Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll
Of course! The great progenitor, maybe where it all began. References from Alice swim in the minds of millions who may not even have read these books.
Tom’s Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce
A beautiful book – a perfect story, but also a reflection on time, place and memory.
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Everyone under five should have read this or had it read to them. Everyone over five, too. “Let the wild rumpus start!” is relevant to all of us, as we navigate our feelings, or control thereof – or simply our desire for a rumpus.
Charlotte’s Web by EB White
A fraught narrative about survival and industry, with a wonderfully articulate pig, spider and the rest.
The Borrowers by Mary Norton
The Borrowers are small people who live under the floorboards, and pilfer from those of us above. An exquisite depiction of an alternative world.
The Mouse and His Child by Russell Hoban
Toy mice and their journey to become self-winding. An allegory of struggle and persecution, or growing up – or just a powerful story.
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
Well, what is one to say! Such amazing invention and resource of the imagination. Children’s book? Of course not – this is for everyone.
The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse by Beatrix Potter
Potter remains essential reading: the robust, uncompromising language, the characters, the illustrations. And this one captures the eternal opposition of town life and country life, as relevant now as to mice a century ago.
Mister Magnolia by Quentin Blake
Quentin Blake is a master many times over, but this is my favourite – for both text and illustrations.
Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson
A perfect creation of another world, otherwise populated, entirely credible; a place you want to share.
The inaugural Children’s Booker prize supported by AKO Foundation, celebrating the best fiction for children aged 8-12 years old, will be awarded in 2027
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Illustration from His Dark Materials: The Northern Lights (illustrated edition) © Philip Pullman, illustrated by Chris Wormell (Scholastic)