Bad Dad by David Walliams is currently the most-read book in primary schools, while Gangsta Granny by the same author is currently the most-read book in secondary schools.
The findings are revealed in the What Kids Are Reading 2019 report, released tomorrow, which is based on research of reading habits of more than a million children in almost 5,000 schools in UK and Ireland.
The findings show an increase in reading on last year of 5 per cent and 2 per cent respectively among primary and secondary children.
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They also show that Jeff Kinney remains the most widely-read author overall for the sixth year running, followed by David Walliams and then Roald Dahl.
Kinney, who wrote the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, has replaced Dahl as a favourite among primary school pupils by taking five of the top 10 spots in the most-read books table, with Dahl taking just two (see table below).
However, when children were asked to vote for their “favourite” books, Harry Potter books take the first eight spots in the top 10 table for primary schools, while in secondary schools, Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows is again at number one (see tables below).
The report’s author, Professor Keith Topping, of the University of Dundee, said children’s reading progress was based on appropriate challenge, practice, and motivation.
He said: “Instilling reading culture in schools isn’t just about dedicated reading time. Teachers and librarians should also encourage lively classroom discussion about fiction, with children sharing favourite authors and titles. They should also be on hand to advise on books with appropriate challenge bespoke to the child’s interests. And of course it is important to encourage children to read outside of school, so letting them take books home is crucial.”
The research has been carried out by Renaissance UK, which says it is the largest ever study of its kind.
Top 10 most-read books in primaries
(and number of times each was read by children in the sample)
- Bad Dad by David Walliams (29,426)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway by Jeff Kinney (27,707)
- The Twits by Roald Dahl (27,642)
- Gangsta Granny by David Walliams (25,520)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (25,217)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules by Jeff Kinney (23,498)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days by Jeff Kinney (23,404)
- George’s Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl (23,250)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney (22,939)
- Billionaire Boy by David Walliams (22,804)
Most-read books in secondary schools
(and number of times each was read by children in the sample)
- Gangsta Granny by David Walliams (37,631)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway by Jeff Kinney (33,412)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney (31,609)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days by Jeff Kinney (31,489)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (31,342)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules by Jeff Kinney (30,134)
- Billionaire Boy by David Walliams (28,816)
- Boy in a Dress by David Walliams (28,616)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School by Jeff Kinney (27,073)
- Wonder by R J Palacio (25,656)
Favourite books in primary schools (and number of votes)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J K Rowling (9,866)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J K Rowling (8,144)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J K Rowling (7,269)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J K Rowling (5,831)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J K Rowling (5,375)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J K Rowling (4,683)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J K Rowling (2,831)
- Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian by Rick Riordan (2,206)
- Scorpia Rising by Anthony Horowitz (2,044)
- Point Blanc by Anthony Horowitz (2,022)
Favourite books in secondary schools (and number of votes)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J K Rowling (7,821)
Frozen Charlotte by Alex Bell (1,756)
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (1,481)
Magnus Chase and the Ship of the Dead by Rick Riordan (1,381)
Eragon by Christopher Paolini (956)
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare (755)
The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan (741)
City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare (674)
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli (671)
Inheritance by Christopher Paolini (637)
