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The Top 50 Children’s Books
OpeningAny list of the greatest children’s novels ever written is sure to be a contentious one. After all, people feel most passionate about those books that remain forever entwined with childhood memories and inspire a lifelong love of literature. The American Express Essentials Top 50 Children’s Books spans hundreds of years and includes more than a few surprises. [Main photo: Flickr/Rory MacLeod]
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
50) War Horse50) War Horse – Michael Morpurgo (1982)
Ages 9-12
Anna Sewell’s classic Black Beauty just misses out on a place in our Top 50, but horse-lovers will be delighted that Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse claims a place. Also an acclaimed play and film, farm horse Joey leads readers through the horrors of war via encounters with German and British soldiers. PW amazon.co.uk50/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
49) Truckers49) Truckers – Terry Pratchett (1989)
Ages 9-12
By his death in March 2015, Terry Pratchett had become one of the most prolific and best loved of all children’s authors. Some prefer his fantasy Discworld series, while others enjoy more the Bromeliad trilogy, in which ‘nomes’ live under a department store’s floorboards – exemplified by Truckers, a story about survival. PW amazon.co.uk49/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
48) Amazing Grace48) Amazing Grace – Mary Hoffman (1991)
Ages 6-8
Amazing Grace is the 1991 debut novel by Mary Hoffman that skilfully explores the twin themes of gender and ethnic equality. With its wonderful watercolour illustrations, not only did Amazing Grace become a bestseller in Hoffman’s native Great Britain but it continues to be a big seller in the US. PW amazon.co.uk48/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
47) Goal47) Goal – Michael Hardcastle (1969)
Ages 9-12
There is an innocence to the multifarious sports stories penned by Michael Hardcastle. But even in a contemporary football world dominated by huge salaries and wall-to-wall media coverage, around five decades after its publication, Hardcastle’s Goal, a tale of the life of a footballer in 1969, is still a great read. PW amazon.co.uk47/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
46) Brambly Hedge46) Brambly Hedge – Jill Barklem (1980)
Ages 6-8
Though seemingly influenced by the style and presentation of Beatrix Potter, Jill Barklem’s Brambly Hedge series is more than a wonderful update on anything Potter produced. Written and illustrated by Barklem, the Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter books follow the adventures of Bramley’s mice community – and now in 13 languages. PW amazon.co.uk46/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
45) The Tiger Who Came To Tea45) The Tiger Who Came to Tea – Judith Kerr (1968)
Ages 0-5
Judith Kerr famously came up with The Tiger Who Came to Tea as a bedtime story for her own kids. Its brilliant simplicity revolves around a hungry tiger that turns up at Sophie’s house, and proceeds to eat and drink everything the girl and her mother have. PW amazon.co.uk45/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
44) Skellig44) Skellig – David Almond (1998)
Ages 9-12
The multi-award-winning Skellig is a story of a young boy’s life turned on its head. While a new house and a new sister distract his parents, Michael discovers and befriends a tramp-like character. Almond’s tender description of who and what Skellig is mesmerised young readers and literary award judges alike. PW amazon.co.uk44/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
43) Little Women43) Little Women – Louisa May Alcott (1868)
Ages 9-12
On its publication in 1868, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women became a publishing sensation. Highly readable for the time, this partly autobiographical tale describes a young girl, Jo, who yearns to escape the confines of Victorian-era gender roles. Jo soon became something of a US female role model. PW amazon.co.uk43/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
42) The Tale of Peter Rabbit42) The Tale of Peter Rabbit – Beatrix Potter (1902)
Ages 6-8
Cartoons, plays, operas and films highlight the role that the Peter Rabbit books have in society and culture, more than a century since The Tale of Peter Rabbit was published. Though hardly modern in language terms, parents turn to them again and again for Potter’s simple narrations and beautiful illustrations. PW amazon.co.uk42/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
41) First Term at Malory Towers41) First Term at Malory Towers – Enid Blyton (1946)
Ages 6-8
Almost all Enid Blyton books follow some sort of adventure plot that leaves readers (and parents, if we’re honest) with that ‘unputdownable’ feeling. First Term at Malory Towers follows a group of girls at a British boarding school, with the usual Blyton focus on the benefits of friendship and loyalty. PW amazon.co.uk41/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
40) Once40) Once – Morris Gleitzman (2005)
Ages 9-12
A story about a Jewish boy, Felix, in Poland and the Holocaust might not seem like obvious children’s literature material – but in the hands of British-born Australian Morris Gleitzman the result is stunning. Once doesn’t hide from reality, and it provides insights into resilience and intense friendship. PW amazon.co.uk40/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
