Scroll down to find out which books made your top 20 and to read your recommendations.
#20 Hetty Feather – Jacqueline Wilson & Nick Sharratt
Hetty Feather is a feisty redhead who was abandoned at the foundling hospital as a baby. Placed in a foster home with Peg and John Cotton, Hetty bonds with the couple’s biological children and the other foster kids who live there, and is oblivious to the fact that at the age of 5 she must return to the hospital to start education. The hospital is a harsh place to live and once there Hetty fixates upon finding out who her biological mother is as a way to escape.
“All the Jacqueline Wilson books were a big hit with my daughter at that age #jacquelinewilson. #hettyfeather. #tracybeaker” – Caroline Crossan
Hetty leads a hard but adventurous life and although she often finds herself in trouble she is kind-hearted and means well. A perfect character for children aged 9-11, Jacqueline Wilson’s creation offers a feisty heroine who many children have found comfort with.
#19 The Secret Seven – Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton’s juvenile detective series The Secret Seven – or The Secret Seven Society – follows a group of children who investigate local mysteries. Featuring Peter, his sister Janet, Jack, Barbara, George, Pam and Colin, the group even have badges and secret passwords to ensure their exclusivity.
“Anything from Enid Blyton – the Magic Faraway Tree, Famous Five, Secret Seven.” – Sheri NeeTodd Mullen
Enid first introduced us to The Secret Seven in her short story ‘At Seaside Cottage’ published way back in 1947. The first full length novel – titled ‘The Secret Seven’ – was published two years later, followed by another book each year for the next 14 years to create a fantastic series for children to read.
#18 Horrible Histories – Terry Deary & Martin Brown
The Horrible Histories series might be the only non-fiction series to make our top 20, but it has certainly earned its place with over 60 books to empower children with knowledge. The books present history in a funny and tongue-in-cheek way that brings the characters and events to life in a way that many classrooms fail to do.
“David Walliams any and also horrible histories #WHSbookmarks #BooksForU11s” – Amanda Clayden
Perfect for reluctant readers, the books have short chapters that allow children to pick them up and put them down whenever suits them. With great story telling and plenty of gore, these books entertain before they educate and provide a fantastic means of getting kids genuinely interested in history.
The story of clever old Mr Hoppy who tricks Mrs Silver into believing her pet tortoise Alfie is growing dramatically bigger every week has been a Roald Dahl favourite for many children. With a sense of magic and trickery to it, kids love being in on Mr Hoppy’s trick and delight in reading his clever “magic spell” – ‘Esio Trot, Esio Trot, Teg Reggib Reggib!’
“Esio trot and the giraffe the pelly and me by Roald Dahl are recent favourites. When my girls were younger they loved the hungry caterpillar by Eric carle and going on a bear hunt and room on a broom #whsbookmarks #booksforu11s” – Laura Jackson
As many of you have confirmed in your votes, Roald Dahl is a master of children’s books and his funny tales nurture many children’s passion for reading throughout primary school.
#16 Demon Dentist – David Walliams
Since David Walliams demonstrated his talent for children’s literature with his first release ‘The Boy in the Dress’ back in 2008, he has received many favourable comparisons with Roald Dahl for his humour and whimsy. Having worked with Quentin Blake and later Tony Ross, the books are perfectly tailored towards the same age range and make ideal books to add to a Roald Dahl fan’s bookshelf.
“Demon Dentist by David Walliams all his books are very funny with great illustrations #WHSbookmarks #BooksforU11s” – Jane McClelland
Demon Dentist was released in 2013 and was immediately a huge hit as children delved into the mystery of who was leaving creepy crawlies under children’s pillows after they left a tooth there the night before.
#15 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl
Perhaps one of the best known Roald Dahl books, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has been adapted into two hugely successful films and had many children dreaming of the day they’d find a golden ticket.
“The first book my children (Jacob age 6 & Grace age 4) got really excited about and couldn’t wait for the next chapter was – Charlie and the chocolate factory Roald Dahl it will always be a special book for me now because I will always picture their excited faces as they got involved in the story 🙂 Roald Dahl seems to be a very popular choice in a lot of house holds and rightly so. #WHSBOOKMARKS #BOOKSFORU11S” – Laura Gaskell
From ever-lasting gobstoppers to the intriguing Oompa Loompas, there are so many wondrous things for children to marvel at in this story.
#14 Winnie the Pooh – A. A. Milne
First published in 1926, Winnie the Pooh has become a classic children’s character and a must-have on many children’s bookshelves. A bit naive, friendly and humble, Winnie the Pooh is an easy character to love, but it is many of his friends that children love to read about; whether it’s the energetic Tigger, gloomy Eeyore or shy little Piglet.
