Children's Novels
If you would like your child to develop a passion for reading you should encourage them to read the very best children's novels available. The more children read, the better readers they become. If they are inspired by excellent books, they will be motivated to read more and more.
Children's novels are longer in length than children's chapter books, being over around 100 pages. Novels will often have more description in them, requiring greater imagination from the listener or reader. Usually children's novels are targeted towards children aged 8 or older. For children at the lower end of this age range, you may want to check first that you feel the content of the novel is appropriate for your child. Many children's novels can also be very enjoyable to read aloud to younger listeners but again, check the content first to ensure it is appropriate.
To try to come up with a definitive list of the best children's novels I combined over 20 highly regarded lists of children's books including winners of prestigious children's books awards, reading lists from reputable sources and bestselling books of all time. Those books mentioned on more than one list are shown below, with books at the top receiving the most mentions.
The well-known classic "Charlotte's Web" features at the top of the list with seven mentions in the source lists, closely followed by "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" which had six mentions. Roald Dahl appears no less than four times with "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", "The BFG", "James and the Giant Peach" and "Matilda". Unsurprisingly, three of J K Rowling's immensely popular Harry Potter books also feature. For a book which has been loved for generations, try "Little Women" which was written by Louisa May Alcott in 1868.
1. Charlotte's Web


by E. B. White
illustrated by Garth Williams
First published 1952
2. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe


by C. S. Lewis
First published 1950
3. A Wrinkle in Time


by Madeleine L'Engle
First published 1962
4. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory


by Roald Dahl
First published 1963
5. Maniac Magee


by Jerry Spinelli
First published 1990
6. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry


by Mildred Taylor
First published 1976
7. The Giver


by Lois Lowry
First published 1993
8. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler


by E. L. Konigsburg
First published 1967
9. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets


by J. K. Rowling
First published 1998
10. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban


by J. K. Rowling
First published 1999
11. Island of the Blue Dolphins


by Scott O'Dell
First published 1960
12. Little House in the Big Woods


by Laura Ingalls Wilder
illustrated by Garth Williams
First published 1932
13. The BFG


by Roald Dahl
First published 1982
14. The Hobbit


by J.R.R. Tolkien
First published 1937
15. The Phantom Tollbooth


by Norton Juster
First published 1961
16. The Witch of Blackbird Pond


by Elizabeth George Speare
First published 1958
17. Walk Two Moons


by Sharon Creech
First published 1994
18. Bridge to Terabithia


by Katherine Paterson
First published 1977
19. Bunnicula


by James and Deborah Howe
First published 1979
20. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone


by J. K. Rowling
First published 1997
21. Hatchet


by Gary Paulsen
First published 1987
22. James And The Giant Peach


by Roald Dahl
First published 1961
23. Julie of the Wolves


by Jean Craighead George
First published 1972
24. Little Women


by Louisa May Alcott
First published 1868
25. Matilda


by Roald Dahl
illustrated by Quentin Blake
First published 1988
26. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH


by Robert C. O'Brien
First published 1971
27. Number the Stars


by Lois Lowry
First published 1989
28. Shiloh


by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
First published 1991
29. Sounder


by William H. Armstrong
First published 1969
30. Tuck Everlasting


by Natalie Babbitt
First published 1975
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