39) The Animals of Farthing Wood39) The Animals of Farthing Wood – Colin Dann (1979)
Ages 6-8
Stories about various woodland animals are familiar, though Colin Dann’s The Animals of Farthing Wood has an edgier feel. Reflecting the ever-greater incursion of humans on the natural environment – in this case for housing – the animals agree a pact not to harm one another while they search for a safe haven. PW amazon.co.uk39/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
38) The Cat in the Hat38) The Cat in the Hat – Dr. Seuss (1957)
Ages 0-5
The weird and wonderful world of Dr. Seuss has entertained kids – and adults – for decades. The chaotic cat-like creature, with its characteristic tall red and white hat, makes a mess of a house to the bewilderment of two children, tidies up – and fulfils the book’s remit of improving literacy. PW amazon.co.uk38/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
37) The Wolves of Willoughby Chase37) The Wolves of Willoughby Chase – Joan Aiken (1962)
Ages 9-12
The first in the Wolves series quickly became a classic and remains a popular historical adventure romp. King James III is on the throne, wolves are rampaging through 1830s Britain and there’s even a villainous children’s governess. Historical they might be, but the Willoughby Chase books are great fun. PW amazon.co.uk37/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
36) The Wind in the Willows36) The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame (1908)
Ages 6-8
The characters in Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows have been so inspirational to writers it pays to go back to the original book to re-discover just how fantastic they are. Readers experience the changing seasons with Rat, Mole, Badger and Mr Toad – always with a sense of humour and wisdom. PW amazon.co.uk36/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
35) Stig of the Dump35) Stig of the Dump – Clive King (1963)
Ages 9-12
Selling the story of a caveman who lives on a tip to publishers might sound a touch optimistic, but such was the heart-warming nature of Stig of the Dump that it had to be a hit. Arguably King’s best book, it has twice been adapted for television. PW amazon.co.uk35/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
34) Horrid Henry34) Horrid Henry – Francesca Simon (1994)
Ages 6-8
Following in the best literary tradition of Just William or even Dennis the Menace, Horrid Henry proves once again that people really do love a rogue – even little people. Whether parents are so amused by the misdeeds of the irredeemably naughty Master Henry is another matter entirely. Could Horrid Henry really be spawning generations of young miscreants? Don’t believe everything you read. JLT amazon.co.uk34/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
33) Asterix the Gaul33) Asterix the Gaul – René Goscinny (1961)
Ages 6-8
The ongoing success of all things Asterix is clear to see in films, mugs, T-shirts … oh, and books, now almost 40 of them, in more than 100 languages. Set with the backdrop of Gaul’s battles with ancient Rome, good humour, eccentric adventures and magic potions are the key ingredients along with Albert Uderzo’s lively illustrations. PW amazon.co.uk33/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
32) A Wizard of Earthsea32) A Wizard of Earthsea – Ursula Le Guin (1968)
Ages 9-12
Not all young wizards are called Harry, as the hugely influential Ursula Le Guin reminds us in her ground-breaking Earthsea trilogy. Published in 1968, Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea takes readers through master sorcerer Ged’s fantasy world, one packed with pre-Potter magic, spells and dragons. PW amazon.co.uk32/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
31) Five on a Treasure Island31) Five on a Treasure Island – Enid Blyton (1942)
Ages 6-8
Enid Blyton’s works have long been scorned by teachers for their supposed lack of literary merit and some have even been deemed politically incorrect – albeit unintentionally. The fact that her books still enjoy widespread appeal, however, is testament to her essential understanding of what makes children tick. Very much a writer of her time, many of Blyton’s books have now been updated for modern audiences. JLT amazon.co.uk31/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
30) Little House on the Prairie30) Little House on the Prairie – Laura Ingalls Wilder
Ages 6-8, 9-12
The Little House books were part biographical and part romanticised tales for children about so-called ‘pioneer’ life in 19th-century America. As later televised, Little House on the Prairie, which followed Little House in Big Woods, depicted the emotional roller coaster of a family settling into new surroundings. PW amazon.co.uk30/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
29) Blubber29) Blubber – Judy Blume, 1974
Ages 9-12
With themes not always appreciated by parents or teachers, Blume has pursued a courageous path in her depiction of the real issues faced by children and teens growing up. That unflinching approach has seen her earn a unique place in the canon of children’s literature and blaze a trail for many of today’s children’s authors. The message? Never underestimate a child’s ability to process and to cope with challenging issues. JLT amazon.co.uk29/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
