There are many beloved children's books that have stood the test of time. Even books that were written hundreds of years ago are still enjoyed by children today. Some of the best children's books have sold millions of copies over the years and are enjoyed everywhere by young readers during recess on school playground equipment, on a park bench during the summer, or at a picnic table with friends. Do you know which are the best-selling books for children throughout history? Grab any of these titles, pick a nice spot under a playground shade structure, and enjoy your time reading and relaxing. No matter where you choose to read, on playground equipment, on a park bench, or at a picnic table under a shade structure, the most important thing is the act of reading itself.
The research team at AAAStateOfPlay.com looked at data of the most sold books of all time to create a visualization of the most popular children's and young adult books throughout history. Keep reading to see which books are the most popular!
What Are the Most Popular Children's Books You Might Find on the School Playground Equipment?
The best-selling children's book of all time is The Little Prince, which was written by French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The book has sold approximately 200,000,000 copies since it was published in 1943. Imagine how many school children that book has impacted; nearly as many as elementary school playground equipment has. The story is about a prince who visits various planets and explores themes of friendship, love, and loss. While considered a children's book, its subject matter resonates with readers of all ages, just as school playground equipment is designed for all.
The second book on the list is Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (also known as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in some locations) by J.K. Rowling. The beloved book about a wizard and his adventures at his magical school, which was published in 1997, has sold approximately 120,000,000 copies around the world. It's considered to be one of the most famous children's books of all time. The book series is so popular that the other six novels also rank highly on the list.
The third best-selling children's book is The Hobbit written by J. R. R. Tolkien. It was published in 1937 and about 100,000,000 copies have been sold since then. The book tells the story of a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins who joins a wizard named Gandalf and thirteen dwarves to help recover the dwarves' ancestral home as well as treasure from a dragon called Smaug. The book is considered to be one of the best children's books ever written. It is also a prequel to the popular Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy were made into movies which earned significant acclaim.
Tied in fifth place for best-selling children's books are the rest of the books in the Harry Potter series: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005), and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007). All of these books have sold approximately 65,000,000 copies each around the world. The series is also the best-selling children's book series in history.
There are a number of books at the number 10 spot, selling about 50,000,000 copies each. They include:
Heidi by Johanna Spyri (1880): A story about a young girl being raised by her grandfather in the Swiss Alps
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery (1908): This story is about an 11-year-old orphan named Anne Shirley sent to live on a farm on Prince Edward Island in Canada
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell (1877): Black Beauty was a horse that grew up on a farm and recounts the joys and hardships in his life
Watership Down by Richard Adams (1972): This novel is an adventure story about a small group of rabbits living in Southern England and the trials they face attempting to find a new home after their warren is destroyed
Charlotte's Web by E. B. White (1952): This tells the story about a pig named Wilbur and his friend the spider, Charlotte
There are many other childhood classics that are included on the list. Some of these include The Tale of Peter Rabbit written by Beatrix Potter (45,000,000 copies), Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach (44,000,000 copies), and The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (43,000,000 copies).
The Important Role of Reading and Play in Education
While traditional education is a cornerstone of development of children, there are many other ways their needs can be fostered at home. Incorporating regular reading, including at bedtime, into a child's schedule can help improve their literacy. Consistent play on playground structures like swing sets, slides, and climbing walls help develop motor skills.
The Best-Selling Children's Books
RankBookAuthorYearApproximate Sales 1The Little PrinceAntoine de Saint-Exupéry1943200,000,000 2Harry Potter and the Philosopher's StoneJ. K. Rowling1997120,000,000 3The HobbitJ. R. R. Tolkien1937100,000,000 4Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsJ. K. Rowling199877,000,000 5Harry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanJ. K. Rowling199965,000,000 5Harry Potter and the Goblet of FireJ. K. Rowling200065,000,000 5Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixJ. K. Rowling200365,000,000 5Harry Potter and the Half-Blood PrinceJ. K. Rowling200565,000,000 5Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsJ. K. Rowling200765,000,000 10HeidiJohanna Spyri188050,000,000 10Anne of Green GablesLucy Maud Montgomery190850,000,000 10Black BeautyAnna Sewell187750,000,000 10Watership DownRichard Adams197250,000,000 10Charlotte's WebE. B. White195250,000,000 15The Tale of Peter RabbitBeatrix Potter190245,000,000 16Jonathan Livingston SeagullRichard Bach197044,000,000 17The Very Hungry CaterpillarEric Carle196943,000,000 18To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee196040,000,000 18Sophie's WorldJostein Gaarder199140,000,000 20The Adventures of PinocchioCarlo Collodi188135,000,000 21The Hunger GamesSuzanne Collins200829,000,000 22James and the Giant PeachRoald Dahl196128,000,000 23The Wind in the WillowsKenneth Grahame190825,000,000 24The Fault in Our StarsJohn Green201223,000,000 25Uncle StyopaSergey Mikhalkov193621,000,000 25Catching FireSuzanne Collins200921,000,000 27MockingjaySuzanne Collins201020,000,000 27Love You ForeverRobert Munsch198620,000,000 27Adventures of Huckleberry FinnMark Twain188520,000,000 27The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾Sue Townsend198220,000,000 27Where the Wild Things AreMaurice Sendak196320,000,000 27Charlie and the Chocolate FactoryRoald Dahl196420,000,000 33MatildaRoald Dahl198817,000,000 34The Book ThiefMarkus Zusak200516,000,000 35Goodnight MoonMargaret Wise Brown194716,000,000 35The Neverending StoryMichael Ende197916,000,000 37The OutsidersS. E. Hinton196715,000,000 37Guess How Much I Love YouSam McBratney199415,000,000 37The Poky Little PuppyJanette Sebring Lowrey194215,000,000 40A Wrinkle in TimeMadeleine L'Engle196214,000,000 41MomoMichael Ende197313,000,000 42The GiverLois Lowry199312,000,000 43The GruffaloJulia Donaldson199910,500,000 43The Cat in the HatDr. Seuss195710,500,000 45Ronia, the Robber's DaughterAstrid Lindgren198110,000,000