“@WHSmith #WHSBookmarks It has to be Winnie the Pooh. It brings out giggles and smiles every time we read it x #BooksForU11s” – Dee Daffy Duck
“@WHSmith #WHSBookmarks #BooksForU11s and I will never not love A. A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh stories (especially when read by Peter Dennis).” – Callum Paterson
Pooh is a big fan of food and often gets himself into trouble during the pursuit of his favourite – hunny, leading to plenty of funny and heart-warming moments for children to enjoy.
Every child dreams of having special abilities and Matilda’s ability to control objects with her mind is especially exciting. An intelligent little girl who turns to books for comfort when her family neglect her, Matilda is an inspiring character despite all the nasty adults in her life.
“All Roald Dahl books without a doubt, best being Matilda #WHSBookmarks #BooksForU11s” – Vicky Elloway
“@WHSmith we love anything by Roald Dahl or Enid Blyton, favourite atm is Matilda! #WHSBookmarks #BooksForU11s” – Mymummyspennies
Although Matilda is a great character to get to know, it’s the terrifying Miss Trunchball and the ‘chokey’ that often sticks in children’s minds. With practical jokes, adventure and engrossing characters such as Miss Honey and the Wormwood family, Matilda is a book that will be read again and again.
Roald Dahl is clearly a huge influence in our children’s lives, making an appearance four times in our top 20. The Roald Dahl book to rank the highest is one that we must admit to being huge fans of even as adults, with its cheeky humour and naughty practical jokes, it is of course The Twits.
“Roald dahl’s The Twits. Even as an adult I still love to relive my childhood by reading his books to my daughter…. ‘A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts it will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely’ – Danielle Zara Kenny
Mr and Mrs Twit are a horrible pair who play nasty tricks on each other and mistreat the family of monkeys that live in their garden. Wonderfully imaginative and full of tricks such as worm spaghetti, the glass eye in the drink and the horrible prank where Mr Twit convinces Mrs Twit that she’s shrinking, there is more than enough to have children in fits of giggles in this book.
#11 The Famous Five – Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton’s adventurous group of child detectives – Julian, Dick, Anne, George and their dog Timmy – have charmed many a child with stories of exploring the countryside together, often solving mysteries along the way.
“The famous five – Enid Blyton, were my favourite childhood books xx #WHSBookmarks #BooksForU11s” – Jo Lee
“@WHSmith #WHSBookmarks #BooksForU11s The Famous Five series by Enid Blyton (the old ones are the best)” – Bryony Hellen
The series is one of the bestselling ever written and was so popular that Enid was convinced to write three times as many books as she originally intended. First published in 1942, the books are just as popular today and Enid’s characters continue to enthral children of all ages.
#10 Gangsta Granny – David Walliams
And so as we begin the top 10 with a second appearance by David Walliams with the incredibly popular Gangsta Granny. Little boy Ben couldn’t be more reluctant to go stay with his Granny who has a fondness for cabbage and scrabble. But soon Ben discovers that there’s more to his Granny than meets the eye, and now she needs his help to pull off a huge stunt.
“@WHSmith My twin girls both read and loved Gangsta Granny by David Walliams Its their favourite book! #WHSBookmarks #BooksForU11s” – Chris Harte
The book was the second by David to be adapted into a film to be aired on the BBC and proved to be successful on the screen as well as in print.
The Beast Quest books are part of a greatly successful series of fantasy children’s books. Written by various authors under the name Adam Blake, the books are filled with adventure and exciting characters to keep children’s attention.
“A poll with the boys in our house said Beast quest series (age 7), Richard Scarry series (age 5) and slinky malinki (age 3). We love reading anything by Julia Donaldson or Giles Andreae as a family #WHSbookmarks#BooksForU11s” – Helen Gardner
“My children love so many books but at the moment my 8 year old loves the Beast Quest series. #WHSBookmarks#BooksForU11s” – Tara Ferrington-Crammond
Perfect for reluctant readers, the books are clear and simple in order to build confidence, while the action-filled story will keep them glued to the page.
Liz Pichon’s creation Tom Gates is a funny and relatable character who tells his stories in a diary format complete with lots of cartoon drawings. Often landing himself in trouble with his pranks and dislike of school, Tom is more interested in music and his band and sometimes struggles to conform to his parent’s expectations.
“Tom gates – genius for the reluctant reader” – Kara Myhill
“#WHSBookmarks#BooksForU11 Tom gates for my son, doesn’t normally read but since he got a Tom gates book I can’t stop him reading” – Keri Thompson-carey
Presenting many of the difficulties that school children learn to deal with (embarrassing parents, popularity, homework…) these books are perfect for engaging children who might not have a big interest in reading.
