This article is ridiculous. It makes a big deal out of which writers are 'snubbed', before only pointing out halfway down that it is the best of the Carnegie, not children's fiction in general. Even more ridiculous are the posts, which seem to be following the well-tested "if I haven't heard of it, it must be rubbish" line of argument. Paul Phillips says, "I can safely say i have not heard of half of these people, but give me Lewis, Tolkien, the unparalleled Blyton, Ransome and Wilson anyday"- in other words, I haven't read them, I just know they're no good. Carys Matthews says, "Maybe they ... prefer a story about heroin addicts because that is a world they inhabit and understand"- never mind that that analysis refers to one book, Junk, and that the oldest book is from 1937, that several are fantasy, that The Machine-Gunners is set in the war. No wonder so many children are put off reading if their parents are so ready to condemn anything they didn't have access to as a child.

Kate, Cambridge,

Enid Blyton's realistic stories were OK, but her elves, goblins and (especially) witches damaged my childhood. It was insidious stuff, calculated to fill the young mind with doubts and fears. I'm pleased she's not on the lists - and the same goes for the unspeakable Rowling. Give me "Treasure Island" any day.

alan, cologne,

As long as the children are reading, does it really matter what they're reading? As a child, I read anything and everything I could lay my hands on - Blyton, Dickens, Achebe, Dan Fulani. Even as a child in the 1980s, I felt it difficult to relate to alot of Blyton's work because it came from a very different era. I was entertained, but not enthralled. I found myself more entranced by works of authors my own age- there was a series of books about a community of vegetables in a garden written by a 10-year old girl which particularly impressed. I was inspired to write my own books on the back of that.

Just because children today enjoy a different set of literature does not degrade the standard of writing. Today's children are more mature, more aware than we were at their age. Testament to that is the success of children's literature sold to adults. Maybe they don't need a Blyton and would prefer a story about heroin addicts because that is a world they inhabit and understand.

Carys Mathews, Chester, UK

Currently putting together a School Library Policy, our research shows us that young people just aren't reading as much any more, so to see some new interesting titles might capture the imagination of young people today. The way that books help young people to make sense of the world around them, means that the books they can relate to change over time, as the world we live in changes so dramatically. I am personally enthused by the idea that topic such as drugs are being explored in childrens literature, as these issues, ideas and topics need to be addressed in current literature for children. As a young person I was bored by the 'classics' as they didn't relate to the world I lived in and at 27 have only just rediscovered the joy of reading. Year after year booklist of the same books are churned out, its about time we had some direction towards something different and challenging.

Sarah, Belfast,

No doubt Helen Oxenbury's illustrations of Alice in Wonderland are delightful, but would it not be appropriate to acknowledge the author of the words?

Paul Kellaway, London,

I would add Paul Gallico's "Jennie" to the list of best children's books. I consider it one of the most beautiful, haunting stories I read as a child. I decided to reread it a year or two ago to see if it was as good as I remembered it, and was amazed by the depth and subtlety of the story.

Maire Crowley, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Anyone who recommends Pullman to kids is guilty of child abuse. Let them read Nietzsche when they're old enough to question - don't infiltrate the poison through demonic fairy tales, or you're breeding a generation primed for fascism.

Anthony Faulkner, Bellingen, Australia

What? No Diana Wynne Jones, Enid Blyton, Arthur Ransome, Kenneth Grahame, A A Milne, Tove Jansson, JRR Tolkien, Roald Dahl, Nina Bawden, C S Lewis, William Nicholson. Unbelievable.

Pamela, Nottingham,

Ruth Manning-Sanders needs to be on this list. .. In a delightful and vibrant way, she kept the centuries-old art of fairy-tale storytelling alive in the second half of the 20th century. Her dozens of volumes will stand the test of time.

Chris, York, PA

I reckon this Carnegie Medal organisation would like so many other modern neo liberal organisations, rather put their ideology ahead of reality, commonsense and popularity.
We ignorant boars obviously dont know what we enjoy, we need to be told what is good even if it is awful. My mother turned me into an avid reader both as a child and still am as an adult and I can safely say i have not heard of half of these people, but give me Lewis, Tolkien, the unparalleled Blyton, Ransome and Wilson anyday.

Paul Phillips, London,