National Bookshop Day 2014 - Australia's 50 Favourite Kids' Books

An initiative of the Australian Booksellers Association to support the role of bookshops and bookselling in the community, National Bookshop Day will be celebrated around Australia today. Participating bookshops are hosting a variety of events including author talks, children’s activities and discussion groups, all aiming to promote local bookshops and encouraging readers of all ages to explore the shelves and discover new authors and books.

As part of 2014’s National Bookshop Day celebrations the ABA polled Australians, asking them to vote for their favourite children’s book. Thousands of votes have been collated with results polled from customers of diverse bookshops including chains, independents, and online websites. It is interesting to note that over 40% of the top ten is taken up by Australian authors and 50% of the titles are picture books

We have listed the results for the National Bookshop Day 2014 list of Australia’s 50 Favourite Kids’ Books below. Is your favourite kids’ or YA title included?

1. Possum Magic – Mem Fox and Julie Vivas
2. Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone – J.K. Rowling
3. The Very Hungry Caterpillar – Eric Carle (KBR review)
4. The Fault In Our Stars – John Green (KBR review)
5. Where Is The Green Sheep? – Mem Fox and Judy Horacek (KBR review)
6. The 39-Storey Treehouse – Andy Griffiths (KBR review)
7. The Magic Faraway Tree – Enid Blyton
8. Where The Wild Things Are – Maurice Sendak (KBR review)
9. Diary Of A Wombat – Jackie French and Bruce Whatley (KBR review)
10. The Gruffalo – Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
11. Matilda - Roald Dahl (KBR review)
12. The Book Thief – Markus Zusak (KBR review)
13. Tomorrow When The War Began – John Marsden
14. Anne Of Green Gables – L.M. Montgomery
15. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl (KBR review)
16. The Hobbit – J.R.R. Tolkien
17. The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett
18. Wonder – R.J. Palacio (KBR review)
19. Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows – J.K. Rowling
20. Are We There Yet? – Alison Lester (KBR review)
21. The BFG – Roald Dahl (KBR review)
22. The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins (KBR review)
23. We’re Going On A Bear Hunt – Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury
24. Animalia – Graeme Base (KBR review)
25. Charlotte’s Web – E.B. White (KBR review)
26. Divergent – Veronica Roth
27. The Flying Orchestra – Clare McFadden (KBR review)
28. The Magic Pudding – Norman Lindsay
29. Dear Zoo – Rod Campbell
30. Famous Five Series – Enid Blyton
31. Guess How Much I Love You – Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram (KBR review)
32. Hairy Maclary From Donaldson’s Dairy – Lynley Dodd (KBR review)
33. Looking for Alibrandi – Melina Marchetta
34. Clementine Rose and the Surprise Visitor – Jacqueline Harvey
35. Looking For Alaska – John Green
36. Playing Beatie Bow – Ruth Park
37. The Knife Of Never Letting Go – Patrick Ness
38. The Witches – Roald Dahl
39. Where’s Spot? – Eric Hill
40. Winnie The Pooh – A.A. Milne
41. Stew A Cockatoo – Ruthie May and Leigh Hobbs (KBR review)
42. Edward The Emu – Sheena Knowles and Rod Clement
43. Magic Beach – Alison Lester (KBR review)
44. Giraffes Can’t Dance – Giles Andreae and Gay Parker-Rees (KBR review)
45. Green Eggs And Ham – Dr Seuss (KBR review)
46. Storm Boy – Colin Thiele
47. Ten Little Fingers And Ten Little Toes – Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury
48. The Cat In The Hat – Dr Seuss (KBR review)
49. The Lorax – Dr Seuss (KBR review)
50. The Messenger – Markus Zusak