Top read alouds from last 150 years

2009 marked 150 years of Christchurch City Libraries (in its various incarnations) and we’ve been reading aloud to the children of Christchurch since 1925. In honour of that, the Children’s Library Team created a list of the Top 5 Read Alouds for every decade the Library has been open.

Now, looking at the list, you might notice a few inconsistencies. The years 1859 to 1929 are all lumped together, and a few lists have five entries and a few lists have ten, but you can’t read aloud to kids for 84 years and not learn that sometimes you need to read more books, sometimes less and always with enthusiasm and a love of the book you are sharing. The list is also limited to books in the Library collection and ones that have a reasonable number of books available to be borrowed.

Read more about Christchurch City Libraries fine history of serving the children of Christchurch at our Library 150 website.

Pre 1930

Cover of the tale of Peter Rabbit Cover of Millions of cats by Wanda Gag

1931 – 1940

Cover of The story of Babar Cover of Madeline Cover of The story of Ferdinand

1941 – 1950

Cover of Curious George

1951 – 1960

Cover of The Cat in the Hat Cover of A Fly Went By Cover of Are you my Mother? Cover of Harry the Dirty Dog

1961 – 1970

Cover of The Snowy Day Cover of Miffy Cover of Where the Wild Things Are Cover of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? Cover of Rosie’s Walk Cover of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Cover of A Lion in the Meadow

1971 – 1980

Cover of Meg and Mog Cover of Mr Gumpy’s Outing Cover of The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch  Cover of Dogger Cover of Where’s Spot? Cover of Not Now Bernard

1981 – 1990

Cover of Mister Magnolia Cover of Mrs McGinty and The Bizarre Plant Cover of Who Sank The Boat? Cover of Dear Zoo Cover of How Maui Slowed the Sun  Cover of Hairy Maclary From Donaldsons Dairy Cover of Willy the Wimp Cover of The Great White Man-eating Shark Cover of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Cover of Grandpa's Slippers

1991 – 2000

2001 – 2009

Cover of Cock-A-Moo-Moo Cover of Meerkat Mail  Cover of Roar! Cover of Rats! Cover of Kei Te Pēhēa Koe? How Do You Feel? Cover of Bubble Trouble

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