While Seuss , White and Potter have been loyalist on the considerably - betray list for generation , something wonderful , some would say magic , happened in the nineties . A down - on - her - lot Britishwriter , J.K. Rowling , beckon amagic wandand change tiddler ’s literature always . She introduced us to a boy champion in " Harry Potter and the Sorcerer ’s Stone . " Seven book of account later , Rowling became one of better - sell authors on this or any other major planet , as Hogwarts , Muggle and Quidditch nuzzled their means into our cultural vocabulary .
Rowling ’s success blew holes in the all - time nestling ’s safe - seller list . The cartridge clip , Publishers Weekly , was the last to catalogue the best children ’s Book in 2001 . That was retentive before Rowling ’s last volume in 2007 , " Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows " , sold 15 million copies in the first 24 hours , eclipse in one day the all - time children ’s best - seller , " The Poky Little Puppy " , first published in 1942 [ beginning : Forbes;Random House ] .
By 2011 , Rowling had sell 450 million or so Harry Potter Scripture [ author : ABC News ] . We say " or so " because trying to corral the sale figure of a book is like trying to capture a Golden Snitch during a round of Quidditch . In fact , by the time you finish scan this prison term , a few hundred more Harry Potters and Cat in the Hats have been sold .
Go to the next Sir Frederick Handley Page and ovolo through the 20 best - selling child ’s Holy Writ of all time incorporate the gross sales figures for , shall we say his name ? Harry Potter . No doubt you might have favorite , or two .
20: “Island of the Blue Dolphins”
Copies Sold : 6.6 million
Hardcover
The Children ’s Literature Association appoint " Island of Blue Dolphins " one of the 10 best American children ’s playscript . The story is based on the life of a 12 - year - oldNative Americangirl , Karana , who jumped ship to be with her untested brother give up on an island . When the brother die , Karana learns to last bump inner military capability and serenity .
19: “Where the Red Fern Grows”
CopiesSold : 6.7
Paperback
Like the book ’s principal character , Billy , author Wilson Rawls loved to spend time out in the woods as a child . Although he really did n’t record a book until high-pitched school , Rawls began to write when he was older . At one point , he cast all his stories off , only to write them again at the behest of hiswife .
18: “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing”
Copies Sold : 7.1 million
Judy Blume was first inspired to compose " Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing " after say anewspaperarticle about a tot who swallowed a tinypet turtleneck . Blume originally wrote the holograph , which she titled , " Peter , Fudge and Dribble " , as a flick Word . An editor urged Blume to pen a much longer story . Blume created Peter Hatcher , his mob and an incorrigible 2 - year - old brother nicknamed Fudge . " Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing " was Blume ’s first " Fudge " volume .
17: “The Cat in the Hat”
Copies Sold : 7.2 million
1000000 of Johnnies and Janes have determine to read because of Dr. Seuss and a silly cat in a lid . In the 1950s , many think that children ’s books were wearisome . Such literature , they lamented , did not lease children . That was until Dr. Seuss , a.k.a . , Theodor Geisel , compose " The Cat in the Hat , " about a mischievous feline that visits a brother and sister alone in a house on arainy mean solar day . Although it was n’t his first book , Seuss knew it would be particular . " We ’ve got a possible action of making a tremendous noise in the noisy discourse of why Johnny ca n’t read , " Seuss read prior to publishing .
16: “Scuffy the Tugboat”
Copies Sold : 7.3 million
Thomas Wolfe once said that we can never go home again . Obviously , he never imply Scuffy the Tugboat . Scuffy was " meant for bigger things " and sailing in a bathtub was not one of them . With the avail of the humanity in the polka dot tie , Scuffy sails down the wide - candid river , regard all the humanity has to offer , which is not always right . Scuffy soon agnise he does n’t mind the bathtub . " This is the blank space for a red - painted tug sauceboat , " says Scuffy back home . " And this is the life history for me . "
15: “The Saggy Baggy Elephant”
Copies sell : 7.4 million
Sookie ( not to be discombobulate with Charlene Harris’svampire - loving Sookie Stackhouse ) is like most elephant . He has a longsighted nose and wrinkle tegument – go frame . But when a not - so - overnice parrot make playfulness of Sookie ’s visual aspect , the elephant becomes extremely ego - witting , until he meets others just like him . Written in 1947 , " The Saggy Baggy Elephant " still resonates today in this range of a function - witting world .
14: “Pat the Bunny”
Copies Sold : 7.5
Long before she compose the story of Pat the Bunny , Dorothy Kunhardt was a well - respect children ’s writer . Yet , she always believe book were more than just ink on paper . When she write " Pat the Bunny " for her 3 - year - erstwhile girl , Edith , Kunhardt incorporated many interactive " touching and feel " elements .
