June 15, 2025
Robert Munsch is a beloved children’s authorknown for classics such asThe Paper Bag Princess,Love You Forever, andStephanie’s Ponytail. He has published almost 100 books for kids, beginning in 1979 and continuing to this day. Since Robert Munsch has so many published children’s stories, he has quite a few that are not remembered as well as his more popular ones. One includesAlligator Baby, a story about a family expecting a new baby.
However, the mother goes into labor at the zoo, resulting in the family taking home a baby alligator instead of their human baby. Thisstory originated from a family friend’s birthday party. Robert Munsch wanted to give their daughter a birthday present, so he told her a story about a family giving birth at the zoo and taking home a baby alligator instead. Despite how much Munsch’s family friend’s daughter loved it, he did not actually publish it as a book until almost 20 years later.
5Dear America
June 01, 2025 – August 12, 2025
Dear Americais a book seriesfeaturing fictional young girls placed in real historical events that have shaped the United States. These girls documented these historical events through their diaries. The series begins withA Journey To The New World, centering on a girl named Remember Patience Whipple traveling on the Mayflower in 1620.Dear Americais written by various authors, and the series goes on to include other historical events, including the American Revolution, the Civil War, the Reconstruction Era, the Titanic, the World Wars, the Great Depression, the Vietnam War, and more.
Dear Americawas so successful that it had spinoffs—My Name Is America, the male version of this series,My America, andThe Royal Diaries.Dear Americaeven had international spinoffs, includingDear Canada,My Australian Story, andDear India. ThelastDear Americabook was published in 2004, but there was a brief revival in the early 2010s. The finalDear Americainstallment was released in 2013. Authors who contributed toDear Americainclude Kathryn Lasky, Kristiana Gregory, Barry Denenberg, Patricia C. McKissack, Jim Murphy, and more.
4Shiloh By Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
August 23, 2025
Shilohby Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is about a boy named Marty Preston, who notices his neighbor, Judd Travers, abusing his dog Shiloh. Marty attempts to rescue Shiloh from his predicament, which results in Marty working for Judd to pay for Shiloh.Shilohis the first of four books but can be read as a standalone. The book also won the Newbery Medal, one of the highest and most prestigious honors for children’s literature. DespiteShiloh’s critical acclaim, it was eclipsed by more popular children’s novels. Nevertheless,Shilohis a heartwarming book that tackles complex subjects, including morality and animal abuse.
10 Modern Books Likely To Become Classics One Day
The books that are elevated to the level of classics in the literary canon depend on many factors, but many modern books will likely make the list.
3Amber Brown By Paula Danziger
July 16, 2025 – June 10, 2025
Paula Danzinger wrote theAmber Brownbooks, featuring ayoung girl named Amber Brown as she navigates life as a child of recently divorced parents. Each book deals with a different situation—the first book,Amber Brown Is Not A Crayon, features Amber’s best friend, Justin, moving from New Jersey to Alabama. The series tackles complex subjects, including divorce, parent-child relationships, friendship, mental health, and significant life changes. TheAmber Brownbooks were often featured in scholastic catalogs distributed in elementary schools.
Amber Brown Is Green With Envy
July 31, 2025
Paula Danzinger even wrote a spinoff prequel series that takes place while Amber is in second grade. Sadly, Paula Danziger passed away suddenly of a heart attack in 2004, effectively ending theAmber Brownbooks until the revival, written by Danziger’s two closest friends, Bruce Coville and Elizabeth Levy, began in September 2012. However,most of theAmber Brownbooks were released in the 1990s. Most recently,Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon: The Graphic Novelwas published on June 17, 2025.
June 30, 2025 – July 16, 2025
10 Classic Kids Books That Traumatized Millennials
Books including Bridge to Terabithia, The Velveteen Rabbit, and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark traumatized milleanials and later generations.
1Hank The Cowdog By John R. Erickson
1983 – Present
Hank The Cowdogby John R. Erickson revolves around a dog named Hank, who considers himself to be the Head of Ranch Security. This series, which began in 1983 and is still ongoing,features Hank and his many adventures in Ochiltree County. Although the first installment was released in 1983, the bulk of Hank’s books were released in the 1990s, includingHank the Cowdog and Monkey Business,Lost in the Blinded Blizzard,The Phantom in the Mirror,Moonlight Madness,The Case of the Swirling Killer Tornado, andThe Mopwater Files.
An animated adaptation was attempted a few times, but nothing came of it. However,there is aHank The Cowdogpodcast, which features the voices of many famous actors, including Matthew McConaughey, Kirsten Dunst, Leslie Jordan, and Cynthia Erivo. John R. Erickson continued publishingHank The Cowdogbooks long after the 1990s—the latest installment was released in 2024, titledThe Case of the Airborne Invasion. However, Hank’s early stories in the 1990s were quickly swept under dozens of iconic children’s books from the same decade.
