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Old favourites the leading reads in top 50 children's books

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Published Date: 22 February 2008
By SHERNA NOAH
THE fantasy novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has been named the best children's book of all time in a new poll.
CS Lewis's masterpiece, first published 58 years ago, beat The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle's hugely popular picture book first published in 1969, into second place.

Enid Blyton's Famous Five adventure books, which date back to 1942 and fell out of fashion some years ago before enjoying a resurgence, are third in the poll of 4,000 people, carried out for the charity Booktrust.

Viv Bird, a director, said: "It's wonderful to see the enduring popularity of these books which are loved by generation after generation.

"At Booktrust we want everyone to enjoy reading, whether it be returning to old favourites or encouraging people to try something new. The final 50 are a fascinating mix of classic and contemporary titles which offer something for everyone."

AA Milne's Winnie the Pooh, who made his first appearance in a poem in 1924 about a Teddy Bear who "however hard he tries grows tubby without exercise", is fourth. The BFG (Big Friendly Giant) by Roald Dahl, first published in 1982, is fifth.

The prolific British children's author has six books in the top 50, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, and The Twits, making him the most popular writer.

Enid Blyton has five mentions, while Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child, Room on a Broom, and The Snail and the Whale, has four.

JK Rowling only has one book in the top 50, her penultimate title in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at No 6.

The poll revealed that four out of five parents read their children a bedtime story every night, for an average of 22 minutes a time.

Just over half of parents questioned said they started reading books to their children when they were six months old – while 18 per cent read stories to their baby bump before the child was born.

The poll was commissioned to highlight Bookstart, which provides children in the UK with free books.

The children's television presenter Angellica Bell said: "When I was younger I remember how exciting it was to open up a new book and disappear into the magical world in front of me.

"Even when I didn't understand the words, I loved experiencing the stories and pictures.

"I think it's brilliant that Bookstart gives three packs of free books to every child, so that everyone can experience the adventures and fun of sharing books together."


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  • Last Updated: 21 February 2008 9:06 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Kipling,

22/02/2008 00:30:22
Don't they read the Secret Seven any longer?
2

Dick the Dog,

Jakarta 22/02/2008 05:34:32

Why did they drink all that ginger beer ??
3

Lanna,

22/02/2008 06:28:36
This is a great book, and a favorite with my kids, as well as the other books in the Narnia series.
Of course, nothing beats our all time favorite book: 'Go Dog Go!'
4

Anne,

Eaglesham 22/02/2008 06:42:32
Just how did they get their figures?
The problem with children's literacy is that parents DON'T read to them and yet we have this poll suggesting four out of five do.
A self-selecting cohort, I think.
5

Yane,

22/02/2008 07:08:37
Little kids (under 5) all love The Red Balloon by Albert Lamorisse (1956) & also Maurice Sendak's In the Night Kitchen.
They are both very strange & wonderful, like dreams.
6

Conan the Librarian™,

22/02/2008 08:04:33
Aileen Paterson's Maisie books are fab.
7

TimW1234,

Ottawa, Canada 22/02/2008 10:25:26
Do UK children still read books?

I thought they sat in front of their computer screens or Playstations getting grotesquely fat and unhealthy as they inhale salty, sugary snacks and fizzy drinks rather than having a good read and then going out for a bicycle ride or brisk walk or some SAFE rough and tumble with their peers
8

Boy Wonder,

22/02/2008 10:31:58
Pure BILGE!!!

Kids of different ages have very different tastes and these vary wildly. You cannot generalise like this. You have to break it up into age brackets, because 4-5 year olds don't read the same stuff as 7-8 year olds, who again differ so much from 10-12 year olds.

These "lists" are just a stupiod way of keeping some idiot in a job! Time we lost these idiotic things ... besides ... kids between 10 and 70 don't give a flying you-know-what about them!
9

G,

dundee 22/02/2008 10:32:50
#4 NO - you THINK the problem is that parents don't read to their children - an opinion probably reinforced by certain newspapers - although this is a selective poll (the parents have already shown they care because they are getting involved with bookstart) it is probably closer to the truth than the horror stories.

Most children can read fine, the problem comes in translating reading skills into comprehension and then developing communication skillls (i.e. writing coherently)
10

Gothic Rose,

22/02/2008 10:34:07
What! No Mabel Lucie Atwell.?
11

Yane,

22/02/2008 10:57:15
#13 wow! thanks for that - these are great pictures.
12

TimW1234,

Ottawa, Canada 22/02/2008 11:35:46
Gothic Rose

Who in the name of heaven is Mabel Lucie Atwell?

Is she an authoress designed to titillate young girls and girly boys?
13

Kipling,

22/02/2008 11:41:29
#11. True, but also kids like to go back to what they read before. I read Agatha Christie at 8yrs and then returned to her much later, same with the Narnia books, which you could read in a different way each time. Also no classics are mentioned in the story (although they may feature on the final list, I couldn't find that on Booktrust's website). Lorna Doone, the Jungle Stories, Treasure Island, etc. Is this because the parents find these too difficult? It is these that expand the children's minds in enlarging their vocabulary and comprehension, away from the banality of mobile texting which will dominate their teen years.
14

educational snob,

edinburgh 22/02/2008 11:49:27
"The L. the W. & the Wardrobe" is a fantastic book. I didn't read it until the age of 30, when I was introduced to it by my wife, who had read it as a little girl. Perhaps its secret value is that people of all ages can get something out of it. This ties in with Lewis' comments to his god-daughter, Lucy Barfield, to whom the book is dedicated. In the dedication, he says that he hopes Lucy enjoys it as a little girl, but that she will come back to it later on. Although it's simply written, I found that it and the other Narnia Chronicles contain insights into human nature and the mysteries of the universe.
15

