Your favourite children's books

The Knife That Killed Me

After much debate and discussion, we put together our list of our 100 best children's fiction books from the last 100 years - but what did you think?

We invited you to let us know which titles you thought were missing. Here's our list of some of the great books that didn't make our final cut, but that you told us were your favourites. 

  • CHERUB: The Recruit

    Author: Robert Muchamore
    Publisher: Hachette
    Interest age: 10+
    Reading age: 10+

    In the first book in Robert Muchamore's spectacular series, James is recruited into the ranks of CHERUB - a secret organisation which trains children as spies.

  • The Silver Sword

    Author: Ian Seraillier
    Publisher: Random House
    Interest age: 9-11
    Reading age: 9+

    In the chaos of World War II, Ruth, Edek and Bronia are separated from their parents, and left alone to fend for themselves, hiding from the Nazis in the ruins of their city.

  • The Gruffalo

    Author: Julia Donaldson Illustrator: Axel Scheffler
    Publisher: Macmillan
    Interest age: 1-5

    In this much-loved picture book, a little mouse walks through the woods and encounters a fox, an owl and a snake.

  • The Knife That Killed Me

    Author: Anthony McGowan
    Publisher: Definitions
    Interest age: 13+
    Reading age: 13+

    Paul isn't one of the tough kids, but when he ends up delivering a message from Roth, the terrifying school bully, he finds himself drawn into a dangerous rivalry.

  • Over Sea, Under Stone

    Author: Susan Cooper
    Publisher: Red Fox
    Interest age: 9+
    Reading age: 10+

    On holiday in Cornwall, Simon, Jane and Barney discover an ancient map in the attic of the Grey House, where they are staying with their much-loved but mysterious Great Uncle Merry.

  • How to Train Your Dragon

    Author: Cressida Cowell
    Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
    Interest age: 9+
    Reading age: 9+

    Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was an incredible sword-fighter, dragon-whisperer and the greatest Viking hero who ever lived.

  • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

    Author: Roald Dahl Illustrator: Quentin Blake
    Publisher: Puffin
    Interest age: 8+
    Reading age: 8+

    Roald Dahl's wicked sense of humour is perfectly in evidence in this marvellously imaginative classic story, which has been loved by generations of children. 

  • Peace At Last

    Author: Jill Murphy
    Publisher: Pan Macmillan
    Interest age: 3+
    Reading age: 6+

    The hour is late and Mr Bear is tired. But he just can't sleep - however hard he tries, all he can hear are the noises in the house.

  • Tom's Midnight Garden

    Author: Philippa Pearce
    Publisher: Oxford University Press
    Interest age: 9-11
    Reading age: 9+

    With no garden or children to play with Tom feels lonely and unhappy, until one night he hears the clock striking thirteen and discovers a secret garden.

  • Wonder

    Author: R J Palacio
    Publisher: Penguin Random House Children's
    Interest age: 9+
    Reading age: 9+

    August ('Auggie') Pullman can't help but stand out - he was born with a severe facial deformity. Written in the first person, Wonder follows Auggie as he experiences more than the usual ups-and-downs of friendships, family and school.

  • The Iron Man

    Author:
    Publisher: Faber Children's
    Interest age: 7+
    Reading age: 8+

    Subtitled 'a children's story in five nights' this powerful, moving and beautifully-written fable from poet Ted Hughes is a true modern classic.

  • Wolf Brother

    Author: Michelle Paver
    Publisher: Orion Children's Books
    Interest age: 9+
    Reading age: 9+

    Twelve-year-old Torak sees his father murdered by a terrible demon in the form of a bear. With his dying breath, Torak's father tells his son that he is the only one who can stop it.

  • Eagle of the Ninth

    Author: Rosemary Sutcliff
    Publisher: Oxford University Press
    Interest age: 10+
    Reading age: 10+

    In AD 117AD, the Ninth Legion marched into the mists of northern Britain... and were never seen again.