UK Edition
BBC children's book list too focused on daunting classics, BookTrust warns
The BBC’s list of must-read books for children places too much emphasis on “timeless classics” and risks tasking children with too much to do, BookTrust has warned.
BookTrust, the literacy charity, warned a poll of books children ought to read ignored a “treasure chest” of more modern works they might find more exciting.
The list of top ten children’s books, compiled by the BBC from a local radio poll, includes Lord of the Rings, by JRR Tolkein, Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird and the Bible.
But while the sentiment has been welcomed by campaigners, others were disappointed to see a list of many of the same classics which have not changed for years.
Diana Gerald, BookTrust chief executive, said: “It’s great that the BBC’s LovetoRead campaign is highlighting children’s books, but the results of the survey show how little we all know of the treasure chest available to children.
“Too often children are given ‘timeless classics’ to read, when there are so many other, newer books that are just as brilliant but can also talk to them about the world they know, in language that resonates with them.
“Classics are important, of course, but if we’re going to create a new generation of readers, we need to be bolder and more imaginative in the books we promote.
“The challenge with a tick list of ‘books you should have read’ is that children have enough ‘to do’ lists as it is.”
She added the right book to turn a child onto reading “might well be a Roald Dahl, but it might equally be a Malorie Blackman, a Cressida Cowell, a Phil Earle, or Oliver Jeffers.
“Or it might be the Top Gear manual.”
The BBC poll was based on a survey of 1,000 adults, each asked which book “every child should read”. JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series came in at number one, followed by Roald Dahl’s BFG.
A further 1,001 different people were then invited to pick their favourites from a shortlist.
The Famous Five and The Wind and the Willows proved the most common recommendations for those aged 55 plus, an age bracket which saw one in five also naming the Bible.
Jonty Claypole, BBC director of arts, said: “Authors and books have always been at the heart of the BBC, but with #Lovetoread 2016 our ambition is to move reading further up our agenda; to include more people, let everyone have a say on the books that matter most to them and importantly inspire a new generation to love reading.”
Top Ten books recommended by BBC Love to Read campaign
- Harry Potter by J K Rowling
- The BFG by Roald Dahl
- To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
- The Famous Five by Enid Blyton
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
- The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
- The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
- The Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien
- The Bible