What do dragons, phoenixes, Tūī, sheep, kunekune pigs, Kiwi and cats have in common? They all feature in new books by local authors to appear on the 2025 Whitcoulls Kids’ Top 50 Books List.
Compiled from thousands of votes by the nation’s younger readers, the Kids’ Top 50 has become a much-loved institution over nearly 30 years. Families across New Zealand use it to discover books for their children or to choose the perfect gift.
Whitcoulls Book Manager Joan Mackenzie says, “The Top 50 is a wonderful barometer of what kids like to read. Votes poured in again this year, showing that our children still love books and are keen to share their enthusiasm with others.”
This year’s list includes 18 titles by New Zealand authors, 15 newcomers, and almost half the books feature animals. Local highlights include Li Chen’s Detective Beans series (#11), James Russell’s Children of the Rush series (#12), and Graci Kim’s fantasy adventure Dreamslinger (#23).
At the very top, J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series returns to the number one spot, followed by Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man series (#2) and Lynley Dodd’s classic Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy (#3).
“Many of the books are part of a series – 17 in total – which is significant for children’s engagement. When kids love the first book, they’re motivated to keep reading through the whole series,” Mackenzie says.
Timeless favourites remain strong in 2025, with The Gruffalo (#8), The Very Hungry Caterpillar (#9) and The Little Yellow Digger (#17) still delighting new generations of readers.
Mackenzie notes that the list also reflects wider reading trends in New Zealand saying, “Despite the lure of digital devices, books continue to have a special place in children’s lives. National research shows that 84% of Kiwi eight-year-olds enjoy reading for pleasure, and most parents still read with their children weekly.
“The research also says that kids who read frequently not only feel more confident at school but are also more engaged in sport, the arts and other activities. It’s heartening to see that love of reading shine through in the votes for this year’s Top 50.”
Whitcoulls Kids’ Top 50 Books List 2025
- Harry Potter Series J.K.Rowling
- Dog Man Series Dav Pilkey
- Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy Lynley Dodd
- Wings of Fire Series Tui T. Sutherland
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series Jeff Kinney
- Bluey Treasury
- The Baby-Sitters Club Ann M.Martin
- The Gruffalo Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eric Carle
- Keeper of the Lost Cities Series Shannon Messenger
- Detective Beans & the Case of the Missing Hat Li Chen
- Children of the Rush Series James Russell
- The World’s Worst Series David Walliams
- The Treehouse Series Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton
- Aroha’s Way Rebekah Lipp & Craig Phillips
- The Wild Robot Peter Brown
- The Little Yellow Digger Betty & Alan Gilderdale
- Matilda Roald Dahl
- Percy Jackson Series Rick Riordan
- Wolf Girl Series Anh Do
- Cat Kid Comic Club Series Dav Pilkey
- Dragon Defenders Series James Russell
- Dreamslinger Graci Kim
- Warrior Cats Erin Hunter
- We’re Going On A Bear Hunt Michael Rosen & Helen Oxenbury
- How do I Feel? Rebekah Lipp & Craig Phillips
- Nee Naw the Little Fire Engine Deano Yippadee & Paul Beavis
- Charlie & the Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl
- The Ella Diaries Meredith Costain & Danielle McDonald
- The Bad Guys Series Aaron Blabey
- The Wonky Donkey Craig Smith & Katz Cowley
- Where the Wild Things Are Maurice Sendak
- Bunny vs Monkey Series Jamie Smart
- Baa Baa Smart Sheep Mark & Rowan Sommerset
- The Adventures of Captain Underpants Series Dav Pilkey
- Room on the Broom Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
- The Cat in the Hat Dr Seuss
- Dear Zoo Rod Campbell
- I Survived Series Lauren Tarshis
- Goat on a Trampoline Amy Harrop & Ross Hamilton
- Guess How Much I Love You Sam McBratney & Anita Jeram
- Tui Street Tales Anne Kayes
- Smile Raina Telgemeier
- Pippa and the Sheep Snatchers Lauren Middleton & Robyn Glendinning
- Kuwi’s First Egg Kat Quin
- Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Dr Seuss
- You Can’t Come in, Kunekune Amy Harrop & Ross Hamilton
- Pee Wee the Kiwi Blair Cooper & Cheryl Smith
- The Last Journey Stacy Gregg
- Lottie Brooks Series Katie Kirby
Notes:
- Reading for pleasure is thriving in New Zealand: According to the Growing Up in New Zealand study, 84% of eight-year-olds enjoy reading for pleasure, and about half say they enjoy it “very much”.
- Parental reading remains strong: The Read NZ National Reading Survey (2021) found that 82% of parents of young children read with them at least once a week, most often at bedtime.
- Confidence and wider engagement: Children who read frequently not only feel more confident about their schoolwork, but are also more likely to take part in extracurricular activities, such as arts, sports, and library visits.
- Digital distractions remain a challenge: A 2024 New Zealand study reported that over 80% of students feel distracted by digital devices in class, reinforcing the importance of maintaining a strong reading culture for focus and learning.
Sources: Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ), Read NZ Te Pou Muramura National Reading Survey 2021, The Education Hub, University of Auckland PISA analysis.
ENDS.
