A new study by charity Plan UK has found the top five favourite children’s books are:

1. The Famous Five series – Enid Blyton
2. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl
3. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – CS Lewis
4. Black Beauty – Anna Sewell
5. Winnie the Pooh – AA Milne

It’s heartwarming to see good old Enid Blyton at the top, and the wickedly funny Roald Dahl just behind.  Obviously nostalgia plays a bit part in this list with adults having fond memories of their favourite authors, and it would be fascinating to revisit this study in fifty years’ time to see if JK Rowling, Susanna Collins, Jeff Kinney and other current authors survive the test of time (Harry Potter and the Philosospher’s Stone is currently at number nine).

To see how many of the top fifty children’s books you have read, you can download a special app on Facebook which has been created by Plan UK.  It’s part of their new campaign to spread the word and raise money to help fund education for girls in poorer countries.  Eighty million young women around the world between the ages of 15 and 24 can’t read or write and encouraging girls to stay in school will make a  huge difference in their lives in terms of the choices they make about their futures.  The app is really fun to use; you can tick off any of the top fifty books you  have read and choose your favourite one.  You then get the option to buy, for a £3 donation, a virtual book with your name on the spine to sit on the shelf in their virtual library.  (It could be the nearest I get to seeing my name on a book cover!)  It’s a great cause and I’m happy to spread the word.