Seven Pan Macmillan books make the Better Reading’s 2022 Top 50 Kids’ Books
The Better Reading Top 50 Kids Books of 2022 have been announced, and we have seven books that have made the list!
Each year, Australians have their say about which children’s books and authors they love to read. The Better Reading Top 50 Kids is a well-loved annual event that readers vote for, celebrate and then discuss. We are thrilled that seven Pan Macmillan books have made the list, including debut author Lyndall Clipstone!
Congratulations to all the authors and their books nominated, you can read more about the list here.
Our rankings
#10: The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Walk further into the deep dark wood, and discover what happens when a quick-witted mouse comes face to face with an owl, a snake … and a hungry Gruffalo!
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s The Gruffalo is an undisputed modern classic and has become a best-selling phenomenon across the world with over 13.5 million copies sold. This award-winning rhyming story of a mouse and a monster has found its way into the hearts and bedtimes of an entire generation of children and will undoubtedly continue to enchant children for years and years to come. No home should be without The Gruffalo! This edition features the classic story with a stunning redesigned cover and beautiful finish, making it a must-have addition to the bookshelves of all Donaldson and Scheffler fans – big and small!
Also available with redesigned covers are The Gruffalo’s Child, Room on the Broom, The Snail and the Whale, The Smartest Giant in Town, Monkey Puzzle, Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book, and A Squash and a Squeeze.
#13: The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
One little snail longs to see the world and hitches a lift on the tail of an enormous whale. Together they go on an amazing journey, past icebergs and volcanoes, sharks and penguins, and the little snail feels so small in the vastness of the world. But when disaster strikes and the whale is beached in a bay, it’s the tiny snail’s big plan that saves the day.
The Snail and the Whale is a delightful tale of adventure and friendship by the unparalleled picture-book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, creators of The Gruffalo. This edition features the classic story with a stunning, redesigned cover and beautiful finish, making it a must-have addition to the bookshelves of all Donaldson and Scheffler fans – big and small!
Also available with redesigned covers are The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child, Room on the Broom, The Smartest Giant in Town, Monkey Puzzle, Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book, and A Squash and a Squeeze.
#16: The 13-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton
Andy and Terry’s 13-storey treehouse is the most amazing treehouse in the world! It’s got a bowling alley, a see-through swimming pool, a tank full of man-eating sharks, a giant catapult, a secret underground laboratory and a marshmallow machine that follows you around and shoots marshmallows into your mouth whenever you’re hungry.
Well, what are you waiting for? Come on up!
The 156-Storey Treehouse is also available now.
#17: Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson
The witch and her cat fly happily over forests, rivers and mountains on their broomstick until a stormy wind blows away the witch’s hat, bow and wand. Luckily, they are retrieved by a dog, a bird and a frog, who are all keen for a ride on the broom. It’s a case of the more, the merrier, but the broomstick isn’t used to such a heavy load and it’s not long before… SNAP! It breaks in two! And with a greedy dragon looking for a snack, the witch’s animal pals better think fast.
A very funny story of quick wits and friendship, The Room on the Broom is another smash hit from the unparalleled picture-book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, creators of The Gruffalo.
This edition features the captivating classic story with a stunning, redesigned cover and beautiful finish, making it a must-have addition to the bookshelves of all Donaldson and Scheffler fans – big and small!
Also available with redesigned covers are The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child, The Snail and the Whale, The Smartest Giant in Town, Monkey Puzzle, Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book, and A Squash and a Squeeze.
#35: Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
Rod Campbell’s classic lift-the-flap book Dear Zoo has been a firm favourite with toddlers and parents alike ever since it was first published in 1982.
‘I wrote to the zoo to send me a pet . . .’
Young children will love lifting the flaps to discover the animals the zoo has sent – a monkey, a lion and even an elephant! But will they ever manage to send the perfect pet?
With bright, bold artwork, a catchy refrain and a whole host of favourite animals, no child’s bookcase is complete without a well-worn copy of Dear Zoo.
Little animal lovers will also enjoy Rod Campbell’s Look After Us, a lift-the-flap animal book for toddlers with a positive message about conservation.
#37: Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden
Somewhere out there Ellie and her friends are hiding.
They’re shocked, they’re frightened, they’re alone.
Their world has changed, with the speed of a slamming door.
They’ve got no weapons – except courage.
They’ve got no help – except themselves.
They’ve got nothing – except friendship.
How strong can you be, when the world is full of people trying to kill you?
#38: Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone
There are monsters in the world.
When Violeta Graceling arrives at haunted Lakesedge estate, she expects to find a monster. She knows the terrifying rumours about Rowan Sylvanan, who drowned his entire family when he was a boy. But neither the estate nor the monster are what they seem.
There are monsters in the woods.
As Leta falls for Rowan, she discovers he is bound to the Lord Under, the sinister death god lurking in the black waters of the lake. A creature to whom Leta is inexplicably drawn . . .
There’s a monster in the shadows, and now it knows my name.