Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone announced nation’s favourite children’s book after thousands vote
Reading charity Booktrust is today pleased to reveal that J.K. Rowling'sHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the nation’s favourite children's book, with over 24,000 votes cast this autumn.
To mark Children’s Book Week 2013, proudly supported by Kindle, book fans of all ages were invited to pick their ultimate storybook to read before the age of 14, with a mixture of modern greats and beloved classics making the top ten. Already marking its territory as a hugely successful film franchise,The Hunger Games finished second behind the debut Harry Potter book. Classics such asThe BFG and The Very Hungry Caterpillar also ranked highly, both making the top ten.
The win adds yet another accolade to J.K. Rowling's magical creation, whose unrivalled success made her the world's first and only billionaire author. The adventures of the Gryffindor wizard inspired a whole generation of young and adult readers, with over 400 million copies of the book sold worldwide. The resulting films also proved critically and commercially successful and launched the careers of several British actors. And the proliferation of lucrative DVDs, toys, video games, memorabilia, and even theme park attractions contribute to the total global value of the franchise at $15bn.
Starting with 500 titles, Booktrust experts whittled them down to compile the list of 100 books every child must read before 14, giving bookworms the unenviable task of choosing their most-loved novel.
Titles were also split into age categories.The Very Hungry Caterpillar topped the 0-5 age group and Roald Dahl'sThe BFG won with 6-8 year olds. The top two reads overall,Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and The Hunger Games each triumphed in the 9-12 and 12-14 categories before total votes determined the final results.
The most popular titles show that although classic storytelling remains popular with younger children, modern franchises have had a real impact on older readers. Of the books in the top ten, nine have since been made into huge film adaptations.
Claire Shanahan, Head of Arts, Booktrust, said: "As the biggest ever grossing literary franchise, kids and adults alike clearly can't get enough of Harry Potter. It’s a worldwide phenomena - it has captured the imaginations of a generation of readers who have grown up in love with Harry or Hermione, want to be friends with Ron, and are truly terrified by Voldemort.Even when up against heavyweights such as Dahl and Tolkien, Rowling ‘s creation remains the nation’s firm favourite.”
“We’re thrilled that the public have voted in their thousands. Lists such as this are a great way of celebrating the outstanding quality of past and present authors and illustrators. Plus Christmas and the New Year is a fantastic time to get our children excited about books! ”
Emma Hopkin, MD Childrens and Educational, Bloomsbury Publishing, said:“We are thrilled that children have voted Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone as the nation’s favourite children’s book. It is wonderful that Harry Potter can still hold the same magic for children now as it did when it was first published sixteen years ago. Lists like this are such a brilliant way to engage debate and discussion of books for children and to reflect the sheer quality and variety that young readers can enjoy today.”
Jorrit Van der Meulen, Vice President, Amazon Kindle EU, said: “Everyone remembers their favourite childhood book. The public have voted in droves for their most-loved stories and it is fantastic to see such enthusiasm and interest in reading – a passion that we share at Amazon.”
The final top ten is as follows:
Overall Top 10
|
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
|
The Hunger Games
|
The BFG
|
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
|
Winnie-the-Pooh
|
The Cat in the Hat
|
The Fellowship of the Ring
|
Charlotte's Web
|
Northern Lights
|
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
|
The 100 selected titles:
Title
|
Author
|
Age range
|
The Cat in the Hat
|
Dr Seuss
|
0 - 5 years
|
Where the Wild Things Are
|
Maurice Sendak
|
0 - 5 years
|
The Tiger Who Came to Tea
|
Judith Kerr
|
0 - 5 years
|
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
|
Eric Carle
|
0 - 5 years
|
The Elephant and the Bad Baby
|
Elfrida Vipont
|
0 - 5 years
|
Meg and Mog
|
Helen Nicholl
|
0 - 5 years
|
Dogger
|
Shirley Hughes
|
0 - 5 years
|
Each Peach Pear Plum
|
Allan Ahlberg
|
0 - 5 years
|
Would You Rather?
|
John Burningham
|
0 - 5 years
|
The Snowman
|
Raymond Briggs
|
0 - 5 years
|
Not Now, Bernard
|
David McKee
|
0 - 5 years
|
Where's Spot?
