Reading to your grandchildren or children Part 3

The following list is from the Australian Booksellers’ Association list of 50 Favourite Kids’ Books, voted on by 5000 participants from a database of all children’s books in English and published here

1. Possum Magic — Mem Fox and Julie Vivas

Mem Fox’s best-selling first picture book about Grandma Poss, who uses her best bush magic to make baby Hush invisible.

2. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone — J.K. Rowling

The first book in Rowling’s series sees the young Harry journey to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he hones his magical powers and confronts Lord Voldemort.

3. The Very Hungry Caterpillar — Eric Carle

First published in 1969, Carle’s collage-style illustrations follow a caterpillar as it eats its way through a variety of foods to emerge, at the end of the book, as a butterfly.

4. The Fault in Our Stars — John Green

A young adult novel that tells the story of a 16-year-old cancer patient, Hazel, who attends a support group where she meets and falls in love with a former basketballer and amputee.

5. Where is the Green Sheep? — Mem Fox and Judy Horacek

There are blue sheep, red sheep, a bath sheep and a bed sheep. But where is the green sheep.?

6. The 39-Storey Treehouse — Andy Griffiths

In Griffiths’ and illustrator Terry Denton’s tree house, there’s a chocolate waterfall, a non-erupting active volcano, a baby dinosaur petting zoo and the Believe It Or Else museum.

7. The Magic Faraway Tree — Enid Blyton

In the Enchanted Wood, fairy folk live on every branch of the Magic Faraway Tree, home to the Land of Spells, of Topsy-Turvy and Do-As-You-Please.

8. Where the Wild Things Are — Maurice Sendak

Max, sent to his room in his wolf suit, rages at the injustice. When his room transforms into a jungle, Max sails to an island where he fights the Wild Things.

9. Diary of a Wombat — Jackie French and Bruce Whatley

Traces the busy life of Mothball, a “wombat with attitude” who wrestles unknown creatures, runs her own digging business and even trains her humans.

10. The Gruffalo — Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

A mouse wards off predators intent on eating him by conjuring a fictional creature, half grizzly bear, half buffalo.

11. Matilda — Roald Dahl

The story of a young girl gifted with magical powers but saddled with dimwitted parents.

12. The Book Thief — Markus Zusak

Nazi Germany, 1939: Liesel learns to read and shares the books she steals with the Jewish man hidden in their basement.

13. Tomorrow When The War Began — John Marsden

A group of teenage friends returns from a week-long camping trip to the bush to discover that all the people are missing and pets and livestock are dead or dying.

14. Anne Of Green Gables — L.M. Montgomery

Published in 1908 and set in Canada, tells the story of an orphan girl sent to live in a farming community in King Edward Island.

15. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory — Roald Dahl

Charlie Bucket realizes his dream of entering the famous chocolate factory of Willy Wonka.

Here are five more books as a Bonus

16. The Hobbit — J.R.R. Tolkien

Follows the quest of hobbit Bilbo Baggins to win a share of the treasure guarded by the dragon Smaug.

17. The Secret Garden Frances — Hodgson Burnett

A spoilt, sickly child, Mary Lennox, becomes fascinated by a locked garden.

18. Wonder — R.J. Palacio

Born with a terrible facial deformity, 10-year-old Auggie longs to be normal. Now, for the first time, he is being sent to a “normal” school.

19. Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows — J.K. Rowling

In the seventh and final novel in the series, Harry has turned 17, Dumbledore is dead and Lord Voldemort’s powers are increasing.

20. Are We There Yet? — Alison Lester

A much-loved picture book by veteran Australian author and illustrator traces the around-Australia journey of eight-year-old Grace and her family.