Best Books For Kids: Pupils Nominate Their Favourite Books For Duchess Of Cornwall’s 70th Birthday | HuffPost Life

What's your favourite? 📚

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Life editor at HuffPost UK

If you’re struggling to get your child to read, you might want to take a look at this list of 70 books that kids love, as voted for by children themselves.

Literacy charities celebrated the Duchess of Cornwall’s 70 birthday by giving 70 primary schools across the UK the set of 70 children’s books.

The titles were chosen by pupils from schools across the country who nominated the books they loved. The list includes a wide range to suit all ages and interests - with some all-time classics and a few recent arrivals.

Jonathan Douglas, director of the National Literacy Trust, said: ”We hope pupils at the 70 schools who receive the bookshelves will be inspired to enjoy reading and read more widely, which our research shows has a significant impact on their attainment.”

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Take a look at the list of 70 favourite books below:

1. Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone by J K Rowling

2. Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World by Kate Pankhurst

3. You’re a Bad Man, Mr Gum by Andy Stanton

4. War Horse by Michael Morpurgo

5. Why Can’t I Tickle Myself? By Gemma Elwin Harris, Bear Grylls, Miranda Hart, Sir David Attenborough

6. Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell

7. The Iron Man by Ted Hughes

8. Beautiful Birds Colouring Book by Emmanuelle Walker

9. How To Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

10. Bake Me A Story by Nadiya Hussain

11. The Arrival by Shaun Tan

12. Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae

13. I Will Not Ever Never Eat A Tomato by Lauren Child

14. Horrid Henry by Francesca Simon

15. Asterix The Gaul by Rene Goscinny

16. The Boy In The Dress by David Walliams

HarperCollins

17. Gangsta Granny by David Walliams

18. The Cat In The Hat by Dr Seuss

19. The Day The Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

20. A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond

21. Dirty Bertie: Rats by Alan MacDonald

22. Animal Journeys by Patricia Hegarty

23. The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin

24. 78 Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths

25. Goth Girl And The Ghost Of A Mouse by Chris Riddell

26. Journey To The River Sea by Eva Ibbotson

27. Peace At Last by Jill Murphy

28. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson/Axel Scheffler

29. Fun Science by Charlie McDonnell

30. There’s A Bear On My Chair by Ross Collins

31. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

32. A Tale Dark And Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

33. Elmer by David McKee

AndersenDigital

34. Grk And The Pelotti Gang by Joshua Doder

35. The Terrible Thing That Happened To Barnaby Brocket by John Boyne

36. Wonder by R. J. Palacio

37. Itch - The Explosive Adventures Of The Element Hunter by Simon Mayo

38. The Book With No Pictures by B J Novak

39. Jeremy Strong’s Laugh-Your-Socks-Off Joke Book by Jeremy Strong

40. Once by Morris Gleitzman

41. Silverfin: The Graphic Novel by Charlie Higson

42. Charlotte’s Web by E B White

43. Diary Of A Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

44. Pig Heart Boy by Malorie Blackman

45. Quick, Let’s Get Out Of Here by Michael Rosen and Quentin Blake

46. Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild

47. The Twits by Roald Dahl

48. Matilda by Roald Dahl

49. The Suitcase Kid by Jacqueline Wilson

RHCP Digital New Ed edition

50. Make It Grow by Debbie Powell

51. Ella Queen Of Jazz by Helen Hancocks

52. Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman

53. Day Of The Dinosaurs by Steve Brusatte

54. 100 Most Feared Creatures by Anna Claybourne

55. A Journey Through: Space by Steve Parker

56. Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson

57. The Brilliant World Of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon

58. The Disgusting Sandwich by Gareth Edwards

59. The Dreamsnatcher by Abi Elphinstone

60. Grandad’s Island by Benji Davies

Simon Schuster Childrens UK

61. SUPERTATO: Veggies Assemble by Sue Hendra

62. Coding For Beginners Using Scratch by Jonathan Melmoth, Rosie Dickins

63. Cogheart by Peter Bunzl

64. The Usborne Children’s Picture Atlas by Ruth Brocklehurst

65. Return by Aaron Becker

66. Henry Finch by Alexis Deacon

67. Gorilla by Anthony Browne

68. I Know What You Did Last Wednesday by Anthony Horowitz

69. The Boy Who Swam With Piranhas by David Almond

70. Julius Zebra: Rumble With The Romans! by Gary Northfield

Before You Go

Best Books For Toddlers

I Want My Potty(01 of12)

The Little Princess hates nappies, and thinks there must be something better. At first she thinks the Royal potty is even worse - but she learns to love it. This book is especially appealing to children who are potty training - and their parents! The first in the series of Little Princess books.