28) The Very Hungry Caterpillar28) The Very Hungry Caterpillar – Eric Carle (1969)
Ages 0-5
There are few books that capture a very young child’s attention as well as Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Supported by striking colour illustrations, the sheer simplicity of Carle’s narrative of the lifespan of an insect ends with a beautiful metamorphosis, from caterpillar to … well, we know how it ends. PW amazon.co.uk28/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
27) Swallows and Amazons27) Swallows and Amazons – Arthur Ransome (1930)
Ages 9-12
The success of Swallows and Amazons persuaded Arthur Ransome to scale back his journalism career to concentrate on a life as a children’s author. The BBC announced a new film version in 2015 – highlighting how audiences continue to be fascinated by the children’s adventures sailing, fishing and exploring the Lake District. PW amazon.co.uk27/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
26) Diary of a Wimpy Kid26) Diary of a Wimpy Kid – Jeff Kinney (2007)
Ages 6-8
Self-centred, likes to stay indoors, plays ‘video’ games (come on, it’s 2007!) and is hard to motivate – yes, it’s easy to see why children sympathise with Greg, the chief protagonist in The Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Underpinning it all, however, is a series of raucously funny situations and stories. PW amazon.co.uk26/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
25) Babar the Elephant25) Babar the Elephant – Jean De Brunhoff (1931)
Ages 6-8
The murder of his mother as the starting point for Babar the Elephant might not seem to bode well for a book for six-to-eight-year-olds. But the beauty of an old-style redemption story sees the Old Lady take Babar in, educate him and he returns in triumph as King of the Elephants. PW amazon.co.uk25/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
24) A Monster Calls24) A Monster Calls – Patrick Ness (2011)
Ages 9-12
London-based American writer Ness’s A Monster Calls has been labelled everything from ‘heart-rending’ to ‘haunting’ for the manner in which it portrays a troubled boy, Conor, dealing with his mother’s terminal illness. A tragic core runs through the narrative, admirably probing whether Conor can come to terms with the inevitable. PW amazon.co.uk24/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
23) The Eagle of the Ninth23) The Eagle of the Ninth – Rosemary Sutcliff (1954)
Ages 9-12
A classic historical novel for kids, The Eagle of the Ninth revolves around former Roman centurion Marcus Aquila’s quest for a lost regimental eagle. Amongst the fantastic adventure plot, the underlying theme is a familiar one: a young person’s attempt to rebuild his life and identity after injury. PW amazon.co.uk23/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
22) Pippi Longstocking22) Pippi Longstocking – Astrid Lindgren (1945)
Ages 6-8
Not only has Pippi Longstocking one of the most remarkable names in children’s literature, but she is surely also one of the oddest. Created by Swede Astrid Lindgren, her long list of eccentricities continues to delight kids, including her bright red, ponytailed hair, pet monkey and her superhuman strength. PW amazon.co.uk22/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
21) Holes21) Holes – Louis Sachar (1998)
Ages 9-12
An economics and law background might not sound like the most inspirational background for a children’s author – not for Louis Sachar. In Holes, Stanley is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit, sent to a red-hot desert camp and ordered to dig holes. This mystery story takes off when he discovers a family secret here. PW amazon.co.uk21/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
20) The Snowman20) The Snowman – Raymond Briggs (1978)
Ages 0-5
On the surface, Raymond Briggs came up with a classic concept of a snowman coming to life. Depicted with his own wonderful illustrations and no words, according to Briggs, however, The Snowman was actually a story to introduce children to mortality, which is why – to the boy’s dismay – it melts. PW amazon.co.uk20/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
19) The Sheep-Pig19) The Sheep-Pig – Dick King-Smith (1983)
Ages 6-8
It might have provided the basis for the 1995 movie Babe, but Dick King-Smith’s The Sheep-Pig comfortably stands alone when it comes to children’s tales. King-Smith’s farmer background comes into play as he warmly describes how a piglet adopted by a sheepdog learns about life on a farm. PW amazon.co.uk19/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
18) The Borrowers18) The Borrowers – Mary Norton (1952)
Ages 6-8
Engrossing children in the lives of the ‘little people’ who share the homes of humans was only part of The Borrowers’ intrigue. Mary Norton also subtly drew out societal mores and social distinctions of 1950s Britain, reflected in the tribulations of the tiny Clock family in their own miniature world. PW amazon.co.uk18/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
17) Grimm’s Fairy Tales17) Grimm’s Fairy Tales – Jakob & Wilhelm Grimm (1812)
Ages 6-8, 9-12
