Kids’ TOP 5O books 1 THE TREEHOUSE SERIES Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton This series of books about an amazing treehouse which just keeps getting taller and taller has a real sense of fun and adventure, which explains the massive popularity! 4 DIARY OF A WIMPY KID SERIES Jeff Kinney Greg Heffley keeps a diary about his rotten life, his dysfunctional family, and his best friend Rowley Jefferson - all of which worry him all of the time. This series remains an international bestselling phenomenon. The Whitcoulls Kids’ Top 50 is a list of the most loved children’s books, as voted for by New Zealand readers. These are books which thousands of young readers have discovered and loved, and may assist you with your selection. 2 HARRY POTTER SERIES J. K. Rowling 3 HAIRY MACLARY AND FRIENDS Lynley Dodd Even after the end of the series, votes for J.K. Rowling’s magnificent Hairy has been around in many versions for more than 30 years. creation continue to pour in. Perfect for a new generation! 5 WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE Maurice Sendak The story of Max’s adventures when he sails away to The Land Where The Wild Things Are. Great for sharing, every child should have a copy. 6 MATILDA Roald Dahl Matilda invents a game of punishing her parents when they treat her badly. She soon discovers that she has supernatural powers. Classic Dahl, beloved by thousands. Kids’ TOP 5O CATEGORY KEY Use the colour coding guide to choose the best book for your reading age. 0-3 YEARS 3-5 YEARS 5-8 YEARS 8-10 YEARS 10-12 YEARS 12+ YEARS 7 THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR Eric Carle The classic edition of the bestselling story written for the very young. A newly hatched caterpillar eats and eats and eats his way towards becoming a butterfly. Perfect for sharing. 8 BAA BAA SMART SHEEP Mark & Rowan Sommerset Little Baa Baa is bored. When Quirky Turkey arrives on the scene, the opportunity to make some mischief proves too hard to resist. 9 THE GRUFFALO Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler A mouse encounters several dangerous animals -a fox, an owl, and a snake - each of which clearly intends to eat him. Wonderful for sharing and reading aloud. 10 THE GERONIMO & THEA STILTON SERIES Geronimo & Thea Stilton 15 PERCY JACKSON SERIES Rick Riordan Geronimo Stilton is a talking mouse who lives in New Mouse City on Mouse Island. He and his sister Thea each have their own series, which are great for newly confident readers. Percy is a troubled twelve year old diagnosed with both ADHD and dyslexia. After being attacked at school, he is escorted to Camp Half-Blood, built to train and protect Greek demigods where he learns that his father is Poseidon, the god of the sea. 11 THE HUNGER GAMES Suzanne Collins 16 THE CAT IN THE HAT Dr Seuss Thousands of young readers continue to be captivated with Katniss and her post apocalyptic world, where children fight to the death. The classic tale of the coolest, hippest cat in history! When the Cat in the Hat steps in on the mat, Sally and her brother are in for a roller-coaster ride of havoc and mayhem! 12 CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Roald Dahl The classic story of Charlie Bucket and his Golden Ticket, and Willy Wonka and his amazing chocolate factory. 13 CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS SERIES Dav Pilkey Few things command disrespect like the sight of a man wearing whitie-tighties. However, the bald and barefoot Captain Underpants happens to be a superhero. 14 THE BFG Roald Dahl The BFG (Big Friendly Giant) is a kind creature who blows dreams into children’s rooms at night while they are asleep. Irresistible Dahl. 17 THE DIVERGENT TRILOGY Veronica Roth A gripping dystopian trilogy of electrifying choices, powerful consequences, unexpected romance, and a deeply flawed “perfect society.” 18 THE FAULT IN OUR STARS John Green Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters defy the notion that a book about kids with cancer will be depressing. These two really know how to live. 19 DORK DIARIES SERIES Rachel Renee Russell This series chronicles the daily life of Nikki Maxwell as she struggles to both fit in and survive middle school. It’s written in a diary format and includes doodles, drawings and comic strips. Kids’ TOP 5O 20 THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT Drew Daywalt Duncan just wants to colour – but his crayons have had enough and are on strike! Did you know that crayons have feelings too? Kids adore this fun, colourful story. 21 THE WONKY DONKEY Craig Smith The book and CD all about spunky, hanky-panky cranky stinky dinky lanky honky-tonky winky wonky donkey – which has become adored by all who read it. 22 GREEN EGGS & HAM Dr Seuss When Sam-I-am persists in pestering a grumpy grouch to eat a plate of green eggs and ham, perseverance wins the day, teaching us all that we cannot know what we like until we have tried it! 23 GANGSTA GRANNY David Walliams Ben’s Granny is far more interesting than he gave her credit for - who’d have thought this elderly woman had such an interesting past, which might involve Ben’s future? 