The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson (HarperCollins, 1979) 1,565,688, 214. Be Careful What You Wish For (GB #12) by R.L. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor (Dell, 1984 and Puffin, 1991) 2,612,274, 81. The Day the Crayons Quit. Published in 1997, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was Rowling's first book about the bespectacled wizard and his friends. Listen to thousands of best sellers and new releases on your iPhone, iPad, or Android. Disney's 101 Dalmatians adapted by Ronald Kidd (Golden, 1991) 1,520,900 (figures since 1996 not available), 81. Stuart Little by E.B. The Berenstain Bears Get in a Fight by Stan and Jan Berenstain (Random House, 1982) 2,430,287, 94. The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford (Dell, 1984) 5,176,665, 15. http://robertmunsch.com/about, Scholastic. The Berenstain Bears: No Girls Allowed by Stan and Jan Berenstain (Random House, 1976) 2,248,434, 104. My First Word Board Book (DK, 1997) 1,000,000, 135. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (Scholastic/Levine, 1998) 5,087,304, 20. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Totally Awesome Activity Book (Random House, 1990 OP) 912,333, 152. Revisiting old stories we find new understanding while also delighting in new and exciting undiscovered plots as well. The Berenstain Bears and the Prize Pumpkin by Stan and Jan Berenstain (Random House, 1990) 1,188,316, 328. "Love You Forever" has been used by millions of parents as a way to lull their children to sleep. Thank you, Robert Munsch. Cooking: A Very Slightly Messy Manual (Klutz, 1987) 1,027,202, 375. The Caldecott Medal-winning picture book is one of the best-loved children's books of all time. by Michael Berenstain (Random House, 1987) 1,337,595, 287. by Renee Graef (Pleasant Co., 1986) 1,871,820, 150. Best Sellers in Books #1 The Courage to Be Free: Florida's Blueprint for America's Revival Ron DeSantis 41 Hardcover 38 offers from $22.54 #2 Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones James Clear 98,646 Hardcover 133 offers from $9.31 #3 Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel Bonnie Garmus 108,236 Hardcover Eric Carle knows what we know: Caterpillars are ravenous. Green Eggs and Ham Written on a bet , the book tells the story of Sam-I-Am as he attempts to convince an unnamed character to eat green eggs and ham, using less than . Rumble Fish by S.E. The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners by Stan and Jan Berenstain (Random House, 1985) 2,932,472, 67. by Dr. Seuss (Random House, 1970) 1,311,387, 102. Mahogany L. Browneis the author of Chlorine Sky, Woke: A Young Poets Call to Justice, Woke Baby, andBlack Girl Magic. Clockwise from bottom left: Mouse's Wood by Alice Melvin; The Little Match Girl Strikes Back by Emma Carroll and Lauren Child; The Boy Who Dreamed Dragons by Caryl Lewis and Carmen Saldaa; The. This is an adorable and essential picture book about consent. I Can Count to 100& Can You? Meet Molly by Valerie Tripp, illus. Samantha Learns a Lesson by Susan Adler, illus. Just Grandma and Me by Mercer Mayer (Golden, 1975) 3,415,132, 44. Illustration by Valerie Ruland-Schwartz. by Ernest Shepard (Dutton, 1924) 1,856,687, 68. Wayside School Is Falling Down by Louis Sachar (Avon, 1990) 1,810,665, 159. Hello Select your address . Ramona and Her Father by Beverly Cleary (Avon, 1990) 1,458,821, 242. With the help of the man in the polka dot tie, Scuffy sails down the wide-open river, seeing all the world has to offer, which is not always good. Get any audiobook FREE during your Free Trial. Age: 2+. 2007. by Richard Scarry (Golden, 1963) 2,034,130, 63. While Seuss, White and Potter have been stalwarts on the best-selling list for generations, something wonderful, some would say magical, happened in the 1990s. We earn a . Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik, illus. Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes. Sports. Secrets (SVH #2) by Francine Pascal (Bantam, 1984) 1,415,414, 256. Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger by Louis Sachar (Avon, 1996) 1,536,982, 224. The Magic Locket by Elizabeth Koda-Callan (Workman, 1988) 1,390,000, 91. The Real Mother Goose by Blanche F. Wright (Rand McNally, 1916 OP) 3,600,000 (as of 1989), 34. Just a Daydream by Mercer Mayer (Golden, 1989) 1,105,409, 353. Stine (Scholastic, 1995) 1,067,419, 361. Attack of the Mutant (GB #25) by R.L. Amelia Bedelia Helps Out by Peggy Parish, illus. Find out more. (Nov. 30, 2011). There's a Wocket in My Pocket! Surprise Island by Gertrude Warner (Albert Whitman, 1989) 1,034,435, 371. And what have we left off? I Was So Mad by Mercer Mayer (Golden, 1983) 2,971,943, 62. The Truck Book by Harry McNaught (Random House, 1978) 2,303,615, 100. Just Lost by Mercer Mayer (Golden, 1994) 1,746,666, 169. Clear and Simple Thesaurus Dictionary (Grosset & Dunlap, 1971) 1,627,941, 198. Its roots can be traced from "The Hobbit, or There and Back Again," or more popularly known as simply "The Hobbit." Go Eat Worms! Books in the public domain generally are not listed, since aggregate sales figures are not available. "20 Best-Selling Childrens Books of All Time" Guess How Much I Love You (board book) (Candlewick, 1996) 2,199,550, 57. The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister (North-South, 1992) 4,082,500, 26. Hinton (Dell, 1980) 1,688,627, 181. The Farm Book by Jan Pfloog (Golden, 1964) 2,142,875, 115. Wee Sing Christmas Book (Price Stern Sloan, 1989) 1,634,985, 196. Bad Hare Day (GB #41) by R.L. Stine (Scholastic, 1994) 1,420,019, 254. Santa Mouse by Elfrieda Dewitt (Grosset & Dunlap , 1966 OP) 1,078,215, 125. We have fiction and nonfictionincluding reluctant readers, courage, philosophy, detectives, fierce girls, science, football, Vikings, true events and moreso a great choice of books for every child. Dr. Seuss's ABC by Dr. Seuss (Random House, 1960) 5,187,656, 19. In & Out, Up & Down by Michael Smollin (Random House, 1982) 1,967,209, 138. Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary (Avon, 1983) 1,072,802, 359. Browse Top 100 Best-Selling Magazines. Big Bird's Color Game (Golden, 1980) 1,354,626 (figures since 1996 not available), 95. by Laura Cornell (HarperCollins/ Cotler, 1998) 771,103, 182. A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle (Dell, 1974) 2,176,235, 111. Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself by Judy Blume (Dell, 1978) 2,249,723, 103. Magazine Features. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (HarperCollins, 1987) 4,244,219, 25. Baby's First Words by Lars Wik (Random House, 1985) 1,251,684, 104. Curious George by H.A. We're not going to spoil the ending if you haven't read the last Harry Potter title, in which Harry confronts He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. A Fly Went By by Mike McClintock, illus. White, illus. Your browser is out of date. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Warner (Albert Whitman, 1989) 1,732,642, 173. Today I Feel Silly by Jamie Lee Curtis, illus. Therefore, some titles had to be left off, and others are ranked according to whatever sales figures were available. "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" was Blume's first "Fudge" book. Good Work, Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish (Avon, 1996) 2,018,158, 132. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George (HarperCollins, 1974) 2,838,043, 69. The magazine, Publishers Weekly, was the last to catalog the best children's books in 2001. Vote for your favorite in the poll below. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K.Rowling (Scholastic/Levine, 2000) 4,530,183, 20. 