Q&A with Bianca Schulze

 

Photo by Susan English

 

 

Bianca Schulze is the author of the book 101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up: Timeless Tales and New Adventures Kids Will Love to Read, which is now available in a revised edition. Her other books include the picture book Cattitude. She is the founder and editor of The Children's Book Review and the host of the Growing Readers Podcast, and she lives near Boulder, Colorado.

 

Q: What inspired you to write 101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up?

 

A: As the founder of The Children's Book Review, I've had the privilege of reading thousands of children's books over the years. Through this experience, I discovered that not every book is for every child, but for every child, there is a book.

 

I wanted to create a guide that would help parents, teachers, and young readers themselves navigate the wonderful world of children's literature. The inspiration came from seeing how transformative the right book can be for a child—it can spark a lifelong love of reading, open new worlds, and help kids understand themselves and others better.

 

Q: How did you choose the books to include?

 

A: Selecting these 101 books was both exciting and challenging! I drew from my years of experience reviewing children's literature, considering books that have proven their staying power as well as newer voices that reflect our diverse world today.

 

Reworking this revised edition was particularly important to me. I looked for books that span different reading levels, genres, and formats—from picture books to graphic novels.

 

I wanted to ensure the list represents and reflects the current needs of today's children, whoever they may be—each book had to meet specific criteria: literary quality, appeal to young readers, and the ability to spark meaningful conversations or personal growth.

 

Q: The first book on the list is the Maurice Sendak classic Where the Wild Things Are—why did you choose this as the number-one book?

 

A: Where the Wild Things Are holds the number-one spot because the list is organized by format and begins with picture books; however, this book also perfectly captures the essence of childhood imagination and emotional complexity.

 

Sendak's masterpiece speaks to something universal in the child experience—those big feelings of anger, adventure, and the ultimate comfort of home and being loved unconditionally.

 

It's a book that works on multiple levels, engaging very young readers with its wild rumpus while offering deeper themes that resonate as children grow.

 

It's also a book that has stood the test of time, continuing to captivate new generations of readers more than 60 years after its publication. It's a perfect specimen of a picture book!

 

Q: What do you think Shaw Nielsen and Clémence Langevin’s illustrations add to the book?

 

A: Shaw and Clémence's illustrations serve as both a celebration of these excellent books and an invitation for new readers to discover them.

 

They've created artwork that complements each book entry while maintaining their own distinctive style throughout the guide—their artwork captures the essence and spirit of each featured book without directly copying the original illustrations.

 

I think they've managed to create visual connections that will help readers immediately recognize beloved characters and stories while adding fresh, engaging elements that make young readers want to dive in.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I'm constantly juggling multiple projects! I continue to host The Growing Readers Podcast and run The Children's Book Review, which keeps me connected to the latest and greatest in children's literature.

 

I also have notes and notes of ideas for new books, so I'm in the process of fine-tuning (or completely rewriting—ha!) a few manuscripts. The challenge, as always, is finding the time to develop all these ideas while continuing to support other authors through my review platform.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I think it's important for people to know that this revised edition isn't just an update—it's a reflection of how children's literature continues to evolve and grow more inclusive. We've added graphic novels and ensured we're representing voices from many different backgrounds and experiences.

 

The interactive elements of the book are also crucial to me—I want kids to see themselves as active participants in their reading journey, rating books, taking notes, and discovering what they love.

 

Reading should never feel like a chore; it should be an adventure, and I hope this book helps families create those magical reading moments together.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Bianca Schulze. This Q&A was conducted in partnership with The Children's Book Review. You could win a signed copy of 101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up (Revised Edition) by Bianca Schulze! But wait, it gets even better—one incredibly lucky grand prize winner will score the most wonderful cozy reading bundle ever: a signed copy of the book, a perfect reading light, the snuggliest blanket, and a $25 gift card to Bookshop.org to get this literary adventure started! Here's the giveaway form.