Top 3 Children’s Books: Then & Now

Ah the good old days. None of the modern rubbish out there these days is ever quite as good, is it? It’s easy to get nostalgic about our childhoods. After all, community was stronger, music was better, even the children’s books we read were more magical. Or were they?

Here we stack up 2014’s kids’ bestsellers and pit them against big releases from 1978 in a cross-generational battle of the books. Whether Dr Seuss gets you misty eyed or your young reader is hooked on Jeff Kinney’s Wimpy Kid series, we’ve got some great literary inspiration for you and your little bookworm to enjoy…

Now – Top Kids’ Books: 2014

1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck by Jeff Kinney

How many of your favourite childhood books started off as an online series and now have their own buzzing social media presence? Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is proving insanely popular with every person under (and sometimes over) the age of 13, and to help capture the attention and imagination of today’s tech-savvy, it’s all over Twitter, YouTube, you name it.

Behind the flashy high-tech marketing, however, there’s actually a pretty traditional kids’ story going on. Take one weakling “wimpy kid” as the hero, mix with friendships, school age trials and tribulations, plus the usual growing pains – et voila! A cross between Judy Blume for boys and the YouTube generation, each new book in the series even has a little viral teaser to accompany it. The latest edition has already garnered over 100,000 views.

2. Demon Dentist by David Walliams

Here’s popular culture kicking in again. These days we can’t escape marketing and celebrity, even in the world of children’s books. Here is TV comic David Walliam’s addition to the world of kids’ literature. And actually, it’s pretty good.

All of the ingredients for a cracking kids’ read are there; gruesome happenings, gently spooky goings on, plenty of slugs and earwigs and a mystery to unravel. Again, if you were expecting something new and different from 2014’s children’s books, you’re not going to find it here. But you will get a riotously funny yarn

3. One Direction: The Official Annual: 2014

Forget about your old 1978 Abba annual, this generation’s obsessed tweens can think of nothing by Harry, Louis, Niall, Zayn and Liam. One Direction fandom may have taken a more high-tech turn in 2014, but deep down, tweenage girls have always gone ga-ga for their favourite groups. The 2014 annual is full of exclusive interviews with the boys and more teenage eye candy than your squealing young fan can shake a glowstick at.

Then – Top Kids’ Books: 1978

1. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judie Barrett

Funnily enough, this 1978 kids’ classic was turned into an animated movie in 2009 – so you can share it with your little troublemakers from the comfort of your couch! The book itself is a hugely imaginative journey to the town of Chewandswallow, where well-fed residents get their daily meals from amazing meteorological events which rain down all sorts of fantastic food…until…the weather takes a turn for the culinary worse…It’s flat out fantastic and, dare we say it, a little more imaginative that 2014’s offerings.

2. Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell

If Clifford doesn’t make you feel all warm, nostalgic and fuzzy inside, we’re not sure what will. Clifford’s exploits can still be enjoyed today in the form of a very popular CBeebies series. Emily Elizabeth, Cleo, T-Bone and Clifford are still household names today. If that doesn’t say something about the lasting popularity of books from when we were young ‘uns, I don’t know what will. Perfect for younger readers and for enjoying snuggly storytime together.

3. I Can Read With My Eyes Shut! by Dr. Seuss

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” The enduring popularity of Dr. Seuss is hard to argue with. We’d bet all of our bingo winnings on Dr Seuss lasting long after the Wimpy Kid is forgotten. In this 1978 classic, the Cat in the Hat shows the Young Cat all the fun he can have reading books. The perfect message to round off our book battle!