Princess Smartypants(02 of12)

Princess Smartypants does not want to get married. She enjoys being a Ms. But being a rich and pretty princess means that all the princes want her to become their wife. Princess Smartypants fights to preserve her independence in this hilarious twist on the fairy-tale tradition and stereotypical dull princesses. The late Babette Cole is a deserved favourite among parents. Prince Cinders is excellent too.

Room on the Broom(03 of12)

From former Children's Laureate Julia Donaldson and longtime collaborator illustrator Axel Scheffler comes this much-loved tale about a witch and her gang of friends. While flying with her cat on her broomstick, the wind blows a witch's hat from her head. Luckily, a friendly dog rescues it and, as a reward, is invited to travel with them on the broom. Throughout the tale, she encounters a series of other characters who each help the witch to recover various possessions that she loses along the way - but will there be enough room on the broom for them all? Expressive illustrations and rhythmical reading from the creators of The Gruffalo and many more favourites.

Aliens Love Underpants(04 of12)

Underpants are a source of humour whatever your reading age, even, it appears, when it comes to aliens. Careful examination of the pictures reveals that these aliens are totally obsessed by underpants, dropping from spacecraft to nab them. So that's what happens to all those missing pants in your home!

The Tiger Who Came to Tea(05 of12)

Sophie and her Mummy are having tea in the kitchen when in walks a hungry tiger who asks to stay to tea. After eating everything, he moves on to Daddy's supper and cleans out the fridge and drinks all the water from the tap.This simple (and anarchic) l picture book from Judith Kerr is a true classic with an enduring appeal for children and parents. Just don't let your toddler try drinking tea from the teapot spout like my sister did!

Where the Wild Things Are(06 of12)

When Max puts on his wolf suit and shouts at his mother, he is sent to his room without any supper. But then, his bedroom turns into a magical world and he sets sail across the sea to where the wild things are and becomes King of the Wild Things.First published in 1963, this classic picture book by Maurice Sendak evokes the imagination of childhood.

We're Going On A Bear Hunt(07 of12)

Follow a father and his family as they go out in search of a bear. They wade through the grass, splash through the river, squelch through the mud and even negotiate a snowstorm on their way. But what will they find in the cave on the other side of the dark forest? Michael Rosen's repetitive text has a musical charm that lends itself perfectly to reading aloud, and children enjoy joining in with actions and words.

When Mum Turned Into A Monster(08 of12)

The cousins are coming to tea and Mum is busy cleaning, shopping and cooking. Sam and his sister are no help at all; they just bicker and whinge and create even more mess. Meanwhile, something very strange is happening to Mum. Look for the clues in the pictures!

I Love You, Blue Kangaroo(09 of12)

Every night Blue Kangaroo falls fast asleep, cuddled in Lily's arms. But as new toy animals start arriving, Blue Kangaroo worries that there just isn't enough room for him anymore. When he goes missing, Lily looks everywhere for him and it turns out NONE of the other toys mean as much to her as her first and favourite Blue Kangaroo.

Daddy's Sandwich(10 of12)

Daddy, would you like a sandwich, with all your favourite things...? One little girl is one a quest to make her father the perfect sandwich made of some rather unusual things. What would you put in your dad's sandwich? (credit:Pip Jones)

Not Now, Bernard(11 of12)

Bernard's got a problem. He's found a monster in the back garden but his mum and dad are just too busy to notice. So Bernard tries to befriend the monster… and that doesn't go quite to plan. Loved by children and adults for nearly 40 years, David McKee's iconic picture book still resonates for children who know only too well what it feels like not to have their parents' full attention.

Willy The Wimp(12 of12)

Willy wouldn't hurt a fly - he even apologises when someone hits him. The suburban gorillas call him Willy the Wimp. Then, one day, Willy answers a body-building advert ... with hilarious results! Willy is the star of several more book by multiple-award-winning author-illustrator Anthony Browne.

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