The 2023 Children’s Book Celebration

To mark the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort in May, the National Literacy Trust, in partnership with digital bank, Chase, ran a very special 2023 Children’s Book Celebration to crown the top 23 children’s books. We invited all primary-aged pupils from across the UK to vote for their all-time favourite book to create the Chase Coronation Booklist.

We know that reading for pleasure can change future prospects for children and ultimately help them to unlock their true potential, so we wanted to hear which books are helping to spark their love of reading.

Thank you all for voting in the Chase Coronation Booklist! Your votes are now in, and we are delighted to announce the top 23 books voted for by children across the UK. Her Majesty Queen Camilla was presented the Chase Coronation Booklist collection by Shirehampton Primary School in Bristol on Thursday 18 May as she visited one of the Chase Rewarding Futures flagship libraries.

Here is the full list (in alphabetical order) of the top 23 children's books as voted for by primary-aged pupils up and down the UK. Are your all-time favourite books on this list too?

• A Dinosaur Ate My Sister, by Pooja Puri and illustrated by Allen Fatimaharan
• Bunny Vs Monkey, by Jamie Smart
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney
• Dog Man, by Dav Pilkey
• Dork Diaries, by Rachel Renée Russell
• Gangsta Granny, by David Walliams and illustrated by Tony Ross
• Grimwood, by Nadia Shireen
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, by J.K. Rowling
• Horrid Henry, by Francesca Simon
• How to Train Your Dragon, by Cressida Cowell
• Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan
• The Boy at the Back of the Class, by Onjali Rauf and illustrated by Pippa Curnick
• The Brilliant World of Tom Gates, by Liz Pichon
• The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalk and Oliver Jeffers
• The Gruffalo, by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler
• The Last Bear, by Hannah Gold and illustrated by Levi Pinfold
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis
• The Tiger Who Came to Tea, by Judith Kerr
• Varjak Paw, by S.F. Said and illustrated by Dave McKean
• We're Going to Find the Monster, by Malorie Blackman and illustrated by Dapo Adeola.
• Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak
• Wonder, by R.J. Palacio

Eligible schools that took part in the celebration were entered into a prize draw to win one of five brand-new Reading Zones for their school along with 23 age-appropriate books from the Chase Coronation Booklist.

Congratulations to the five winning schools:

• Blackmore Primary School, Blackmore
• Christ Church CofE Primary School, Coseley
• Carlton Junior and Infant School, South Elmsall
• St James CE Primary School, Oldbury
• The Wilmslow Academy, Wilmslow

Congratulations also to the ten runners-up who won 23 age-appropriate books from the Chase Coronation Booklist:

• De Bohun Primary School, London
• Eldene Nursery and Primary School, Swindon
• Long Marton School, Appleby-in-Westmorland
• Marlborough School, Falmouth
• Ravensworth Terrace Primary School, Birtley
• Richard Wakefield C E Primary Academy, Tutbury
• Scawsby Junior Academy, Scawsby
• Shiphay Learning Academy, Torquay
• Weston Favell CE Primary School, Northampton
• Boddam School, Peterhead

About The 2023 Children’s Book Celebration

Voting in the 2023 Children’s Book Celebration was open to all primary children (ages 4 to 11) across the UK. Eligibility for the prize draw was subject to Terms and Conditions.

The celebration closed on 9 May and the Chase Coronation Booklist was announced on the 18 May.