Walliams to reveal Britain's Favourite Children's Book on Boxing Day

23 December 2015

 

In a celebration of children’s books, old and new, Britain’s Favourite Children’s Books will be counted down by David Walliams on Channel 4, Boxing Day at 6:30pm. The list, compiled by The Sunday Times, features much loved classics from The Railway Children, Goodnight Mister Tom and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to The Cat in the Hat, The Grufalo and The Boy in the Dress.

Set in Hogwarts, David Walliams will be joined by a host of famous faces and literary legends as he counts down the top 50 children’s books. Rob Brydon, Miranda Hart and Sarah Hadland will reveal their favourite stories from childhood, while some of the fantastic authors and illustrators featured in the list will share the inspiration behind their most famous and loved work including Dame Jacqueline Wilson, Michael Bond, Judith Kerr, Julia Donaldson, Michael Morpungo and Sir Quentin Blake. And of course we hear from the real experts – a host of children from across the country – with some highly unusual opinions….

 

The list will be revealed in order exclusively on Channel 4 but the top 25 books featured in the countdown are:

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham

Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpungo

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkin

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell

The Grufalo by Julia Donaldson

Dogger by Shirely Hughes

The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr

Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone by JK Rowling

Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson

Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

The Story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson

Charlie and The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond

 

ENDS

 

For further information: Samantha Elliott, Channel 4 Press Office