19/12/2023
Phoebe Tucker

The Most Popular Children's Books of All Times

We all have our own favourite children's stories that inspired our love for reading, whether that be from the workings of famous children's authors such as Roald Dahl to C.S Lewis or Jacqueline Wilson to Dr. Seuss.

From classic children's books to bestselling children's books, keep reading to find out our round-up of 10 of the most popular children's books of all time and see if your own or maybe your little ones' favourite stories have made it onto our list.

In this blog: 

The Cat in the Hat

All about madness and mayhem, The Cat in The Hat is one of the best children's stories and famous kids books loved by many. Written by Dr.Seuss and released in 1957, it's all about adventure and the rhyming text makes it super easy for young children to follow along… making reading The Cat in The Hat so much fun!

Winnie the Pooh

One of the most famous bears in the world, Winne the Pooh has been a much-loved story for kids for nearly 100 years. Created by A.A Milne in 1926, Winne the Pooh is a classic children's book following the adventures of Pooh and his friends, Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger, Roo, Christopher Robin and many more. Since the original children's book, it has even been turned into a movie, with some of the characters getting their own sequels as well.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Another timeless and much-cherished children's story has got to be The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. Originally released in 1901, it is a vintage children's book that has been forever been a favourite. The story follows a cheeky and naughty rabbit called Peter who escapes and gets in trouble, only to then wind up home to his mother safe and sound. It is a lighthearted family classic that rightfully deserves a place on our list.

The Gruffalo

Published in 1999 by Julia Donaldson, The Gruffalo is perfect for little ones. It tells the tale of a mouse walking in the woods that ends up face to face with a Gruffalo. We don't want to spoil it, but it is one of the top children's books to introduce your child to reading – we hope they love it just as much as we do!

Charlotte's Web

Charlotte's Web has sold more than 45 million copies and has been translated into over 20 languages. It is a children's novel that never gets old and is endearing as well as having sad elements. Written by E.B White, Charlotte's Web tells the story of Wilbur the pig and his friendship with Charlotte, a farmhouse spider. It is loved by children of all ages (and us adults can't deny it was a favourite of ours too).

A Bear Called Paddington

Another famous bear in the book world has got to be Paddington Bear. Created by Michael Bond in 1951, A Bear Called Paddington has got to be one of the most famous children's books, especially in the UK. With his famous hat, suitcase, duffel coat and how can we forget his marmalade sandwiches, he has been loved by many over the years and has appeared in over 20 books, as well as adapted for TV and film.

The Railway Children

Edith Nesbit is a famous children's author who is best known for The Railway Children, published in 1906. It was originally released as a series in The London Magazine and then the book was released the same year. It is an old children's book that has gone on to be adapted into TV series, films and a musical.

Matilda

The children's story of a girl called Matilda Wormwood who can move objects with her mind is one of the most famous children's books from the 80s, written by Roal Dahl. It has sold over 17 million copies worldwide and is the most popular of Dahl's books. Matilda has even been turned into a film back in 1996 and has since been written into a musical, showcasing on Broadway and the West End.

Harry Potter

The Harry Potter franchise has undoubtedly some of the best fantasy novels and are collectively the top children's books for teens. We all know the story by now… each of the seven books follows the life of young wizard Harry Potter and his friends at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. First released by J.K Rowling in 1997, she is now a billionaire author thanks to the immense popularity of both the Harry Potter books and the movies.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Written by author C.S Lewis in 1950, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a fictional children's book and is the first published in The Chronicles of Narnia series. It follows four children who are evacuated during the Blitz and find themselves in Narnia via a magic wardrobe. It's a much-cherished children's book and was turned into a movie in 2005.

Shop your favourite children's books for less at the musicMagpie Store or trade in children's books to give them a second life.

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