#7 The Chronicles of Narnia – C. S. Lewis
Where do we begin with the chronicles of Narnia? A seven book series of fantasy novels, these classic children’s books have transported many children away to the world of Narnia, where there’s mythical beings and magic in abundance.
“My favourite book at age 7 was The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. I was mesmerised when our teacher read it to us.” – Debbie Upson-Salacuri
“We will read anything we can get our hands on in our house, however, we are reading The Narnia Chronicles to our 6 year old at the moment (love them!) and she is enjoying reading The Worst Witch (one of my personal faves!) to us! #WHSBookmarks #BooksForU11s” – Janine Parkes
“#whsbookmarks #booksforu11s The Chronicles Of Narnia by C S Lewis. I loved these books as a child, so much imagination and adventure, not to mention brilliantly written.” – Amanda Rose
Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are the main human characters in the story and stumble upon Narnia in the first book after discovering an entrance at the back of a wardrobe. Aslan the lion is the only character to appear in all seven books and appears as a reassuring figure of authority in the story.
#6 Rainbow Magic: The Rainbow Fairies – Daisy Meadows
Narrowly missing out on the top 5, the Rainbow Magic Fairies are incredibly popular characters for children under 11. Written by various authors under the collective name Daisy Meadows, the books are based around main characters Kirsty Tate and Rachel Walker, and their fairy friends. Each fairy has their own colour and symbol and the books are colourfully illustrated to bring them to life.
“#Whsbookmarks #BooksForU11s. My 8 year old loves the rainbow magic books” – Lorraine Bromley
“Rainbow fairies, my daughter loves them. WHSBookmarks #BooksForU11s” – Kerry Jane Dyke
Full of adventure and fun, this series is great for building up confidence in independent reading.
#5 The Faraway Tree – Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton has made the top 5 with her fantastic series of Faraway Tree books. When Jo, Bessie and Fanny move near the Enchanted Woods, they come across the magical Faraway Tree and a set of fantastic characters who live there. Moon-Face, Silky the Fairy, the Saucepan Man, Dame Washalot, Mr Watzisname and the Angry Pixie are unforgettable characters that enchant young readers with their magical personalities.
“@WHSmith At the minute we are reading Enid Blyton books to my twin boys they especially love Up The Faraway Tree #WHSBookmarks #BooksForU11s” – Christy spencer
“I loved Enid blyton and the the folk of the faraway tree! And the wishing chair!! I have bought then for my daughter to read when she is older!#WHSbookmarks #BooksForU11s” – Gemma Smart
“Enid Blyton – all the Faraway tree series! My 6 year old son loves them! #WHSBookmarks #BooksForU11s” – Layla Woollard
At the top of the tree there is a ladder that leads the children up to a magical land which is different every time. Young readers love to read about each new land and to explore them along with the characters.
#4 The Gruffalo – Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
He’s appeared at #2 in your list of books for babies and toddlers, #1 in your list of books for children under 5 and here he is now at #4 in your list of books for children under 11. The Gruffalo is clearly a favourite character among our followers.
“My 8 years old favorite book in the gruffalo and my 10 year old loves anything by Roald Dahl” – Gemma Hill
“#WHSBookmarks #BooksForU11s the Gruffalo is a must for younger readers and the BFG never gets old.” – Claire Booth
“Got be The gruffalo! And room on a broom every time! #WHSBookmarks #BooksForU11s” – Paula Hardy
Created by the unstoppable team Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, The Gruffalo is a book that children can grow up with, perfect for reading to a baby, reading together with a young child and for independent reading as your child grows older.
#3 Horrid Henry – Francesca Simon & Tony Ross
Horrid Henry and his brother Perfect Peter are fun and hilarious characters for little ones to read about. Naughty Henry is always causing trouble, whether it’s waking up Peter by splashing him with water or simply refusing to share with other children, whereas Peter always does what he is told and is full of good deeds.
“My son, who is a good boy (most of the time) loves anything with naughty boys in like Horrid Henry & Dirty Bertie. I just hope he doesn’t get too many ideas!” – Georgina Warwick
Kids love reading about the naughty things that Henry gets up to, but equally there are good messages to be taken from Francesca Simon’s stories and little ones learn that being naughty doesn’t always get you what you want.
#2 Harry Potter – J. K. Rowling
J. K. Rowling’s fantasy series about one of the most recognisable character names of all time has been a huge success with children, teens and adults. The best-selling series in history, the seven books have caused pandemonium in bookshops upon release and spoilers during those first few days of reading were always a tricky course to navigate.
