The Children’s Books Adults Loved Most This Year

Many of us don’t stop loving children’s books when we grow up. We read them for comfort, for joy, for the sheer pleasure of being completely absorbed, and because great children’s stories have a way of saying big things with clarity and heart. If that’s you, you’re very much among friends here. And it’s worth saying out loud: children’s books deserve to be taken seriously. The creativity, craft and emotional intelligence in the very best of them rival any other kind of storytelling, and if you haven’t read one recently, you’re genuinely missing out.

At Toppsta, we know that adults play a huge role in children’s reading lives, and that many in our community are grown-ups who love reading children’s books for themselves. That’s what makes this list so interesting. It looks at the children’s books adults have loved most this year, some of which overlap with our child-led lists, and others which don’t.

That difference matters. Children and adults don’t always respond to the same books in the same way, and adult tastes can sometimes gravitate towards stories that feel more reflective, emotional or nostalgic. At the same time, children’s own favourites often lean towards illustrated books, graphic novels and funny stories, which are naturally less visible on adult-led lists like this one.

Together, these perspectives tell a fuller story. This list is a reminder that while adult and child tastes don’t always align, valuing children’s books in all their forms and listening closely to young readers alongside our own instincts is what helps turn reading into a lifelong joy.