Compiling a list of classic children’s books from the 1970s was unexpectedly challenging! Most of the books I had previously read from this decade were already quite popular so I had to do a fair bit of research to decide which 1970s titles to read so I could determine what I wanted to include.
I think I’ve come up with a pretty selection of 197os books, though. It includes some well known and some lesser known titles. Most of these authors have dozens of well respected books under their belts and many are still writing today. That is great news for those of you looking to add even more books to your child’s reading lists. (Note: book covers and titles are affiliate links.)
What do you think? What 1970s children’s books from the decade of disco balls and bell bottoms would you consider classics?
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. (1976) I remember being profoundly affected by this book when I was a kid. It won the Newbery and is the sequel to Song of the Trees, but it is not essential to read the books in order. Told from the perspective of a nine year old girl, this is an incredibly powerful book about an African-American family who struggles against racism in the South in their fight to keep their land and their dignity. If I were to make a list of books all children in the US must read, this one would be on it.
Ordinary Jack. (1977) Changing gears completely (!), Helen Cresswell’s amusing story is about an ordinary middle-child with an ordinary dog (appropriately named “Zero”) stuck in a brilliant and extraordinary family. Of course this is the perfect set up for comedy of all sorts! There are several more books about the Bagthorpe family and Cresswell, I believe (my British readers can confirm/deny this), is a well-known children’s book author in the UK.
The Master Puppeteer. (1975) Katherine Paterson has written so many books that could be on this list such Bridge to Terabithia and The Great Gilly Hopkins. I decided to include The Master Puppeteer simply because I love puppet theater! Hey, it’s a valid reason. Set in 18th century Japan, 13 year old Jiro goes to work for an exacting and cantankerous puppet master. He gets caught up in a mystery surrounding the theater and a Robin-Hood figure named Saburo. The suspenseful plot is exciting but not without a lot of reflection about what it means to be responsible to others.
The Summer of the Swans. (1970) Betsy Byers is another author whose work provided a treasure trove from which to choose a title for this list. I almost chose The Night Swimmers but instead picked Newbery winner, The Summer of the Swans. The action takes place over the course of a day when Sara’s mentally challenge brother, Charlie, goes missing. During the search, the previously self-absorbed Sara learns what it means to love and care for another person.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (1970) I know you’ve heard of this one, but every girl — and boys too!– aged 9 and older should read this book. It’s not just about the changes that come with puberty, Margaret explores what it means to have a private relationship with God. And parents: please, this is not a read aloud. The male counterpart of this book is Then Again, Maybe I Won’t, a book I read as a kid and from which I learned a lot about boys!
The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler by Gene Kemp. (1977) This is English classic that, sadly, you might have difficulty finding in the US. School friends Tyke and Danny spend a lot of their time trying to extricate themselves from sticky situations. There is a surprising twist at the end which was probably more thought-provoking in the 70s than it is today, but will still make you contemplate how we create expectations for others.
Anastasia Krupnik by Lois Lowry. (1979) I so enjoy recommending books that other people have tried to get banned from their libraries. I wish I had known about Anastasia when I was a girl! Ten year old Anastasia makes lists, writes poetry that goes unappreciated by her teacher, deals with a new baby brother and an ailing grandmother. It’s sad and funny all at the same time. There are 9 Anastasia books in all, the last one published in 1995.
The Hoboken Chicken Emergency. (1977) This book is so crazy-hilarious. Even the title makes you want to laugh, and it’s perfect for reading just before Thanksgiving. The author, Daniel Pinkwater wrote the beloved picture book, The Big Orange Splot. When there are no turkeys to be found anywhere in Hoboken for Thanksgiving dinner, Arthur returns home with a chicken. The problem? The chicken is 266 pounds. Hijinks ensue. I read this aloud to my sons and they loved it.
Child of the Owl. (1977) Laurence Yep has written 10 books in the Golden Mountain Chronicles. The books follow the Young family over time (starting in the 19th C.) from their early immigration to California (The Land of the Golden Mountain) from China. In Child of the Owl, set in 1965, 12 year old Casey, an intelligent, funny and street-smart girl must leave her gambler father to go live with her grandmother, Paw-Paw, in Chinatown. Casey encounters prejudice and feels lost in this new world but Paw-Paw helps helps her strengthen her sense of self by sharing her Chinese heritage with her. Yep has a wonderful gift for writing compelling stories which teach us about the Chinese culture without coming across as preachy and didactic. He received a Newbery Honor for two other books in the Golden Mountain Chronicles. Yep is a new-to-me author and I look forward to reading more of his books.
The Grey King by Susan Cooper. (1975) I like to try and have at least one fantasy novel on these classic lists. It becomes more challenging as the decades go by, not because of the dearth of fantasy novels, but because it seems I’ve read fewer contemporary fantasy books than those written in previous decades. If you are a fantasy lover, by all means, leave a comment telling us which 1970s books to look out for! Inspired by Arthurian mythology, The Grey King is the fourth book in The Dark is Rising series. After enduring an illness which has robbed him of some of the knowledge he needs to complete his quest, Will sets out to find a hidden magical harp which will wake the “Sleepers” who will provide essential aid in the impending battle between the forces of Light and Dark. Cooper won the Newbery Gold for this book, an award which is not often bestowed on fantasy novels.
