The Top Ten Best Ever Children’s Books!
Which are your favourite stories? Do you agree with any of this list?
(Click on the covers image captions below to visit each book's page on Goodreads)
1. Harry Potter
and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling
I was so hooked by ‘The Goblet of Fire’ that I simply had to
finish it the day I first opened it. Addictive characters, plot twists and
pure, well crafted escapism, I raced through it. My advice to children (and
adults for that matter) who haven’t yet read the books is to do it now, before
watching the movies. As excellent as the films are, they rob the reader of
their imagination, something that JK Rowling really opens up with her writing style. 'Goblet of Fire' isn't just my favourite ever kids' book - it's my favourite ever book!
2. The Hobbit by
JRR Tolkein
My second best ever Children’s book is another classic
fantasy. Tolkein manages to create an entire world (literally) in the reader’s
mind; Goblins, wizards, trolls, evil spirits, elves, dwarves, dragons, he is
truly the Grandfather of fantasy fiction. From the Shire all the way to the battle of the
five armies, Bilbo takes us on a truly amazing adventure. Another one where you
must read the book before watching the movies!
3. The Lion, the
Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis
My favourite thing about The Lion, the Witch and the
Wardrobe is the idea of accidentally using a portal to suddenly appear in a
fantastical world, where you can even grow old and then still return as a
child. Such a concept was still rather new at the time C S Lewis wrote his
timeless classic. Some excellent creatures and characters in a setting where
you feel anything can happen, this battle of good against evil and the sequels once kept me busy
throughout an entire school holiday.
4. The BFG by
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl accounted for about half of my memorable childhood
reading and my sisters and I loved the
humour and crazy language found throughout the BFG. I usually never liked being
spoon fed images in books but Quentin Blake’s illustrations really added to
an already brilliant story.
5. Kensuke’s
Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo
Kensuke’s Kingdom is a great escapist’s tale with a nice
mixture of making the reader wish they were in the story too while at the same
time being grateful that they are not! Following how Kensuke slowly reveals
more positive aspects of his personality whilst enticing you to wonder more
about his past, my class loved putting themselves in the footsteps of the
main character. In fact, reading this book a little bit at the end of each day
(initially as a calming exercise) helped me turn around a ‘notorious’ Year 6
class into a group of avid readers at a very inclusive London Primary School
(we also had the audio book as some children still struggled with the words).
6. Harry Potter
and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling
As good as the first two books in the Harry Potter series
were, I feel The Prisoner of Azkaban was really the one that made me realise I
was reading an incredible series as I became more engrossed in his wizarding
world. The introduction of more complex characters, the further development of
relationships, visiting new places such as Hogsmeade and with more twists and
turns than a snake’s obstacle course, the quality of Azkaban means JK Rowling
is the only author to feature in this Top Ten more than once.
7. Treasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson
With its brilliant, varied characters and a plot that leads
the reader to develop an affinity with – and grow alongside – Jim Hawkins, Treasure
Island is truly a classic. So many things from the book can now be seen in
themes across popular culture (such as my favourite bit, ‘the black spot’!).
Jim learns plenty of lessons in life along the way as he meets all kinds of characters
like the captain, the doctor, the squire, buccaneers, scary Blind Pew and
the enigmatic Long John Silver. A special mention must also go to another great
pirate story, ‘Moonfleet’, which I also loved reading and helped get me through
a wee spell in a children’s hospital.
8. Artemis Fowl by
Eion Colfer
When I started reading Artemis Fowl with my Year 6 class, I
was starting to wonder if it was all a bit too ridiculous or whether the
blurred lines between humour and having such a dark protagonist might have been
a bit much for the kids (never mind the complex new vocabulary which my class
full of international school students in fact enjoyed). However,
the kids soon started to clearly love the story and so did I. A really good
example of how to convey a highly unusual setting in such a way that the reader
ends up finding it rather plausible (most definitely recommend this over the film!!).
9. The Gruffalo by
Julia Donaldson
The Gruffalo is perhaps my favourite book for younger
readers. Never mind the pictures, the story itself is great, with a little
lesson hidden inside it too. How can anyone not love a creature as improbable
as the Gruffalo? I remember when a school I was working at put on a ‘Gruffalo
the Musical’ for a big assembly before the holidays, and it was genuinely
terrifying until the end!
10. Stig of the
Dump by Clive King
Stig of the Dump is another favourite that spoke to me as a
child. How many of us would have loved to meet a character like the stone-age
Stig while wandering about the countryside feeling a bit bored and lonely. As
an adult it is certainly something I wouldn’t fancy but as a kid I loved the
idea! Being able to teach each other different things and putting ‘modern life’
in perspective, Clive King’s story still has plenty to offer.
Honourable mentions must also to go:
The Box of
Delights by John Masefield
Scary, gripping, brilliant. A highly original and
unforgettable tale.
The Borrowers by
Mary Norton
Which child doesn’t want to shrink into a miniature world at
least once?
The Machine
Gunners by Robert Westall
An involving story of living through a terrible war on the ‘home
front’, told through the experiences of a child.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
The trials and tribulations of a suburban adolescent made me laugh a few times and I like the way the illustrations don't influence the imagination too much.
Millions by Frank
Cotrell Boyce – I intend to read this one next!
Which are your favorite children's stories? What is your number one? Leave a comment...
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