The Grimm Brothers’ Children’s and Household Tales is better known today in English simply as Grimm’s Fairy Tales. A relatively modest 17th place on our list will seem low to some and they have a point. Few if any books, whether for children or adults, can claim such enduring appeal. The timelessness is due to the stories’ original source material, rooted in traditional Germanic folk tales and legends. JLT amazon.co.uk17/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
16) Goodnight Mister Tom16) Goodnight Mister Tom – Michelle Magorian (1981)
Ages 9-12
Artistically talented but violently abused London schoolboy William Beech is evacuated to the countryside during the Blitz. Admittedly, there’s a touch of sentimentality in Mr Tom’s quest to save the boy from mother and bombs, but – as with the very good film version – it actually works beautifully. PW amazon.co.uk16/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
15) Artemis Fowl15) Artemis Fowl – Eoin Colfer (2001)
Ages 9-12
Science fiction has rarely have been so popular, a fact that Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl underlines. Rather than being a run-of-the-mill hero, however, 12-year-old Fowl is actually a criminal mastermind trying to claw back his lost family fortune. A highly dangerous hidden world replete with high-tech fairies no less provides the implacable enemy. PW amazon.co.uk15/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
14) I Am David14) I Am David – Anne Holm (1963)
Ages 9-12
Its publication 18 years after the end of the Second World War and during the Cold War gave I Am David a burning immediacy. Invoking old favourites of friendship and forgiveness, it follows east European camp escapee David as he struggles with everyday concepts such as affection and trust. PW amazon.co.uk14/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
13) A Bear Called Paddington13) A Bear Called Paddington – Michael Bond (1958).
Ages 6-8
Amidst the havoc that Paddington, a bear from Peru, invariably creates, there’s an all-pervasive tenderness that characterises all Paddington stories (captured to a degree in the recent movie). In this, the first of the series, Paddington meets his new English family and gets his name, described with the gentle Paddington humour that kids so love. PW amazon.co.uk13/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
12) Winnie-the-Pooh12) Winnie-the-Pooh – AA Milne (1926)
Ages 6-8
Winnie-the-Pooh is another classic turned into a mini-industry in the familiar style of mugs, toys, T-shirts and cartoons. There is, however, no doubting the genius of the original books, with the familiar teddy bear alongside Piglet, Eeyore, Roo and Tiger enchanting kids as they have for nigh on a century. PW amazon.co.uk12/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
11) Tintin. The Crab with the Golden Claws11) Tintin. The Crab with the Golden Claws – Hergé [1941 black and white; 1943 colour]
Ages 6-8, 9-12
Georges Prosper Remi, better known by his nom de plume Hergé, had a remarkable knack for describing (and depicting) the adventures of daring boy reporter Tintin and his dog Snowy. The Crab With the Golden Claws is no exception and notable for the introduction of the crucial recurring character Captain Haddock. And for anyone who questions Hergé’s notorious caricaturing of different nationalities, it’s worth noting that he presented every nation and every race with equal and utter disrespect – well, apart from the Belgians. JLT amazon.co.uk11/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
10) Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone10) Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – JK Rowling (1997)
Ages 9-12
As a saga, Joanne Rowling’s stories of a wizard called Harry are in a class of their own and responsible for millions of children the world over falling in love with reading. In our list of the 50 greatest children’s books of all time, 10th place goes to her first Potter novel: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – a book that was rejected by a myriad of publishers before her innate talent for storytelling was recognised by Barry Cunningham, a perceptive editor then working at Bloomsbury Publishing … 450 million books later and the rest is history. JLTamazon.co.uk10/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
9) Carrie’s War9) Carrie’s War – Nina Bawden, (1973)
Ages 9-12
Similar to the aforementioned Goodnight Mister Tom, Carrie’s War shone a torch on the fate of child evacuees in Britain during the Second World. Additionally, it offered young readers an insight into a war that parents were often reluctant to discuss. Despite the war theme, this is a heart-warming book and such is it’s high literary and narrative regard that it is still ‘recommended reading’ in British schools for English learning skills. Several screen productions since it was published – including a 1997 film starring Jim Broadbent and John Goodman – attest to its generational appeal. PW amazon.co.uk9/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
8) Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland8) Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll (1865)
Ages 6-8, 9-12
Many children’s classics use a fantasy world for story setting, though few come near Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland for sheer bizarre and unpredictable eccentricity. Written 150 years ago in 2015, it’s a story of a girl who falls down a rabbit hole, has tea with a ‘mad’ Hatter, meets living playing cards, and shrinks and re-grows herself. Academics and students have spent countless semesters dissecting the meaning of the story, though perhaps the best one can conclude with is that the book’s assembled nonsense has its own unique brilliance. PW amazon.co.uk8/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