Visit my other posts in this series:
- Classic Children’s Books: 19th Century
- Classic Children’s Books: 1910s
- Classic Children’s Books: 1920s
- Classic Children’s Books: 1930s
- Classic Children’s Books: 1940s
- Classic Children’s Books: 1950s
- Classic Children’s Books: 1960s
- Classic Children’s Books: 1980s
- Classic Children’s Books: 1990s
Megan D. Neal says
A couple of my lesser-known favorites from this decade:
From 1973 comes The Genie of Sutton Place by George Selden, the author of The Cricket in Times Square. I featured it on my blog in this post: http://www.inhabitingbooks.com/2011/04/some-of-my-favorite-read-alouds-for.html
From 1977 comes The Eyes of the Amaryllis by Natalie Babbitt, the author of the 1973 hit Tuck Everlasting. The haunting tale of a grandmother and granddaughter who must work together to fix a mistake made by the grandmother 30 years before. It’s the perfect read for this time of year. I read it the first time when I was 12, and it gave me goosebumps.
Mom and Kiddo says
I did consider putting The Eyes of the Amaryllis on the list. I remember reading it when I was a kid and thinking it was spooky, but also not quite getting it. Maybe I was too young at the time.
Plantlust says
The Girl Who Owned the City – excellent & scary story about a plague that kills everyone over 14. Written in & about Chicago suburbs.
The Weasel – kids story based on a local guy called The Fox, who would be called an eco-terrorist now, who backed up factory sewers & dumped garbage in reception halls of the Fox River polluters before the clean air & water acts had teeth.
The Marshmallow Ghosts – children ghosts discover that they become temporarily solid upon eating marshmallows, which allows them to attend their very first Halloween Party. With complications, of course.
Jenny says
Thanks for the great book recommendations! We’re definitely adding Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry to our TBR list for the future.
Mom and Kiddo says
It’s such a great book, but you are right to save it for later. It’s not for little kids.
Catherine Nichols (@TheCathInTheHat) says
So glad you included Ordinary Jack–it’s a wonderful, oh-so-funny book that, yes, is part of a series, eight in all, I believe, each one hysterical.
Mom and Kiddo says
It’s so fun. We’ve only read the first one, though.
Mindi says
Fantastic list. Although I’m an 80s child I love this list and Judy Blume is my favorite author hands down. Was the book Hatchet written in the 70s? I loved that one too. Thanks for a great link up!
Mom and Kiddo says
Hatchet by Gary Paulson was written in the 1980s. It might be on that list…
Leanne says
I had totally forgotten about Anastasia Krupnik! And I didn’t know that there were sequels!
Mom and Kiddo says
That’s the trouble with books in a series that spans 2 decades, by the time the last ones come out, you have moved on to other books.
Julie says
Again – BRAVO – for another stellar list! I’m looking forward to reading “Roll Thunder” with JI – esp. since we live in the south. (And we are huge Hatchet fans!)
Mom and Kiddo says
Thanks, Julie!
Jen says
I loved Anastasia Krupnik and read her until I was way past adolescence – she is such a great character! I also loved Betsy Byars and Helen Cresswell. I don’t know Laurence Yep at all so will have to put him on the list. I would add Red Shift by Alan Garner – it was one of my favourites from that era.
Mom and Kiddo says
I don’t know Red Shift, but now I have looked it up and it sounds very interesting. Thanks for the suggestion.
Amy says
I was an Anastasia Krupnik fan and loved All About Sam. I can’t believe the vast amount of books you’ve been reading as you’ve compiled these lists. Very impressive.
Mom and Kiddo says
Fortunately I had read a lot of the books on these lists before I started the project, or else it would have been a full time job!
Janelle @ Brimful Curiosities says
Anastasia Krupnik is one of my favorites of all time. I tried to convince my parents we should move into a house with a tower after reading one of the books in the series.
Tuck Everlasting and Where the Sidewalk Ends are two more that come to mind.
Mom and Kiddo says
A house with a tower does sound pretty great. I did consider both those books for the list. I love Tuck Everlasting but that’s the thing about lists, you can’t include them all.
maryanne @ mama smiles says
I’ve only read two of these! Love your decade lists.
Natalie says
Interestingly, just earlier today Lars asked me about Anastasia Krupnik, because a couple of books were free on Kindle (not the first one though). I’ve never heard about it and other books on your list, I guess I was mostly reading classics and Russian authors at that time. I wonder if Anna is too young for Anastasia yet – time to find out.
Mom and Kiddo says
Although she could handle the reading level, it’s not a book for a 6 year old. I would suggest waiting a few years because she probably won’t get as much out of it as she will if she is a few years older and really “gets” what it’s like to be a pre-teen.
Bethany @ No Twiddle Twaddle says
I love reading your lists. I too remember reading Roll of Thunder, but I haven’t read many of the other books on this list. I wish I was a kid again so I would have more time to read!
kara says
Garbage Delight by Denis Lee!
Mom and Kiddo says
I’ve never heard of it! Thanks for the suggestion, Kara!
Jaik says
These are all for older children. Do you have a preschooler list? Thanks!
Erica MomandKiddo says
Not that’s specifically from the 1970s. You can find an index of all my book lists here –> https://www.whatdowedoallday.com/books-for-kids
Charles says
looking for a children’s mystery series from early 70’s. about a group of kids who had a hideout in a junkyard and went around in a gold Rolls Royce any clues to the series or author appreciated.
C Fraser says
The Three Investigators
might be the series you are looking for.
VALERIE TOWNSEND says
I AM LOOKING FOR AND OLD 1960S CHILDRENS BOOK CALLED MAKE ROOM FOR MONKEYS HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF IT IF YOU HAVE HEARD OF IT CAN YOU PLEASE TELL WHO WROTE IT. PLEASE EMAIL ME AT VTOWNSEND 812@OUTLOOK.COM AND TELL ME THANKS VALERIE TOWNSEND
Carla Steckel says
I am looking for a book from the 70s about 3 kids waiting for the bus, on a rural road. they miss the bus and there is a blizzard going on. they take cover in an old abandoned farm house. The boy makes an airplane to send for help…and they find sheep and lambs in the barn. I think I read it in 1976. Thank you!