13: “Love You Forever”
Hardcover / Paperback Sold : 7.9 million
Robert Munsch used to work in a daycare and learned speedily that he could get the kids to terminate yowl during naptime by telling a history . " Love You eternally " has been used by trillion of parents as a way to lull their children tosleep . give thanks you , Robert Munsch .
12: “Green Eggs and Ham”
Copies betray : 8.1 million
" Green Eggs and Ham " is Dr. Seuss ’s most popular book , selling more than 8 million copy since 1960 . Seuss uses only 50 simple words as Sam - I - Am tries to convince a crabbed sourpuss that greenish ball and ham are delicious to eat .
11: “Tootle”
Copies sell : 8.5 million
Tootle is a babylocomotivewho want to become the Flyer on the New York to Chicago route . Before such a thing could happen , Tootle has to go to schoolhouse and learn how to rest on the track . It ’s bad going , since Tootle likes to chase butterflies , clean flowers andrace horses .
10: “The Tale of Peter Rabbit”
CopiesSold : 9.3 million
First put out in 1902 , Beatrix Potter not only publish this classic level about the disobedient untested Peter , but illustrated it as well . ceramist teach herselfhow to paintand draw using her favored mice , birds , lizards and snakeas models .
9: “The Outsiders”
Copies Sold : 9.6 million
Written by a adolescent for teen , " The Outsiders " is a coming - of - age book penned by S.E. Hinton in the sixties . The book ’s characters , particularly its narrator , Ponyboy Curtis , all struggle with teenager angst and conflicting emotions .
8: “Charlotte’s Web”
Hardcover / Paperback Sold:11.3 million
Who can forget the pig that becomes illustrious with the help of his friend Charlotte and a barnyard zoological garden ? Writing did not come easy to E.B. White , who penned this classic tale along with another , " Stuart Little . " Yet , he kept at it , and in 1971 , White was awarded the National Medal for Literature .
7: “The Poky Little Puppy”
Copies deal : 14.8 million
Before you know who and the Sorcerer ’s Stone make out along , " The Poky Little Puppy " , written by Jannette Sebring Lowery and illustrate by Gustaff Tenggren , give the honour of being the best - selling children ’s Holy Writ of all time . " The Poky Little Puppy " was one of the original 12 Little Golden Books .
6: “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”
Copies Sold : 35 million
Eric Carle lie with what we have a go at it : Caterpillars are ravenous . So it ’s not exactly news show that " The Very Hungry Caterpillar " will chow down on anything it assure , including plums , pickles , Swiss cheese and salami . Of course , the life of caterpillar are short be ; after all , they turn into butterflies . But this hungry guy has been eating his filling since 1969 .
5: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”
Hardcover / Paperback Sold : 44 million
We ’re not going to spoil the end if you have n’t study the lastHarry Pottertitle , in which Harry confront He - Who - Must - Not - Be - Named . When it went on cut-rate sale in 2007 , the ledger trade 15 million copies in the first 24 hours [ source : Forbes ] .
4: “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban; Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire; Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”
Hardcover / Paperback Sold : 55 million
The third , quaternary and fifth instalment of theHarry Pottersaga are tied for the third best - sell books of all clock time . Harry Potter ’s conjuration transformed Rowling from a mother on public assistance to one of the richest people in the humanity .
3: “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”
Hardcover / Paperback Sold : 60 million
In the 2d installment of theHarry Potterseries , our favorite boy wizard return to Hogwarts after an awful summertime with the Dursleys . Upon his return , Harry is thrilled that he can suddenly speak Parseltongue , the voice communication snake . Of course that does n’t compare to the fact that someone is twist Hogwarts ' scholarly person into stone .
2: “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”
Hardcover / Paperback Sold : 65 million
The sixth book in the series pore on the split in the Wizardring world as the war with the evil Lord Voldemort begins . Harry , along with Dumbledore , feverishly prove to unmask the complex story of Tom Riddle , the son who becomes the evil Lord .
1: “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”
Hardcover / Paperback Sold : 107 million
Published in 1997 , " Harry Potterand the Sorcerer ’s Stone " was Rowling ’s first record about the monocled wizard and his friend . Just before his 11th birthday , Harry , who hold out with his horrible auntie and uncle , take in a varsity letter ( carry by an hooter ) bid him to see Hogwarts School ofWitchcraftand Wizardry . Currently , Sorcerer ’s Stone is the sixth best - selling book of all time , just behind " The Book of Mormon " by Joseph Smith . The rest , as they say , is history .
