Do you know what the best-selling children’s books of all time are? Well, if you’ve recently come into contact with the infant world or have a child wandering around your home, you may want to take a look at this list before going to the nearest bookstore. From old time classics, to newer fantasy adventures, the stories that enchant everyone – from adults to minions – have a special something that just can’t be beat.
Some infantile novels gained so much popularity in fact, that their writers fall under the world’s top 10 earning authors, which we gathered in a previous article. Now, you’ll surely notice a significant bump in the sales figures at one point, but do not be alarmed: we haven’t tampered with any numbers, although a game-changing author and her book series did enter the market, creating an entire new children’s cult (can you guess who it is?). So, let’s take a look at the best-selling children’s books of all time and what makes them so special.
8. Green Eggs and Ham
Author: Dr. Seuss
Copies sold: 8.1 million
There’s no denying that Dr. Seuss’ stories have helped raise and define the child culture in many occidental countries, especially in Canada and the United States. And Green Eggs and Ham is truly an all-time favourite since its publication in 1960. By using only 50 words in different orders, the famous Sam-I-Am charmingly tries to convince a sourpuss of how delicious said meal can be.
7. Tootle
Author: Gertrude Crampton
Copies sold: 8.5 million
Several of you will surely remember the story of Tootle, a baby locomotive that goes to school in order to learn how to focus so he can become the Flyer train on the route between New York and Chicago. The endearing story teaches children that all goals require a big effort and sometimes a change of habits, as Tootle thoroughly enjoys chasing butterflies and racing horses.
6. The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Author: Beatrix Potter
Copies sold: 9.3 million
While the author of this best-seller shares a last name with another infamous child novel character, she has no extraordinary powers, unless you count her knack for imaginative writing. One of the oldest children’s books on this list, the tale of a very naughty Peter Rabbit was published in 1902, and went on to sell millions, especially in the UK, Canada, and the U.S. Another fun fact: the author also took care of all the illustrations in the book.
5. Charlotte’s Web
Author: E.B. White
Copies sold: 11.3 million
Known for creating stories about children that befriend animals, this book tells the tale of Charlotte and her barnyard friends, who help a pig become famous. The author also created the famous Stuart Little story and was awarded the National Medal for Literature in 1971.
4. The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Author: Eric Carle
Copies sold: 35 million
This caterpillar with a ferocious appetite goes about life eating anything that comes in his way, like plums, salami, and Swiss cheese, making him a highly amusing and hungry character. A classic favourite amongst children since 1969, Carle’s version of a caterpillar’s diet is on the best-selling children’s books of all time.
3. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Author: J.K. Rowling
Copies sold: 65 million
Harry Potter is without a doubt the most famous child book character ever created and the sale numbers on each of the seven books verifies that. With a much darker feel than the previous novels, J.K. Rowling fed her fans’ magic addiction by focusing on the evil Lord Voldemort’s past and his identity as Tom Riddle. However, keep your tissue box at hand because the tragic ending will definitely have your young one in tears.
2. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
Author: C.S. Lewis
Copies sold: 85 million
Published for the first time in 1950, this story gained even more popularity after its film adaptation in 2005. The adventures of orphans Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie that discover the magical land of Narnia by entering the back of a wardrobe is more than enchanting. The book teaches children the value of justice, as the characters unite forces with lion Aslan in order to free Narnia’s inhabitants of the White Witch’s power.
1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Author: J.K Rowling
Copies sold: 107 million
The book that started a hype that would last over a decade was released in 1997, introducing the character of noble and heroic Harry Potter. When the 11 year old receives an invitation to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he’s barely even aware of his magical powers, but soon discovers a new world, with friends, spells, and one very powerful enemy. With this tale, J.K. Rowling initiated a new era of story-telling and crowns our list of best-selling children’s books of all time.
