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Top fifty children's books of all time?
Filed under: Media, Day Care & Education, That's Entertainment
When I first saw this list, I thought it seemed rather anglocentric -- I mean, I had read Enid Blyton's books as a child, but none of my friends had even heard of them. I also noticed the poor showing Dr. Seuss made -- only The Cat in the Hat made it on the list and they misspelled his name to boot.It turns out that the list of top fifty children's books of all time was compiled by Booktrust, a British organization that "encourages people of all ages and cultures to discover and enjoy reading." They surveyed four thousand parents who, it seems, responded primarily with the books they enjoyed as kids.
Of course, where you conduct such a survey will heavily influence the responses you get. Here in the states, I would expect to see Judy Blume represented, along with Harold and the Purple Crayon, The Phantom Tollbooth, The Story of Ferdinand, and even Goodnight Moon. Personally, I would have added My Father's Dragon and Time at the Top, at the very least.
What would you pick as the best children's books of all time?
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
2-23-2008 @ 3:49PM
Uly said...Any book that a child enjoys is, for that reading, the best children's book of all time :)
If I made my own personal list, it'd go off the bottom of the computer screen, and that is the truth.
Reply
2-23-2008 @ 4:56PM
Rosie said...Harry Potter definately qualifies. I was one of the few people ,it would seem, that fell in love with the series, but they have really got children reading again, and that has to be a good thing.
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2-23-2008 @ 7:30PM
Chris said...I agree with Uly. Whenever a book grabs hold of a child's imagination and fosters a love of reading, that makes it one of the 'best books of all time'.
I taught 2nd and 3rd grade for 10 years before I had my babies. My students always loved:
Strega Nona- well, mostly anything by Tomie dePaola
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible No Good Very Bad Day
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
The Relatives Came- again anything by Cynthia Rylant
The Polar Express
Owl Moon
A Light in the Attic & Where the Sidewalk Ends- poems by Shel Silversein
The 13 Nights of Halloween
Somebody Loves you, Mr. Hatch
My own children just love:
Mr. Brown can Moo, Can you?
Where the Wild things Are
The Velveteen Rabbit
Knuffle Bunny
If you Give a Mouse a Cookie
Make Way for Ducklings
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2-23-2008 @ 8:07PM
Carolyn said...I'm going to go out on a limb here and admit that I've always thought Goodnight Moon is a bit overrated...
My daughter is two, she seems to love the Eric Carle books. I love the Madeline stories. Growing up my favourites were Amelia Bedilia, and the Robert Munsch books. I must have read The Paper Bag Princess a thousand times as a kid. And later on, Judy Blume of course
Oh, and The Bobbsey Twins. Wow, I haven't thought about those books forever!
Carolyn
http://www.momsontheedge.typepad.com
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2-23-2008 @ 9:36PM
queenoqueens said...I agree with the statement of anything that gets your child reading is a worthwhile book. I think the question of what they enjoy currently, and perhaps what they'll remember in the long run (which is what the list really compiled) are 2 different things. That being said there are alot of books that may not be "great literature" but are wonderful reading nonetheless. Right now my 6 year old will read just about anything. As for my toddler, I'm a fan of anything that makes her laugh, such as Sandra Boynton books. She also oves "I Love You Stinky Face" as well as "Feathers for Lunch". Books with flaps may not rate as great literature, but boy does my toddler love them as well.
I love to hear suggestions for books on here....I always make a note of them.
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2-24-2008 @ 1:07AM
Uly said...I'll also add that just because you remember a book fondly, it doesn't follow that it was actually a great masterpiece of children's literature.
How many times have I opened a book, full of nostalgia, breathed in deeply - only to find that, in my childhood, I'd totally overlooked the little sexist or racist elements, the prosteletyzing of one view or another, or the just plain *weird* parts that, as an adult, I kinda am embarrassed to be reading now? Or just found that the book falls flat compared to my built up recollections?
We remember everything from our childhoods so strongly - it was either wonderful or terrible. This is a good trait, but it can lead us to misjudge things.
2-24-2008 @ 3:19AM
Uly said...Incidentally, for your toddler? For some reason that I don't understand, my nieces have fallen head over heels in love with the "Gossie and Gertie" books.
2-23-2008 @ 10:20PM
Karen said...As a child I absolutely adored The Boxcar Children.
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2-23-2008 @ 10:37PM
Chrissy said...Our favorite book to read is Archy the Flying Dolphin & the Vampire's Curse.
It's a book about a boy and a girl (brother and sister) go on a trip with a dolphin and come across evil and danger too.
It's a really good book and a lot of kids in my school are reading it these days.
Reply
2-23-2008 @ 10:39PM
Chrissy said...You can find more info about Archy the Flying Dolphin and the Vampire's Curse at the link below:
http://archytheflyingdolphin.com/default.aspx
2-23-2008 @ 11:15PM
Priya said...Having spent the first third of my life in India, Enid Blyton was actually the biggest part of my literary diet. Good ol' colonialism - gave us the railways and the Famous Five. It's not surprising to see her fare featured so heavily on the Telegraph list. Even now, Noddy is quite a favorite amongst the shorter set, including my own 3-yr old. Of course, it helps they cleaned out the racist and sexist bits from the '40s!
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2-24-2008 @ 1:03AM
Anita said...What about Anne of Green Gables?
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2-24-2008 @ 1:23AM
Tad said...Goodnight Moon overrated? Them's fightin' words.... Just kidding. I don't remember ever reading or being affected by Goodnight Moon as a kid, although I like it very much as an adult.
As a kid I very much loved Where the Wild Things Are, Mike Mulligan and His Steamshovel, Toad and Frog Are Friends, and the Dr. Seuss books Green Eggs and Ham and To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street.
I tend to agree with those that have said that almost any book that will grab and hold the attention of your child is a good book. As a parent you just have to hope that it is a book that does not personally annoy you.
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