24 I LOVE LEMONADE Mark & Rowan Sommerset A sequel to Baa Baa Smart Sheep, also on this list – Kiwi style animal humour of the kind that young kids really love! 25 THE TWITS Roald Dahl 30 MAZE RUNNER SERIES James Dashner Mr and Mrs Twit are extremely nasty, so the Muggle-Wump monkeys and the Roly-Poly bird hatch an ingenious plan to give them just the ghastly surprise they deserve. Thrilling, apocalyptic stories about boys without memories, living in a place called The Glade which is surrounded by a maze, where the only way out is to run, and hope you can solve the maze by finding an exit to escape from. There are four books in total in this series with a fifth due in 2016. 26 THE WHEELS ON THE BUS Donovan Bixley The classic song is brought to life amidst the New Zealand landscape, with the brilliant illustrations of Donovan Bixley. 27 PAPER TOWNS John Green Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and summons him for a night-long campaign of revenge, he follows. 28 THE GONE SERIES Michael Grant A series of 6 books in which every human 15 years and older disappears in a post apocalyptic world - striking a real chord with teen readers! 29 WONDER R J Palacio Augie’s an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary deformity – which makes being the new kid in class even harder than usual. This is a touching, affecting novel. 31 HOLES Louis Sachar This wonderful, wonderful book should be read by everyone. At Camp Green Lake, Stanley Yelnats must dig a hole a day. But why?? This has become something of a modern classic 32 MINECRAFT This game has taken the world by storm, and every player needs the guides to help them build their world. Indispensable! 33 AWFUL AUNTIE David Walliams Aunt Alberta is a truly awful auntie, with dastardly plans. Fans of the author’s wacky humour will love this - easy to read and so much fun! 34 THE LORAX Dr Seuss This hilarious story has a strong ecological message, with rhyme and repetition. 35 THE WITCHES Roald Dahl A woman tells her orphaned grandson how to recognize a witch - they only look human! Kids’ TOP 5O 36 WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT Michael Rosen 41 A LION IN THE MEADOW Margaret Mahy 46 ROOM ON THE BROOM Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler Simply one of the most charming, and easily repeatable picture books ever written. A copy should be in every child’s library! This brilliant story of a child’s imagination is beloved by both young children, and the adults who read to them – from a real New Zealand treasure. The witch and her cat are joined on the broom by a variety of animals – but what happens when they’re too heavy, and the broom snaps in two? 42 I NEED A NEW BUM Dawn McMillan & Ross Kinnaird 47 THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA Judith Kerr 37 GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU? Sam McBratney & Anita Jeram Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare share the special bond of parent and child, and the book is a real pleasure to read. 38 THE DEMON DENTIST David Walliams The heir apparent to the Roald Dahl crown puts his humour and spin on the tooth fairy story. Irresistible to thousands of young readers! 39 PEEPO! Janet & Allan Ahlberg Look through the pages and what do you see….?Peepo!! This book is fun, hugely entertaining and relates to very young children in a way they adore. 40 THE LITTLE YELLOW DIGGER Betty and Alan Gilderdale When the little yellow digger gets stuck in the mud, a range of bigger diggers are sent to finish the job. Quirky, slightly rude humour that young kids love - and takes a poke at Dad while it’s about it! 43 GIRL ONLINE Zoe Sugg From Youtube sensation Zoella. Her story about a teenage girl who writes a blog about school, boys and her “mad” family has broken sales records and found many new fans. 44 CHARLOTTE’S WEB E B White This is the tale of how a little girl named Fern, with the help of a friendly spider, saved her pig, Wilbur, from the usual fate of nice fat little pigs. 45 JAMES & THE GIANT PEACH Roald Dahl James’s parents are eaten by a rhinoceros escaped from the zoo. He’s sent to live with two horrible aunts, but misery turns to adventure when something peculiar happens, and life gets interesting! Sophie and her Mum are having tea when a tiger comes to visit and eats it all up. When Dad gets home there’s nothing left! 48 OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! Dr Seuss The wise and witty words of Dr Seuss encourage young readers to dream big - the world is theirs for the taking. 49 THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS SERIES Cassandra Clare Clary Fray is seeing things: vampires in Brooklyn and werewolves in Manhattan. Irresistibly drawn towards a group of sexy demon hunters, Clary encounters the dark side of New York City - and the dangers of forbidden love 50 GIRAFFES CAN’T DANCE Giles Andreae Gerald the giraffe just wants to dance, but it’s harder than you might think. This book is gentle inspiration for every child with dreams of greatness.