The publication of yet another list of the “top 100 books” that children “should” read in primary school raised an extensive discussion on social media about the books chosen.

Although the books on the list are undeniably classics, and books of quality, do they actually represent the kind of books that will nurture a love of reading in children, or is this instead a list of national curriculum and Amazon favourites?

To challenge that list, I give you the choices of an experienced primary school librarian. These books are the ones that I know have created delight in young readers and have been loved with a passion.

You might not agree with all my choices (and some of them are not to my personal tastes) but these have all been loved by real children who devoured them and wanted more after finishing them. These are not only books that children have enjoyed, but ones that parents have enjoyed sharing with them. Sharing books aloud is an important way to foster a love of books and reading in a child, and no one is ever too old to hear a story.

The list progresses roughly through developmental stages, but it is by no means prescriptive. If you need more guidance and advice on children’s reading there really is only one person to seek out - a school librarian. These titles are all for primary-age children and, with one notable exception in William Grill’s Shackleton, are all fiction titles.

Just for clarification, I don’t believe that any of these books “should” be read by all children, that’s not how a love of reading works. This is list of great books that I know children have loved and, if any of them suit the tastes of children you know, then they too might read them and enjoy them. If they want to.

Your list might be different, and I’d love to know what you’d recommend - please add your titles to the comments on my blog. I’m sure there are many titles that you feel should be added, so go ahead. Please do add newer books that you know have worked, and please remember to credit all creators of the work, and do post links to their websites where possible. I’ll aim to keep the comments open so that we can keep adding to it and share the list as a resource.

All of these books have two things in common: they are beautiful stories, and children love them. All in all enjoyment of reading is the most important thing. It’s all about what children want to read and it should never be about just ticking off a list of books that adults think children should read.

Hopefully you will enjoy them.
 

Picture Books (for first word recognition, first reading, and sharing):

1. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
2. Dr Xargle (series) by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross
3. Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell and Helen Oxenbury
4. The Shirley Hughes Collection
5. Meg and Mog (series) by Helen Nicoll and Jan Pienkowski
6. The Blue Balloon by Mick Inkpen
7. Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers
8. Elmer (series) by David McKee
9. Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
10. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
11. Owl Babies by Martin Waddell and Patrick Benson
12. Smelly Louie by Catherine Rayner
13. Rules of Summer by Shaun Tan
14. This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
15. Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allen Ahlberg
16. Whatever Next? By Jilly Murphy
17. Q Pootle 5 by Nick Butterworth
18. Here Come The Aliens! By Colin McNaughton
19. Beegu by Alexis Deacon
20. Morris the Mankiest Monster by Giles Andrea and Sarah McIntyre
21. No Matter What by Debi Gliori
22. Sand Horse by Michael Foreman
23. Mousehole Cat by Antonia Barber and Nicola Bayley
24. We’re Going On A Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury
25. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
26. Wolves by Emily Gravett
27. Mouse, Bird, Snake, Wolf by David Almond and Dave McKean
28. Jim’s Lion by Russel Hoban and Alexis Deacon
29. The Whale’s Song by Dyan Sheldon and Gary Blythe
30. Changes by Anthony Browne
31. Use Your Imagination by Nicola O’Byrne
32. The Queen’s Hat by Steve Antony
33. Mr Magnolia by Quentin Blake
34. Fungus the Bogeyman by Raymond Briggs
35. A New Coat For Anna by Harriet Ziefert and Anita Lobel
     

First chapter books (and slightly longer first-readers):

