Interesting to see how some book can endure the shiftng sands of time and taste - my all-time favourites were and still are (!) all of Enid Blyton's books - the St. Clare's series, the Malory Towers series, Secret Seven's, the Famous Five, the Five Find Outers, the Enchanted Wood and The Faraway Tree and the Pink Whistle and Mr. Meddle adventures, the Mystery sereis....I could go on. However, the point is, these books hold such a timeless appeal - my happiest moments even now are reading the same out to my two kids, both boys -aged eight and six. They laugh in all the same places during the reading, that I used to as a girl, and the entire session is so much more enjoyable. I have decided to atleast making these sessions regular, so that they don't miss out on all the wonderful books we got to read in our childhood.
As parents there are few gifts we can bequeath to our kids, like the timeless appeal of these masterpieces in fantasy and fun.

Anupama Chand, Dubai, UAE

Absolutely the best children's books I have read are three by Eve Garnett. These are about the Ruggles family at One End Street at Otwell on the Ouse. These books deserve to be better known.

Mira Gupta, Delhi, India

No Jungle Book, or Just So Stories?

Political correctness of some sort?

I must be even more out of touch than I thought...

Bill David, Winchester,

As an eighteen year old, I still adore the whole Potterverse, don't think I'm too old for it all and have certainly read and re-read each book a multitude of times. I used to really enjoy Jacqueline Wilson's books when I was younger, too. The stories in the Top 20 are all very familiar, and there are some fantastic authors present. I'm guessing that the rest of the brilliant Narnia series was in the remaining 30 then? The article implies it, by virtue of it decrying Harry Potter's one-book-only appearance in the same breath. It does seem that people love to Harry-bash all to frequently, but perhaps it's my fault. I'll just have to remove my invisibility cloak and acknowledge that not everyone has to love these wonderful books! Or grow a thicker skin ;)
Good one, Geoff, I had to look twice at that! :) Perhaps it's an 80% average for the whole of the British Isles- but even that wouldn't add up. Hmm...

Emma, Staffs,

No Astrid Lindgren books? The Swedes will be very peeved.

Harris, Malmo, Sweden

Harry Potter only "can't compete" with Lew is Carroll because the vast majority of the 16-65 year old voters are too old to have fond memories of reading HP as children. You'll notice Phillip Pullman doesn't appear anywhere in the Top 50. So I don't think any of your conclusions as to better storytelling of Narnia books or enduring popularity of older classics are valid at all.

James, NY,

Voters aged 16-65? Well there's your answer.

How many of this demographic read Harry Potter during their childhood? Is Harry Potter even considered a children's book? What with innumerate copies in adults' hands I'd venture not.

Ask the same question in twenty years and Potter will be all over the top ten.

Elliot, London,

the top book id harry potter and the deathly halows

natasha tesseyman, england,

You have forgotten the four Mary Poppins books. Unfortunately the books have been perhaps undersold by the Disney movie, which was okay, but the books were a wild, fantastical ride, all amazing, like an acid trip for kids (so to speak), and many people don't realize that today. I would put them at number two after CS Lewis. The Anne of Green Gables series was also great, classic, but perhaps for slightly older children. I also think James and the Giant Peach was Dahl's best book, so weird of an idea, but so mythical. And Enid Blyton? Haven't heard of her/him. Must be a UK thing. I'll have to check those out. Also honorable mention - The Borrowers, and Bedknobs and Broomsticks.

Claudia, Atlanta, USA

I don't necessarily disagree with teh list. Though if we are only asking 16 - 65 year olds it doesn't suprise me that some more recent very sucessful childrens books didn't kmake the list, as half the target audience would never have read them!

Somewhat disengenuous!

Chris Ward, Coventry, United Kingdom

What's so good about reading to kids? Much the most exciting stories my Dad told us he made up himself, and we were the characters within them.

Reading to Kids is another lazy cop-out of the effort to be creative.

When they grow up our kids will think we are boring, and they'll usually be right.

Work less, be less tired, and fill life with originality and surprise.

Greg Lorriman, Leatherhead, UK

Very good to see really good books in this selection. My favorite from this, forever, is "Alice in Wonderland". Problem with GOOD books, for example in Germany, when you go to the book store, which books you will find there ? we say in russian(i am russian) "chtivo", it means - books for not thinking .. this is bad, our chidren lost slowly how to think ...
Parents, spend more time for your children, everything else is not important ...

Sergej, Frankfurt, Germany

This list is obviously based on perception not real knowledge of the books. Wind in the Willows is great, but very few adults would understand the themes and the vocabulary if they actually read it and children simply haven't a chance.

MDHinton, sieradz, Poland

Geoff, Honiton. I saw that and just thought 'is it me?'. I agree with The Chronicles of Narnia being top though, they are a much more involved read, which I find quite engrosing when reading to young children.

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

Good to see that 80% (4 out of 5) parents read to their children every night and that Ireland is the best country with 60% of parents reading. You do the math!

Geoff, Honiton,