A new list has ranked the 30 most-loved children’s books, according to parents.
The research revealed that the timeless bedtime story, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, is the top favourite. This classic picture book, with its vibrant collage-style illustrations, has been a hit with children for over half a century. It has sold more than 50 million copies and has been translated into 66 languages worldwide.
The study, conducted by Oscar’s Book Prize, found that Julia Donaldson’s The Gruffalo and Judith Kerr’s The Tiger Who Came To Tea were the second and third most cherished bedtime stories.
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Fairy tales by The Brothers Grimm also featured prominently in the top 30 list, with Goldilocks and The Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, and Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs all making appearances. Other beloved books that parents continue to read to their children include Peter Pan by J.
M. Barrie, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, and Roald Dahl’s Matilda, reports Wales Online.
The research was commissioned by Oscar’s Book Prize, an annual award that seeks the best picture book for young children, backed by Amazon. The survey revealed that 64 percent of parents prioritise reading to their children as part of their bedtime routine, with an additional two thirds hoping that spending time reading with their children will instil a lifelong love for books and literature.
A whopping 98 percent say they relish reading their children a bedtime story, with 39 percent confessing it’s their favourite time of day.
Oscar’s Book Prize has launched Oscar’s Book Club, aiming to reach children in areas typically showing low engagement with the arts. Throughout April and May, Oscar’s Book Prize and award sponsor, Amazon, will donate this year’s shortlisted books to schools and nurseries nationwide via the Amazon Reading Volunteer network, who will also assist on-site with group reading sessions to inspire young children through the magic of reading.
Lisa de Meyer, UK Books Country Manager at Amazon.co.uk, said: “We’re increasingly seeing contemporary children’s books dealing with sensitive topics and learning how to explore emotions. This is also reflected in this year’s Oscar’s Book Prize shortlisted titles, with the authors finding fun and engaging ways to address important issues such as learning to deal with anxiety from a young age.
“The diversity of topics covered in children’s books is greater than ever, and this year’s shortlist is a fantastic place to start.”
THE BEST LOVED CHILDREN’S STORIES OF ALL TIME
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar – 91 percent
- The Gruffalo – 90 percent
- The Tiger Who Came to Tea – 87 percent
- Goldilocks and The Three Bears – 86 percent
- We’re Going on A Bear Hunt – 86 percent
- Three Little Pigs – 84 percent
- The Tale of Peter Rabbit – 84 percent
- Paddington – 83 percent
- Winne-The-Pooh – 82 percent
- Little Red Riding Hood – 82 percent
- Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs – 81 percent
- The Snowman – 81 percent
- Jack and The Beanstalk – 80 percent
- The Cat in The Hat – 79 percent
- The Three Billy Goats Gruff – 79 percent
- The Ugly Duckling – 78 percent
- Beauty and the Beast – 77 percent
- Rapunzel – 75 percent
- Peter Pan – 75 percent
- Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland – 75percent
- The Princess and The Pea – 74 percent
- Matilda – 74 percent
- The BFG – 74 percent
- Puss in Boots – 74 percent
- Hansel and Gretel – 73 percent
- Aladdin and The Magic Lamp – 73 percent
- The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck – 72 percent
- The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe – 70 percent
- Where The Wild Things Are – 70 percent
- Goodnight Moon – 70 percent
For more details on Oscar’s Book Prize, head here. To check out the shortlisted books for this year on Amazon, go .