21 Books to Help You Learn Something New. A Shocker on Shock Street (GB #35) by R.L. Download a selection of social media cards to share with your friends - and make sure you tag us @BookTrust! "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing." by Eric Hill (Putnam, 1980) 1,136,918, 115. Stine (Scholastic, 1993) 1,484,187, 237. The Berenstain Bears and Moving Day by Stan and Jan Berenstain (Random House, 1981) 1,877,591, 149. by Lane Smith (Viking, 1989) 974,091, 144. (Miss Nelson, #1), Jenny and the Cat Club: A Collection of Favorite Stories about Jenny Linsky, Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China, Three Tales of My Father's Dragon (My Father's Dragon, #1-3), We Are in a Book! Stine (Scholastic, 1996) 1,349,965, 283. "Rowling Looking into Harry Potter E-Books." When the brother dies, Karana learns to survive finding inner strength and serenity. To honor the best books for young adults and children, TIME compiled this survey in consultation with respected peers such as U.S. Childrens Poet Laureate Kenn Nesbitt, childrens-book historian Leonard Marcus, the National Center for Childrens Illustrated Literature, the Young Readers Center at the Library of Congress, the Every Child a Reader literacy foundation and 10 independent booksellers. Before you know who and the Sorcerer's Stone came along, "The Poky Little Puppy", written by Jannette Sebring Lowery and illustrated by Gustaff Tenggren, held the honor of being the best-selling children's book of all time. Ghost Beach (GB #22) by R.L. Blue Hat Green Hat by Sandra Boynton (Little Simon, 1984) 847,449, 166. 4.5-star average rating from 1,625 reviews on Amazon. by Dayl Taylor (Pleasant Co., 1993) 1,665,358, 188. Macmillan Dictionary for Children edited by Judith Levy (Macmillan, 1975) 3,054,401, 39. Read about how author Meg Wolitzer was inspired by Sylvia Plaths Bell Jar. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams (Avon, 1979) 2,041,657, 131. May 25, 2011. by Katherine Howard, illus. Julia Donaldson's The Gruffalo is right behind with 1,781,269 sales Top cookery book: Jamie's. Some of the choices may surprise you. The Children's Literature Association named "Island of Blue Dolphins" one of the 10 best American children's books. Salinger (Little, Brown, 1951) 3,959,442, 30. It's Not the End of the World by Judy Blume (Dell, 1982) 1,280,220, 308. The best hot cross buns for 2023, expert tested. Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article: John Perritano Mad Libs #4 by Roger Price and Leonard Stern (Price Stern Sloan, 1974) 1,373,528, 271. Funnybones Janet and Allan Ahlberg (1980) Or one of the Ahlbergs' other classic illustrated tales such as Peepo or Each Peach Pear Plum. Nel, Philip. Clear rating. The second book, Chamber of Secrets, has shifted a fair few more (75 million and counting), but the first book is way ahead (see below). In fact, by the time you finish reading this sentence, a few hundred more Harry Potters and Cat in the Hats have been sold. 9 December 2011. The listings are b. man and child in the UK taking a copy of each. by Patricia Wynne (Random House, 1986) 1,290,726, 305. If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff, illus. The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb (GB #5) by R.L. April 4, 2011. (board book) by Dr. Seuss (Random House, 1996) 1,339,547, 99. Full of unforgettable characters and stories, picture books are not only great for our little ones' development but also loads of fun for parents and children to enjoy together. Rowling's success blew holes in the all-time children's best-seller list. by Jane Dyer (Random House, 1986) 774,273, 180. Addy's Surprise by Connie Porter, illus. by Dr. Seuss (Random House, 1959) 981,002, 140. Written by: Dr. Seuss. Just as Long as We're Together by Judy Blume (Dell, 1988) 1,507,735, 233. Thomas and the Freight Train by Rev. Books specifically for children existed by the 17th century. Titanic: Lost & Found by Judy Donnelly (Random House, 1987) 1,084,124, 356. Before such a thing could happen, Tootle has to go to school and learn how to stay on the track. . 7 best seafood centrepieces for Easter 2023. Chicka Chicka ABC by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illus. I Just Forgot by Mercer Mayer (Golden, 1988) 2,718,308, 74. "All-Time Bestselling Children's Books. Blue's Clues: Blue Skidoos to the Farm by Angela Santomero, illus. The series consists of two groups. