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

If your favorite children's novel is not on the list, then please do share it with us. We'd love to hear about it. Just click here to share your favorite children's novel and follow the instructions.