1. Shackleton by William Grill
2. Monkey in the Stars by Jamila Gavin
3. The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl
4. The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark by Jill Tomlinson
5. Oliver and the Seawigs by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre
6. Fortunately the Milk by Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell
7. Ottoline and the Yellow Cat by Chris Riddell
8. Mr Majieka (series) by Humphrey Carpenter
9. Astrosaurs (series) by Steve Cole
10. How to Write Really Badly by Anne Fine
11. Cartoon Kid by Jeremy Strong
12. My Dad’s a Birdman by David Almond and Polly Dunbar
13. Nelly the Monster Sitter (series) by Kes Gray
14. Dirty Bertie (series) by David Roberts and Alan MacDonald
15. Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
16. Necklace of Raindrops by Joan Aiken and Jan Pienkowski
17. Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf by Catherine Storr
18. Horrid Henry (series) by Francesca Simon
19. Betsey Biggalow (series) by Malorie Blackman
20. Astounding Broccoli Boy by Frank Cottrell Boyce
21. Give Peas a Chance by Morris Gleitzman
22. Cliffhanger by Jacqueline Wilson
23. Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos
24. Dinkin Dings series by Guy Bass
     

Moving on - longer chapter books and/or stronger themes:

1. Dragons of Crumbling Castle by Terry Pratchett
2. Emily Windsnap (series) by Liz Kessler
3. Varjak Paw by SF Said
4. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
5. Box of Delights by John Masefield
6. Great Ghost Rescue by Eva Ibbotson
7. Mr Stink by David Walliams
8. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
9. Awful End (series) by Philip Ardagh
10. Uncle Montague (series) by Chris Priestley
11. The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
12. Dream Master (series) by Theresa Breslin
13. Molly Moon (series) by Georgia Byng
14. Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge
15. Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken
16. Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer
17. Whispers in the Graveyard by Theresa Breslin
18. Charlotte’s Web by E B White
19. Tom’s Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce
20. The Dark Is Rising Trilogy by Susan Cooper
21. Chrestomanci (series) by Dianna Wynne Jones
22. Swallows and Amazons series by Arthur Ransome
23. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
24. The Owl Service by Alan Garner
25. Millions by Frank Cottrell Boyce
26. Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge
27. Holes by Louis Sachar
28. Last of the Spirits by Christ Priestley
29. Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
30. Clockwork by Philip Pullman
31. Emil and the Detectives by Erich Kastner
32. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
     

Transition books:

1. The Tulip Touch by Anne Fine
2. Noughts and Crosses (series) by Malorie Blackman
3. Mirromask by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean
4. Alex Rider (series) by Anthony Horowitz
5. Strawgirl by Jackie Kay
6. The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier
7. Once by Morris Gleitzman
8. Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson
9. City of the Beasts by Isabel Allende
10. Krabat by Ottfried Preussler
11. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne
12. Dark Satanic Mills by Marcus and Julian Sedgewick
13. Looking for JJ by Anne Cassidy
14. Book of Dead Days by Marcus Sedgewick
15. Spooks series by Joseph Delaney
16. Wonder by R J Palacio
17. The Diary of Anne Frank
18. Tamar by Mal Peet
19. Maus by Art Spiegelman
20. Witch Child by Celia Rees
     

And you can’t nurture a love of reading without poetry: 

1. Puffin Book of Brilliant Poetry edited by Brian Patten
2. All the Wild Wonders by Wendy Cooling
3. All The Best - selected poems of Roger McGough
4. Quick, Let’s Get Out Of Here! by Michael Rosen
5. Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl (illus Quentin Blake)
6. Wriggle and Roar by Julia Donaldson
7. The Complete Nonsense of Edward Lear
8. Give The Ball To The Poet - an anthology of Caribbean poetry
9. Silly Verse for Kids by Spike Milligan
10. Highwayman by Alfred Noyes (illus Charles Keeping)
11. Wicked World! By Benjamin Zephaniah
12. Nightmares by Jack Prelutsky
13. I Had a Little Cat (collected poems) by Charles Causley
14. Casting a Spell (an anthology) by Joan Aiken, Wendy Cope and others

Note - almost all of the authors on this list have a whole body of extraordinary work in their catalogues, and many of these books have sequels that are equally worth reading. Please do take the time to look up the other work of these authors.

This article first appeared on Dawn’s blog, which can be read here.