Reading and telling stories with babies and children promotes brain development and imagination, develops language and emotions, and strengthens relationships. Reading a favorite book to your children helps you bond with them and gives them a sense of intimacy and well-being (Anderson et al., 2021). Whether they read a short story or a bilingual book such as The Adventures of Pili, they enrich their vocabulary knowledge and greatly promote their cognitive development. Here are some of the most-read children’s books in the world (Nikolajeva, 2015).
1. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Roald Dahl)
Charlie Bucket has always been curious to discover Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, which he passes by daily. One day, Wonka announces that he will give five golden tickets to five lucky children who will be able to enter his factory. At first, Charlie doesn’t think he can win a golden ticket since his family is too poor to pay for Wonka’s chocolates. But he still wins one and embarks on an adventure that changes him forever.
Whether your child has a sweet tooth or not, Roald Dahl’s deliciously imaginative adventure story will leave your little one wanting more. Some scenes may scare your child, so be sure to accompany them as they read Roald Dahl’s best-selling book.
2. Winnie the Pooh (AA Milne)
Winnie the Pooh is not just a story. Instead, it is a collection of short stories about the adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood. Most of the stories revolve around Winnie-the-Pooh, who gets into trouble due to his overwhelming love for honey.
Your child may have seen the countless Disney adaptations of A.A. Milne’s work; however, Winnie the Pooh’s book is still a great place to start. It’s a funny but moving work on friendship that your child will remember for years.
3. The Hobbit, aka There and Back (J.R.R. Tolkien)
Bilbo Baggins always lived a “respectable” life as a hobbit in the Shire until a wizard called Gandalf the Grey. Somehow, Gandalf convinces Bilbo to become a “thief” for a group of 13 dwarves. Together they embark on a journey to recover a mountain of treasure guarded by Smaug, a cunning and ferocious dragon.
If you are a fan of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit is a great way to convey enthusiasm to your child. It’s one of the more mature stories on this list, so you and your child can enjoy it together.
4. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (J.K. Rowling)
Eleven-year-old Harry Potter has only ever lived on Privet Drive, where he suffers under the yoke of his uncle’s abusive family. One day, a giant named Hagrid bursts into his uncle’s door, tells Harry he is a wizard and takes him to Hogwarts. Harry finds friends and enemies there and learns he is the only one known to have survived the killing curse from a powerful wizard named Voldemort.
It is a book about a little boy who discovers that he is unique in more ways than one. He also has magical adventures with magical friends at a magic school. What’s not to like?
References
Anderson, R. C., Shirey, L. L., Wilson, P. T., & Fielding, L. G. (2021). Interestingness of children’s reading material. In Aptitude, learning, and instruction (pp. 287-300). Routledge.
Nikolajeva, M. (2015). Children’s literature comes of age: toward a new aesthetic. Routledge.