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls (Dell, 1973) 6,754,308, 6. This is a list of children's classic books published no later than 2008 and still available in the English language. View On Amazon View On Barnesandnoble.com. Although it wasn't his first book, Seuss knew it would be special. -- Goodreads. The Giver by Lois Lowry (Dell, 1994) 2,969,069, 64. The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg (Little, Brown, 1991) 908,510, 153. Animal Babies by Harry McNaught (Random House, 1977) 1,577,302, 211. The Magician's Nephew by C.S. by Michael Smollin (Random House, 1979) 1,208,413, 319. The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder, illus. The Cuckoo Clock of Doom (GB #28) by R.L. by Sandra Boynton (Workman, 1993) 760,000, 185. Blume originally wrote the manuscript, which she titled, "Peter, Fudge and Dribble", as a picture book. score: 1,203 , and 13 people voted. Weirdo by Zadie Smith and Nick Laird. W. Awdry (Random House, 1989) 1,145,300, 114. by Roy McKie (Random House, 1969) 2,923,826, 41. The Bravest Dog Ever by Natalie Standiford (Random House, 1989) 1,278,397, 309. Really this book serves as a stand in on this list and could be read as "all books by Dr. Seuss" as he is truly the preeminent children's book author. Who can forget the pig that becomes famous with the help of his friend Charlotte and a barnyard menagerie? Target. Top Offers. Coming in at number one is the highest selling Little Golden Book and highest selling children's story of all time with sales exceeding 14,898,341 individual sales as of 2001: The Poky Little Puppy. Stine (Scholastic, 1994) 1,160,624, 333. The Secret of Shadow Ranch (Nancy Drew #5) by Carolyn Keene (Grosset & Dunlap, 1931) 2,347,750, 51. Although he really didn't read a book until high school, Rawls began to write when he was older. The Napping House by Audrey Wood, illus. Stine (Scholastic, 1994) 1,372,395, 272. The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Catling (Dell, 1984) 2,456,223, 90. There's a Wocket in My Pocket (board book) by Dr. Seuss (Random House, 1996) 843,057, 168. OhMyOhMyOh Dinosaurs! We'd love to hear what you think of our list - which is your favourite book? Eastman (Random House, 1973) 1,368,803, 275. The Secret of the Old Mill (Hardy Boys #3) by Franklin Dixon (Grosset & Dunlap, 1930) 1,467,645, 87. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (Scholastic/ Levine, 1999) 6,314,391, 12. Take a look at our pick of the best books for 6-8 year olds from the last 100 years. The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin by Beatrix Potter (Frederick Warne, 1903) 3,172,366, 37. Just Me and My Little Brother by Mercer Mayer (Golden, 1991) 1,581,139, 207. Just a Mess by Mercer Mayer (Golden, 1987) 1,694,589, 179. Also making strong debuts on the all-time lists are such hits as Thomas the Tank Engine, Blue's Clues, the Chronicles of Narnia, Sandra Boynton's board books and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and its companions. (Klutz, 1987) 1,481,187, 238. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. (Nov. 29, 2011). What marketing or methods or tactics did you use to sell your English language books in a foreign country? Grover and the Everything in the Whole Wide World Museum (Random House, 1974 OP) 1,918,629, 145. (for ages 3-7) Lola Loves Stories by Anna McQuinn (2010) Anna McQuinn grew up in a small town in Western Ireland called Castleisland. Kittens Are Like That by Jan Pfloog (Random House, 1976) 1,524,138, 227. Farm Animals by Phoebe Dunn (Random House, 1984) 2,238,834, 105. Writing did not come easy to E.B. This product is only available to collect in store. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George (Puffin, 1991) 1,498,747, 234. Night of the Living Dummy (GB #7) by R.L. I Can Read with My Eyes Shut by Dr. Seuss (Random House, 1978) 2,139,084, 59. It Came from Beneath the Sink (GB #30) by R.L. 20 . Oh, The Thinks You Can Think! Stine (Scholastic, 1995) 1,203,032, 322. 