“Early Harry Potter. My daughter has completed these over the last year and has been absolutely captures in their magic. Also she loves Jacqueline Wilson, any of her books come recommended. #WHSBooksmarks#BooksForU11s xxx” – Rebecka Jane
“Harry Potter is always a good choice. So many cliffhangers it’s hard to put down as a bedtime story!” – Emily Graupner
The world of Harry Potter is one that many parents eagerly anticipate sharing with their children.
And the Best Book for Children Under 11 as Voted by You is…
#1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid – Jeff Kinney
And it’s Jeff Kinney who claims the top spot with his fun and relatable character Greg Heffley. Formatted as a diary with handwritten notes and drawings, Greg narrates us through his day-to-day life, including the struggles of his embarrassing family and school life.
“My 9 yr old loves diary of wimpy kid. Dork diary and tom gates. #WHSBookmarks #BooksForU11” – Roisin Bunting
“Diary of a wimpy kid (the full set) my daughter is 8 and she loves them 😀 #WHSBookmarks #BooksForU11s” – Teresa Clarke
“#whsbookmarks#BooksForU11s my 10 year old loves diary of a wimpy kid and he’s read the same book 3 times” – Rachel Eglen
“#whsbookmarks #booksforu11s I used to love roal dahl books but my kids are into Diary of a wimpy kids, and horrible histories :)” – Kellylouise Enisz
A fantastic character that children can relate to, Greg’s adventures are imaginative and fun and the simple diary structure makes these books ideal for readers of all levels to engage with.
Take a look through the top 150 books that you recommended as the best books for children under 11 here:
1 . Diary of a Wimpy Kid – Jeff Kinney
2 . Harry Potter – J. K. Rowling
3 . Horrid Henry – Francesca Simon & Tony Ross
4 . The Gruffalo – Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
5 . The Magic Faraway Tree – Enid Blyton
6 . Rainbow Magic: The Rainbow Fairies – Daisy Meadows
7 . The Chronicles of Narnia – C. S. Lewis
10 . Gangsta Granny – David Walliams
11 . The Famous Five – Enid Blyton
14 . Winnie the Pooh – A. A. Milne
15 . Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl
16 . Demon Dentist – David Walliams
18 . Horrible Histories – Terry Deary & Martin Brown
19 . The Secret Seven – Enid Blyton
20 . Hetty Feather – Jacqueline Wilson & Nick Sharratt
21 . The Very Hungry Caterpillar – Eric Carle
22 . We’re Going on a Bear Hunt – Michael Rosen & Helen Oxenbury
23 . Room on the Broom – Julida Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
24 . Stick Man – Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
25 . Hairy Maclary – Lynley Dodd
27 . Dork Diaries – Rachel Renee Russell
28 . Dirty Bertie – Alan MacDonald & David Roberts
29 . Mimi and the Mountain Dragon – Michael Morpurgo & Helen Stephens
30 . The Tiger Who Came to Tea – Judith Kerr
32 . Malory Towers – Enid Blyton
34 . The Boy in the Dress – David Walliams
35 . George’s Marvellous Medicine – Roald Dahl
36 . Winnie the Witch – Valerie Thomas & Korky Paul
37 . Mr Men and Little Miss – Roger Hargreaves
38 . Fantastic Mr. Fox – Roald Dahl
39 . The Wishing Chair – Enid Blyton
40 . The Dinosaur That Pooped… – Dougie Poynter, Tom Fletcher, Garry Parsons
41 . Guess How Much I Love You – Sam McBratney & Anita Jeram
42 . Percy Jackson – Rick Riordan
43 . A Series of Unfortunate Events – Lemony Snicket
44 . Alice In Wonderland – Lewis Carroll
45 . The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett
46 . Frankie’s Magic Football – Frank Lampard & Mike Jackson
47 . Paddington Bear – Michael Bond
48 . Goth Girl – Chris Riddell
49 . Skulduggery Pleasant – Derek Landy
50 . The Worst Witch – Jill Murphy
51 . Goodnight Mister Tom – Michelle Magorian
52 . Mr Stink – David Walliams & Quentin Blake
53 . Aliens Love Underpants – Claire Freedman & Ben Cort
54 . Peter Rabbit – Beatrix Potter
55 . Awful Auntie – David Walliams
56 . Artemis Fowl – Eoin Colfer