WKKB,

22/02/2008 12:21:55
Interesting... I'm not sure where they got this information but if they only polled mothers who read bedtime stories it's no wonder books like the Harry Potter series doesn't make the top 10 at least. If they were to poll older children and teens they might get a completely different outcome so how can they say with certainty which books are in fact favourites? Favourites of whom? Also, if you look at some of the books listed they've been around a whole heck of a lot longer than some up and coming writers books which are fast becoming favourites, ie JK Rowling. There are several of my own favourites that aren't mentioned here and they didn't poll me so really now... how can they, whom ever 'they' are, come to a solid, factual conclusion?
16

The Fly Fifer,

Fife 22/02/2008 14:47:40
what a great example of class distinction, ............. the spawn of junkie skkanks, single mothers, fatherless dole scroungers regularly turn up first day at school unable to read at all .......

17

Gothic Rose,

22/02/2008 15:02:15
TimW
"Away and Bile yer Heid" and whilst you are at it "Raffle yer Onions."
18

Gothic Rose,

22/02/2008 15:17:24
16# Yes I liked Christie until you sussed out the format then,it was a case of interest lost.TV productions are fun,also Margaret Rutherford made a great Miss Marples as did Joan Hickson.
19

Gothic Rose,

22/02/2008 15:19:18
P.S. No time for Lewis. Was a sucker for the Railway Children and The Secret Garden.
20

The Fly Fifer,

Fife 22/02/2008 15:52:59
As the libraries in Fife banned Dr Dolittle, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the fantastic TinTin series, along with many other childrens books I had to source them from second hand book shops.
21

TimW1234,

Ottawa, Canada 22/02/2008 15:54:13
21 Gothic Rose

My, my you are a tad tempestuous today.

What it anything I said or did, dearest one?

You STILL have not answered my polite enquiry about who Mabel Lucie Atwell is.

I think even you know how to use google or wikipedia.

Why should I do the work when she is one of YOUR favourites? It's only fair.
22

TimW1234,

Ottawa, Canada 22/02/2008 15:58:32
21 Gothic Rose

My, my dearest one. We are a tad tempestuous today.

What it anything I said or did?

Even you know how to google or use wikipedia so why should I investigate one of YOUR favourite authoresses, Mabel Lucie Atwell? :)))
23

The Fly Fifer,

fIFE 22/02/2008 17:29:28
http://www.chrisbeetles.com/pictures/artists/Attwell_Mabel-Lucie/Attwell_Mabel-Lucie.htm

For the "RAINBOW" inclined such as Tim
24

Kipling,

22/02/2008 22:30:25
#23. Ah yes, Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden, that was superb. Tom's Midnight Garden (Phillipa Pearce) is another one.
#19. Have you ever tried reading a child a story it doesn't want to hear? I would have thought it's much easier to get a poll reflecting the likes and dislikes of the wee ones, rather than the trend-seeking older teenies who might say what they think the poller wants to hear.
25

democrate,

central Scotland 22/02/2008 23:04:07
Crivvens! Whit happened to my son's favourites - Oor Wullie and The Broons? Talking of PC, Fat Bob is now known as only "Bob."
26

Roberta Burns,

22/02/2008 23:04:31
9 TimW1234,OATWAT - always there to show what a dimwit he is. Thanks timwit.

Does anyone remember the Humpty Dumpty Club - every month they sent out interesting exercises for under -4s - that encouraged reading and writing. After my divorce (my son was 3 years old), my mother in law inundated us with books (thankfully) - Chicken Licken, the Three Billy Goats Gruff, the Three Little Pigs, Treasure Island, Robinson Crusoe, the Famous Five, Secret Seven, The Cat in the Hat, and so many other invaluable titles.

There is nothing more pleasurable than introducing a young child to books and reading. Harry Potter? Phooo!
27

democrate,

central Scotland 22/02/2008 23:09:11
30 - you gave the game away; you picked your own favs!
28

Roberta Burns,

22/02/2008 23:18:40
31~# Yes, I have shown my weaknesses, but it really doesn't matter. I still remember HOW I remembered to read - Dick and Dora - the cat sat on the mat etc.

Children gain confidence as well as pleasure from finding that they can read to their parents!
29

Kipling,

22/02/2008 23:39:32
A was an apple-pie;
B bit it;
C cut it;
D dealt it;
E eat it;
F fought for it;
G got it;
H had it;
J joined it;
K kept it;
L longed for it;
M mourned for it;
N nodded at it;
O opened it;
P peeped in it;
Q quartered it;
R ran for it;
S stole it;
T took it;
U upset it;
V viewed it;
W wanted it;
X, Y, Z, and &, all wish'd for a piece in hand.

30

Kipling,

22/02/2008 23:41:38
Pre- 1840s.
31

TimW1234,

Ottawa, Canada 23/02/2008 11:31:55
Re: Roberta Burns

Does everyone know that "Roberta" used to be Bob Burns before "she" went through for "her" sexual reassingment operation.

It was mostly successful - "her" bits are a bit messy and not nice to look at.

I have it on VERY good authority.

Thought y'all should know.

 

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