500 Words to Grow On by Harry McNaught (Random House, 1973) 2,620,082, 80. The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey (Golden, 1942) 14,898,341, 2. by Tammie Speer-Lyon (Simon Spotlight, 1998) 781,939, 176. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz, illus. So it's not exactly news that "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" will chow down on anything it sees, including plums, pickles, Swiss cheese and salami. by Janet Shaw, illus. by Garth Williams (HarperCollins, 1971) 6,172,525, 13. In the second installment of the Harry Potter series, our favorite boy wizard returns to Hogwarts after an awful summer with the Dursleys. The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown, illus. The Berenstain Bears and Too Much TV by Stan and Jan Berenstain (Random House, 1984) 2,952,213, 65. See 17 authors favorite books for young readers. In the likes of Harry Potter and Katniss Everdeen, theyve produced characters and conceits that have become the currency of our pop-culture discourseand inspired some of our best writers to contribute to the genre. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (FSG, 1985) 1,750,692, 166. Just for You by Mercer Mayer (Golden, 1975) 3,371,338, 45. My Book About Me (by Me, Myself) by Dr. Seuss, illus. by Leonard Weisgard (Aladdin, 1954) 1,750,000, 167. Ten Apples Up On Top! by Rev. Blue's Clues: Blue and the Color Detectives by Angela Santomero, illus. Seuss uses only 50 simple words as Sam-I-Am tries to convince a grumpy sourpuss that green eggs and ham are delightful to eat. PW site license members have access to PWs subscriber-only website content. The book's characters, particularly its narrator, Ponyboy Curtis, all struggle with teen angst and conflicting emotions. Baby Bop's Counting Book (Lyrick, 1993 OP) 1,128,202, 117. Blume created Peter Hatcher, his family and an incorrigible 2-year-old brother nicknamed Fudge. |. The 1619 Project: Born on the Water, Nikole Hannah-Jones and Rene Watson, Illustrated by Nikkolas Smith. 1 (Lyrick, 1993 OP) 2,343,018, 52. The Berenstain Bears' Nursery Tales by Stan and Jan Berenstain (Random House, 1973) 1,591,493, 203. This best-selling book was first published in the UK under the name "Ten Little Niggers" after the children's counting rhyme and minstrel song, which serves as a major plot in the book. Wee Sing Silly Songs (Price Stern Sloan, 1987) 1,690,238, 180. Here are the instructions of how to enable JavaScript in your browser. White, illus. The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room by Stan and Jan Berenstain (Random House, 1983) 3,627,645, 39. The Beast in Ms. Rooney's Room by Patricia Reilly Giff (Dell, 1984) 1,167,702, 331. Disney's Storybook Collection (Disney Press, 1998) 1,192,044, 108. The Best Books for Third Graders 6 Magic Tree House Series Mary Pope Osborne 512 votes The Magic Tree House is a series of children's books written by American author Mary Pope Osborne. Do You Know Colors? Love You Forever by Robert Munsch, illus. The House on the Cliff (Hardy Boys #2) by Franklin Dixon (Grosset & Dunlap, 1927) 1,712,433, 73. Put Me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire (Random House, 1960) 2,065,102, 61. Newspaper Subscriptions. You currently have JavaScript disabled in your web browser, please enable JavaScript to view our website as intended. Eastman (Random House, 1960) 4,135,762, 25. The Mystery of the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks (Avon, 1982 and HarperCollins, 1994) 1,369,456, 274. 