57 . Kensuke’s Kingdom – Michael Morpurgo & Michael Foreman
58 . The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame
59 . The Land of Stories – Chris Colfer
60 . The Fault in our Stars – John Green
61 . The Hobbit – J. R. R. Tolkien
63 . Tracy Beaker – Jacqueline Wilson & Nick Sharratt
64 . The Heroes of Olympus – Rick Riordan
65 . Discworld – Terry Pratchett
66 . My Naughty Little Sister – Dorothy Edwards & Shirley Hughes
68 . Captain Underpants – Dav Pilkey
69 . The Giving Tree – Shel Silverstein
70 . Will Gallows – Derek Keilty
71 . Stig of the Dump – Clive King & Edward Ardizzone
72 . Jonathan Livingston Seagull – Richard Bach & Rachel Munson
73 . The Butterfly Lion – Michael Morpurgo & Christian Birmingham
74 . Harry and the Dinosaurs – Ian Whybrow & Adrian Reynolds
75 . Danny The Champion of The World – Roald Dahl
76 . How to Train Your Dragon – Cassandra Cressida
77 . Nancy Drew – Carolyn Keene
78 . The Hardy Boys – Franklin W. Dixon
79 . James and the Giant Peach – Roald Dahl
80 . Mr Gum – Andy Stanton & David Tazzyman
81 . Mission Survival – Bear Grylls
82 . I Was a Rat – Phillip Pullman & P. Bailey
83 . Arsenic for Tea – Robin Stevens
84 . Daisy – Kes Gray & Nick Sharratt
85 . Middle School – James Patterson
86 . Football Academy – Tom Palmer
87 . Hattie B – Claire Taylor-Smith
88 . Clarice Bean – Lauren Child
89 . In the Night Garden – Andrew Davenport
90 . Just William – Richmal Crompton
91 . Pollyanna – Eleanor H. Porter
92 . Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
93 . The Dreamsnatcher – Abi Elphinstone
94 . Animal Magic – Holly Webb
95 . Boy in the Tower – Polly Ho-Yen
96 . Stitch Head – Guy Bass & Pete Williamson
97 . There’s No Such Thing as a Dragon – Jack Kent
98 . The Diary of a Young Girl – Anne Frank
99 . The Naughtiest Girl – Enid Blyton
100 . The Wizard of Oz – L. F. Baum
101 . Billionaire Boy – David Walliams
102 . Charlotte’s Web – E. B. White
103 . The Cat in the Hat – Dr Seuss
104 . My Father’s Dragon – Ruth Stiles Gannett
105 . Dixie O’Day – Shirley Hughes & Clara Vulliamy
106 . Ella Bella Ballerina – James Mayhew
107 . Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen
108 . Ballet Shoes – Noel Streatfield
109 . Green Eggs and Ham – Dr Seuss
110 . The Toilet of Doom – Michael Lawrence
111 . Guinea Pigs Online – Amanda Swift & Jennifer Gray
112 . My Granny is a Pirate – Val McDermid
113 . Little Manfred – Michael Morpurgo
114 . Eragon – Christopher Paolini
115 . Amelia Jane – Enid Blyton
116 . The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me – Roald Dahl
117 . Percy the Park Keeper – Nick Butterworth
118 . Little Women – Louisa May Alcott
119 . Princess Evie’s Ponies – Sarah KilBride & Sophie Tilley
120 . The Kane Chronicles – Rick Riordan
121 . Dinosaur Cove – Rex Stone & Mike Spoor
123 . My Sister the Vampire – Sienna Mercer
124 . Paper Dolls – Julia Donaldson & Rebecca Cobb
126 . Mariella Mystery – Kate Pankhurst
127 . The Book with No Pictures – B. J. Novak
128 . The Septimus Heap – Angie Sage
129 . The Nine Lives of Montezuma – Michael Morpurgo
130 . Island of the Blue Dolphins – Scott O’Dell
131 . Mrs Pepperpot – Alf Proysen & Hilda Offen
132 . The Rithmatist – Brandon Sanderson
133 . Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians – Brandon Sanderson & Patrick Knowles
134 . Emily Windsnap – Liz Kessler & Sarah Gibb
135 . Poppy’s Planet – Russ Brown
137 . The School for Good and Evil – Soman Chainani
138 . The Last Dragon Chronicles – Chris D’Lacey
139 . The Butterfly Club – Jacqueline Wilson & Nick Sharratt
140 . Roof Toppers – Katherine Rundell
141 . The Hundred Mile an Hour Dog – Jeremy Strong
142 . Gregor the Overlander – Suzanne Collins
143 . Ruby Redfort – Lauren Child
144 . Harvey Angell – Diana Hendry
145 . Frogspell – C. J. Busby & David Wyatt
146 . The Legend of Spud Murphy – Eoin Colfer
147 . Ottoline – Chris Riddell
148 . Fluff the Farting Fish – Michael Rosen