7) The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe7) The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – CS Lewis (1950)
Ages 9-13
Though occasionally slated for what critics claim is its covertly moralising and Christian undertone, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (the second in the Narnia series) is one of the greats of fantasy literature. Irish-born CS Lewis was a writer and intellectual of huge renown, and from a young age he was fascinated with Nordic and ancient mythology and legends. Such fantasies fed into his Narnia series, in which children enter a frozen land from the back of a wardrobe. Anyone who considers children’s literature of debatable value might well reconsider after reading this. amazon.co.uk7/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
6) The Little Prince6) The Little Prince – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1943)
Ages 6-8, 9-12
There was something romantic but ultimately tragic about the life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. His aristocratic name suggested a man out of time, but he ended up a hero of France as he joined the Free French Air Force rather than accept German occupation during the Second World War. In 1943, he penned The Little Prince, a delightful story of an aviator who crashes his aeroplane in the Sahara and meets a prince from an asteroid. In a mirror of reality, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was killed in an air crash in 1944. PW amazon.co.uk6/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
5) Treasure Island5) Treasure Island – Robert Louis Stevenson (1883)
Ages 9-12
Edinburgh-born Stevenson was headed for a life in his father’s footsteps as an engineer, until – thankfully for lovers of literature – in the early 1870s he decided he future lay in the written word. As well as adult classics, such as The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, he wrote Treasure Island, an adventure packed with pirates, maps and treasure, and introducing readers to the unforgettable Long John Silver and Billy Bones. An avid traveller, Stevenson lived in France and the US with his American wife, before settling in Samoa. PW amazon.co.uk5/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
4) Where the Wild Things Are4) Where the Wild Things Are – Maurice Sendak (1963)
Ages 0-5
Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are is redolent with a sense of darkness: Max, an imaginative boy, is sent to his room without his dinner after a tantrum. There, he sets out to the island ‘where the wild things are’, outsized and ferocious – but somehow comical – creatures that make Max their king. The smell of dinner abruptly returns Max to his bedroom, back to reality. Once banned by libraries, children loved it, while critics eventually understood it as an allegory of returning to the love of one’s family. PW amazon.co.uk4/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
3) The Hobbit3) The Hobbit – J.R.R. Tolkien (1937)
Ages 9-12
“In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit.” And so it begins… The most astonishingly detailed alternate universe in the world of letters is introduced to readers with a hole in the ground. The Hobbit remains a masterpiece of children’s literature with its positive message that even the smallest of creatures such as a hobbit – or a child, possesses endless reserves of courage and fortitude. Read it again and be impressed by its innate charm. Before you do that, however, put aside all thoughts of the recent movie trilogy inspired by the book. No, please, really – all thoughts. JLT amazon.co.uk3/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
2) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory2) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl (1964)
Ages 6-8, 9-12
There is a touch of the Brothers Grimm about Roald Dahl’s work, largely because he was prepared to reveal the precarious nature of human existence to children: The Hungry Crocodile, who wanted to eat children, James and the Giant Peach, in which James is an orphan, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, in which Charlie’s family is destitute, literally starving. No, don’t be put off – yes, Dahl’s work is often controversial, but it is invariably brilliant, and as inspirational as it is entertaining. PW amazon.co.uk2/50
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The Top 50 Children’s Books.
1) Charlotte’s Web1) Charlotte’s Web – EB White (1952)
Ages 6-8
Clearly, it has to take something sensational to grab the number one position in our Children’s Top 50 – especially when Roald Dahl only makes second spot. In fact, it doesn’t: instead, just a great story, outstanding illustrations and – after plenty of sadness – an old-fashioned happy ending. In EB White’s Charlotte’s Web, the runt of the pig litter, Wilbur, has an uphill struggle for survival, until Fern, a spider named Charlotte and farm animal friends nurse him to health. This is an emotional story about mortality, friendship and loyalty, and it works majestically. PW amazon.co.uk#staysafe #stayathome #selfisolation
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