National Literacy Trust: Suffolk's 100 best children's books

The National Literacy Trust in the county has launched the Suffolk 100 Reads following research which showed that only a third of children and young people aged eight to 18 in the East of England enjoy reading in their free time.

The initiative, a collaboration with Suffolk libraries, is designed to inspire young readers in an age when reading is often a secondary choice to scrolling through phones. 

Every book featured can be borrowed from the county’s library service. 

The list was compiled after speaking with children, families, teachers, and community leaders.

It includes books for all ages, from early years to teenagers, and features both classic and contemporary titles.

Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider: Stormbreaker has made the list (Image: Archant) Lisa Thompson and Anthony Horowitz, authors from the area, made the list with their respective books, 'The Day I Was Erased' and 'Alex Rider: Stormbreaker.'

Local author Lisa Thompson has made the list too (Image: Nick Ilott) Faye Smith, manager at the National Literacy Trust in Suffolk, said: "When children and young people enjoy reading, they read more often, helping to build vital literacy skills and bringing wider benefits for wellbeing, confidence, and learning."

The launch of Suffolk 100 Reads comes as research from the National Literacy Trust reveals that only a third (32%) of children and young people aged 8 to 18 in the East of England say that they enjoy reading in their free time.

The research found that children who do read  are more likely to have better reading skills, that they find it easier to relax (56.6%) feel happy (41%), learn new things (50.9%), understand the views of others (32.8%), learn about other cultures (32.4%) and be confident (26.0%). 

The list includes a mix of classic and contemporary recommendations, with The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (Puffin) and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Penguin Classics) among the titles representing old favourites, while Super Ghost by Greg James and Chris Smith (Penguin) and Heartstopper by Alice Oseman (Hodder Children’s Books) highlight the range of modern authors. 

The trust advises that books based on children’s interests, including hobbies, are a good way to motivate children to read, and the list also showcases books about horse-riding, football and even a pair of graphic novel cat heroes. 

Children and families are encouraged to read as much of the list as they can, checking off titles as they go. The list can be downloaded at literacytrust.org.uk/suffolk. 

Erin Hamilton, Children’s Librarian at Suffolk Libraries said: “Reading for pleasure is one of the most important indicators of a child's future success and Suffolk Libraries is ideally placed across the county to offer children access to a vast range of reading materials, all which can be borrowed for free. Each of the titles on the Suffolk 100 can be found on our online catalogue and our knowledgeable staff can recommend others.” 

All the books can be borrowed for free from libraries across Suffolk. Information on finding and joining the library can be found by visiting suffolklibraries.co.uk. 

To find out more about the National Literacy Trust in Suffolk, visit: literacytrust.org.uk/communities/suffolk.  

The list is as follows

Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar is much loved (Image: submitted) For children aged 0-5

1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (Penguin Random House Children’s UK) 

2. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney (Walker Books LTD) 

3. Harold Snipperpots Best Disaster Ever by Beatrice Alemagna (Thames & Hudson Ltd) 

4. The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business by Werner Holzwarth and Wolf Erlbruch (HarperCollins Publishers) 

5. Supertato by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet (Simon & Schuster LTD) 

6. Hair Love by Matthew Cherry (Penguin Random House Children’s UK) 

7. Burglar Bill by Allan Ahlberg (Penguin Random House Children’s UK) 

8. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen (Walker Books Ltd) 

We're Going on a Bear Hunt (Image: Archant) 9. Cat in the Hat by Dr Seuss (HarperCollins Publishers) 

10. Oi Frog by Kes Gray and Jim Field (Hachette Children’s Group) 

11. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson (Pan Macmillan) 

12. Hairy Maclary by Lynley Dodd (Penguin Random House Children’s UK) 

13. The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark by Jill Tomlinson (HarperCollins Publishers) 

14. Ten Little Pirates by Mike Brownlow and Simon Rickerty (Hachette Children’s Group) 

15. Mog and the Baby by Judith Kerr (HarperCollins Publishers) 

16. One Camel Called Doug by Lu Fraser (Simon & Schuster Ltd) 

17. There’s Nothing Faster than a Cheetah by Tom Nicoll (Pan Macmillan) 

18. This is Not a Dinosaur by Barry Timms (Nosy Crow Ltd) 

19. 100 Dogs by Michael Whaite (Penguin Random House Children’s UK) 

20. Ten Fat Sausages by Michelle Robinson (Andersen Press Ltd) 

21. You Can’t Take an Elephant on a Bus by Patricia Cleveland-Peck and David Tazzyman (Bloomsbury Publishing PLC) 

22. The Perfect Fit by Naomi Jones and James Jones (Oxford University Press) 

23. The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers (HarperCollins Publishers) 

24. Bunnies on the Bus by Philip Ardagh and Ben Mantle (Walker Books Ltd) 

25. I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen (Walker Books Ltd) 

Who doesn't love The Gruffalo? (Image: Newsquest) The BFG is great for children aged 6-9 (Image: Newsquest) For children aged 6-9  

1. The BFG by Roald Dahl (Penguin Random House Children’s UK) 

2. The Highland Falcon Thief by MG Leonard and Sam Sedgman (Pan Macmillan) 

3. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (Faber & Faber) 

4. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis (HarperCollins Publishers) 

5. How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell (Hachette Children’s Group) 

6. Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton (Hachette Children’s Group) 

7. Soltra the Stone Charmer by Adam Blade (Hachette Children’s Group) 

8. Dork Diaries by Rachel Renee Russell (Simon & Schuster Ltd) 

Love for Harry Potter continues to inspire new generations of readers (Image: Newsquest)9. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling (Bloomsbury Publishing PLC) 

10. Gangsta Granny by David Walliams (HarperCollins Publishers) 

11. Dog Man by Dav Pilkey (Scholastic) 

12. The Story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson (Penguin Random House Children’s UK) 

13. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (Penguin Random House Children’s UK) 

14. Sparks by Ian Boothby (Scholastic US) 

15. Peanut Jones and the Illustrated City by Rob Biddulph (Pan Macmillan) 

16. 13-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton (Pan Macmillan) 

17. The Danger Gang by Tom Fletcher (Penguin Random House Children’s UK) 

18. The Explorer by Katherine Rundell (Bloomsbury Publishing PLC) 

19. The Starlight Stables Gang by Esme Higgs (Penguin Random House Children’s UK) 

20. Super Ghost by Greg James and Chris Smith (Penguin Random House Children’s UK) 

21. Pax by Sara Pennypacker (HarperCollins Publishers) 

22. Where’s Wally by Martin Handford (Walker Books Ltd) 

23. Inventors by Robert Winston (Dorling Kindersley Ltd) 

24. The Racehorse Who Learned to Dance by Clare Balding (Penguin Random House Children’s UK) 

25. Investigators by John Patrick Green (Pan Macmillan) 

Where is Wally exactly? (Image: Newsquest) For children aged 10-13  

1. No Ballet Shoes in Syria by Catherine Bruton (Nosy Crow Ltd) 

2. I, Cosmo by Carlie Sorosiak (Nosy Crow Ltd) 

3. You Are a Champion by Marcus Rashford (Pan Macmillan) 

4. The Demon Headmaster by Gillian Cross (Oxford University Press) 

5. The Thieves of Ostia by Caroline Lawrence (Hachette Children’s Group) 

6. Rising Storm by Erin Hunter (HarperCollins Publishers) 

7. After the War by Tom Palmer (HarperCollins Publishers) 

8. The Book of Stolen Dreams by David Farr (Usborne Publishing Ltd) 

9. The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks by Katie Kirby (Penguin Random House Children’s UK) 

10. Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson (Pan Macmillan) 

11. The Day I Was Erased by Lisa Thompson (Scholastic) 

12. The Hatmakers by Tamzin Merchant (Penguin Random House Children’s UK) 

13. When the Sky Falls by Phil Earle (Andersen Press Ltd) 

14. The Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine (HarperCollins Publishers) 

15. The Kingdom Over the Sea by Zohra Nabi (Simon & Schuster Ltd) 

16. Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo (HarperCollins Publishers) 

Michael Morpurgo's Private Peaceful made the list (Image: Newsquest)17. The Cry of the Icemark by Stuart Hill (Chicken House Ltd) 

18. Dragon Mountain by Katie and Kevin Tsang (Simon & Schuster Ltd) 

19. Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver (Hachette Children’s Group) 

20. The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani (HarperCollins Publishers) 

21. Framed by Frank Cottrell-Boyce (Pan Macmillan) 

22. The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb by RL Stine (Scholastic) 

23. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (Penguin Random House Children’s UK) 

24. The Lost Twin by Sophie Cleverly (HarperCollins Publishers)  

25. A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicholl (Knights of Media) 

For children aged 14+  

1. The Crossing by Manjeet Mann (Penguin Random House Children’s UK) 

2. One by Sarah Crossan (Bloomsbury Publishing PLC) 

3. And the Stars Were Burning Brightly by Danielle Jawando (Simon & Schuster Ltd) 

Anne Frank's diary is a must read (Image: Newsquest) 4. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (Penguin Books Ltd) 

5. Heartstopper by Alice Oseman (Hachette Children’s Group) 

6. Angus, Thongs and Full-frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison (HarperCollins Publishers)    

7. The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien (HarperCollins Publishers) 

8. A Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hines (Penguin Books Ltd) 

9. Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz (Walker Books Ltd) 

10. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (Cornerstone) 

11. One Piece by Eiichiro Oda (Viz Media) 

12. One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus (Penguin Random House Children’s UK) 

13. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic) 

14. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Penguin Books Ltd) 

15. Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman (Penguin Random House Children’s UK) 

16. Terror Kid by Benjamin Zephaniah (Hot Key Books) 

17. Call of the Wild by Jack London (Penguin Random House Children’s UK) 

18. Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (HarperCollins Publishers) 

19. Five Nights at Freddy’s by Scott Cawthorn (Scholastic US) 

20. The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynne Barnes (Penguin Random House Children’s UK) 

21. Holes by Louis Sacher (Bloomsbury Publishing PLC) 

22. The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna (Usborne Publishing Ltd) 

23. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (Faber & Faber) 

24. Welcome to Camp Killer by Cynthia Murphy (HarperCollins Publishers) 

25. The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera (Simon & Schuster Ltd)