3.3 out of 5 stars . A down-on-her-luck British writer, J.K. Rowling, waved a magic wand and changed children's literature forever. Ages 3-7 years - 30 Pages. The Berenstain Bears and the Bad Dream by Stan and Jan Berenstain (Random House, 1988) 1,854,624, 152. The Bug Book & Bug Bottle by Hugh Danks (Workman, 1987) 1,637,000, 195. Trouble for Thomas by Rev. Correction: An earlier version of this article misspelled Kenn Nesbitts name. by Garth Williams (Dell, 1970) 2,514,355, 85. We say "or so" because trying to corral the sales figure of a book is like trying to capture a Golden Snitch during a round of Quidditch. The Berenstain Bears and the In Crowd by Stan and Jan Berenstain (Random House, 1989) 1,369,885, 273. Hinton (Dell, 1976) 2,061,630, 126. Walt Disney's Storyland by Walt Disney (Golden, 1962) 2,400,904 (figures since 1996 not available), 50. Scuffy soon realizes he doesn't mind the bathtub. The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare (Dell, 1984) 2,259,190, 102. by Garth Williams (HarperCollins, 1971) 3,766,367, 35. Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping by Peggy Parish, illus. by Richard Scarry (Random House, 1968) 1,100,896, 121. Here are all our recommended kids' books for 9 to 12 year-olds. Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney (Puffin, 1985) 1,135,412, 343. The Berenstain Bears and Mama's New Job by Stan and Jan Berenstain (Random House, 1984) 1,402,176, 259. by Dan Andreasen (Pleasant Co., 1987) 1,271,571, 311. Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar (Avon, 1985) 3,968,792, 29. The Best Books to Get Your Finances in Order. Want to Read. The Berenstain Bears and the Week at Grandma's by Stan and Jan Berenstain (Random House, 1986) 1,975,418, 137. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (HarperCollins, 1984) 3,789,359, 33. Hungry, Hungry Sharks by Joanna Cole, illus. . Stine (Scholastic, 1995) 1,298,774, 301. Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry (Rand McNally, 1956 and Aladdin, 1987) 2,500,000, 86. The Berenstain Bears Don't Pollute (Anymore) by Stan and Jan Berenstain (Random House, 1991) 1,100,906, 354. http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/53/celebrities08_JK-Rowling_CRTT.html, Griese, Noel L. "The Bible vs. Mao: A "Best Guess of the Top 25 Bestselling Books of All Time." The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi (HarperCollins, 1992) 1,800,755, 163. Super Songs with Silly Sounds (Golden, 1992 OP) 778,300, 178. Stine (Scholastic, 1995) 1,305,104, 299. The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Birthday by Stan and Jan Berenstain (Random House, 1986) 2,016,712, 133. Upon his return, Harry is thrilled that he can suddenly speak Parseltongue, the language snakes. Me Too! Just Me in the Tub by Mercer Mayer (Golden, 1994) 1,570,575, 212. From beloved classics of children's literature to epic works of fantasy a. The first group consists of books 1-28, in which Morgan Le Fay .more Buy at Amazon Image Source. White have delighted parents and kids with their timeless tomes. by Dan Andreasen (Pleasant Co., 1986) 1,323,746, 291. by Jon Scieszka, illus. The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight (GB #20) by R.L. by Garth Williams (HarperCollins, 1971) 3,640,157, 38. She introduced us to a boy wizard in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Open the Barn Door by Christopher Santoro (Random House, 1993) 774,949, 179. Samantha Saves the Day by Valerie Tripp, illus. Merry Christmas, Mom and Dad by Mercer Mayer (Golden, 1982) 3,423,985, 43. The Jolly Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg (Little, Brown, 1986) 968,867, 146. W. Awdry (Random House, 1989) 1,123,266, 345. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (Dell, 1974) 6,393,523, 12. Tolkien - 100 million Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" actually started out as a children's book and fantasy novel. In fact, 123 hardcovers and 252 paperback books appeared on our 1996 list, and this updated list contains 189 hardcovers and 376 paperbacks--a significant increase in sales volume. INGRAM INTERNATIONAL INC The Frog and Toad Collection Box Set: Includes 3 Favorite Frog and Toad Stories! The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss (Random House, 1957) 7,220,982, 10. by Edward Frascino (HarperCollins, 1973) 2,539,114, 84. Just Me and My Babysitter by Mercer Mayer (Golden, 1986) 1,156,523, 334. 17 authors favorite books for young readers, how author Meg Wolitzer was inspired by Sylvia Plaths.