|
Eric Hill
|
0 - 5 years
|
Dear Zoo
|
Rod Campbell
|
0 - 5 years
|
Gorilla
|
Anthony Browne
|
0 - 5 years
|
Hairy Maclary From Donaldson's Dairy
|
Lynley Dodd
|
0 - 5 years
|
The Jolly Postman
|
Allan Ahlberg
|
0 - 5 years
|
Princess Smartypants
|
Babette Cole
|
0 - 5 years
|
I Want My Potty
|
Tony Ross
|
0 - 5 years
|
We're Going on a Bear Hunt
|
Michael Rosen
|
0 - 5 years
|
I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato
|
Lauren Child
|
0 - 5 years
|
Room on a Broom
|
Julia Donaldson
|
0 - 5 years
|
Lost and Found
|
Oliver Jeffers
|
0 - 5 years
|
Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears
|
Emily Gravett
|
0 - 5 years
|
Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes
|
Mem Fox
|
0 - 5 years
|
I Want My Hat Back
|
Jon Klassen
|
0 - 5 years
|
Pippi Longstocking
|
Astrid Lindgren
|
5 - 7 years
|
Winnie-the-Pooh
|
A. A. Milne
|
6 - 8 years
|
The Story of Babar
|
Jean de Brunhoff
|
6 - 8 years
|
Little House in the Big Woods
|
Laura Ingalls Wilder
|
6 - 8 years
|
The Enchanted Wood
|
Enid Blyton
|
6 - 8 years
|
Five on a Treasure Island
|
Enid Blyton
|
6 - 8 years
|
Finn Family Moomintroll
|
Tove Jansson
|
6 - 8 years
|
My Naughty Little Sister
|
Dorothy Edwards
|
6 - 8 years
|
Charlotte's Web
|
EB White
|
6 - 8 years
|
A Bear Called Paddington
|
Michael Bond
|
6 - 8 years
|
Asterix the Gaul
|
Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo
|
6 - 8 years
|
Flat Stanley
|
Jeff Brown
|
6 - 8 years
|
The Worst Witch
|
Jill Murphy
|
6 - 8 years
|
Mister Magnolia
|
Quentin Blake
|
6 - 8 years
|
The Queen's Nose
|
Dick King-Smith
|
6 - 8 years
|
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
|
Jon Scieszka
|
6 - 8 years
|
Amazing Grace
|
Mary Hoffman
|
6 - 8 years
|
The Adventures of Milly Molly Mandy
|
Joyce Lankester Brisley
|
6 - 8 years
|
Horrid Henry
|
Francesca Simon
|
6 - 8 years
|
The Sheep-Pig
|
Dick King Smith
|
6 - 8 years
|
Clarice Bean, That's Me
|
Lauren Child
|
6 - 8 years
|
That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown
|
Cressida Cowell
|
6 - 8 years
|
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
|
Jeff Kinney
|
6 - 8 years
|
The BFG
|
Roald Dahl
|
6- 8 years
|
The Arrival
|
Shaun Tan
|
6- 8 years
|
The Adventures of Tin Tin
|
Herge
|
9 - 12 years
|
Swallows and Amazons
|
Arthur Ransome
|
9 - 12 years
|
Ballet Shoes
|
Noel Streatfield
|
9 - 12 years
|
The Hobbit
|
J R R Tolkien
|
9 - 12 years
|
The Little Prince
|
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
|
9 - 12 years
|
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
|
C. S. Lewis
|
9 - 12 years
|
The Borrowers
|
Mary Norton
|
9 - 12 years
|
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
|
Joan Aitken
|
9 - 12 years
|
Stig of the Dump
|
Clive King
|
9 - 12 years
|
Carrie's War
|
Nina Bawden
|
9 - 12 years
|
Goodnight Mr Tom
|
Michelle Magorian
|
9 - 12 years
|
The Witches
|
Roald Dahl
|
9 - 12 years
|
Matilda
|
Roald Dahl
|
9 - 12 years
|
Truckers: The First Book of the Nomes
|
Terry Pratchett
|
9 - 12 years
|
The Story of Tracy Beaker
|
Jacqueline Wilson
|
9 - 12 years
|
Flour Babies
|
Anne Fine
|
9 - 12 years
|
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
|
J. K. Rowling
|
9 - 12 years
|
Skellig
|
David Almond
|
9 - 12 years
|
Holes
|
Louis Sachar
|
9 - 12 years
|
Artemis Fowl
|
Eoin Colfer
|
9 - 12 years
|
Journey to River Sea
|
Eva Ibbotson
|
9 - 12 years
|
Private Peaceful
|
Michael Morpurgo
|
9 - 12 years
|
Millions
|
Frank Cottrell Boyce
|
9 - 12 years
|
Once
|
Morris Gleitzman
|
9 - 12 years
|
A Monster Calls
|
Patrick Ness
|
9 - 12 years
|
I Capture the Castle
|
Dodie Smith
|
12 - 14 years
|
The Fellowship of the Ring
|
J R R Tolkien
|
12 - 14 years
|
The Owl Service
|
Alan Garner
|
12 - 14 years
|
Watership Down
|
Richard Adams
|
12 - 14 years
|
Forever
|
Judy Blume
|
12 - 14 years
|
The Ruby in the Smoke
|
Philip Pullman
|
12 - 14 years
|
Northern Lights
|
Philip Pullman
|
12 - 14 years
|
Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging
|
Louise Rennison
|
12 - 14 years
|
Witch Child
|
Celia Rees
|
12 - 14 years
|
Coram Boy
|
Jamila Gavin
|
12 - 14 years
|
Kite Rider
|
Geraldine McCaughrean
|
12 - 14 years
|
Mortal Engines
|
Philip Reeve
|
12 - 14 years
|
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
|
Mark Haddon
|
12 - 14 years
|
Looking for JJ
|
Anne Cassidy
|
12 - 14 years
|
Stormbreaker
|
Anthony Horowitz
|
12 - 14 years
|
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
|
John Boyne
|
12 - 14 years
|
Noughts and Crosses
|
Malorie Blackman
|
12 - 14 years
|
The Graveyard Book
|
Neil Gaiman
|
12 - 14 years
|
The Knife of Never Letting Go
|
Patrick Ness
|
12 - 14 years
|
Revolver
|
Marcus Segdwick
|
12 - 14 years
|
Life: An Exploded Diagram
|
Mal Peet
|
12 - 14 years
|
Maggot Moon
|
Sally Gardner
|
12 - 14 years
|
Junk
|
Melvin Burgess
|
12 - 14 years. At top end of age band
|
How I Live Now
|
Meg Rosoff
|
12 - 14 years. At top end of age band
|
The Hunger Games
|
Suzanne Collins
|
12 - 14 years. At top end of age band
|
