WHAT makes a children's classic? And why are children still avidly reading books published 20 or even 40 years ago?

The National Literacy Trust (NLT), which is running Oxfordshire County Council’s Oxfordshire Reading Campaign, has come up with a list of bestsellers and enduring classics from the present day, from 20 years ago, and from 40 years ago.

The list includes a whole range of genres and authors, including some with Oxford links.

But while initially the books – which range from classics such as Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons to the work of comic-turned-children’s-author David Walliams – seem to have little to tie them together, there are some common threads underpinning the books.

Clare Bolton, NLT campaign manager, said: “There are some themes that run through all of them, and all of them remain relevant to some degree today.

“The things I noticed really coming through were themes children can relate to and have been able to relate to over the years.”

These included human experiences and emotions such as love, humour, anger and problems with the family.

Ms Bolton added: “These are the kinds of things that have always interested and resonated with children.

“The way in which Harry Potter misses his parents is the same way as the children miss their father in Little Women.

“Even though the story is set in a different time and place, the emotion hasn’t changed over the years.”

A second common theme is escapism, and with that a magic and fantasy element, which can be seen in everything from Oxford author CS Lewis’s Narnia classic The Magician's Nephew, to Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach, through to Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling.

Ms Bolton said: “Children are always interested in escaping into a different world. Even Swallows and Amazons is all about escaping.

“Children can’t necessarily do the things in reality that they do in the story, but they can still do imaginary games.”

Another popular theme is children overcoming the odds, such as James escaping his horrible aunt and the protagonist of Diary of a Wimpy Kid standing up to bullies.

Loveable characters such as Harry Potter – a boy with real wishes and dreams in a magical world – and the endearing Paddington Bear also helped some of the books make the list.

And humour also plays a big part in some of the favourites.

Ms Bolton said: “There is no doubt a book has to be incredibly well-written to stand the test of time and have a great plot and great characters.

“For a book to stand out and not be a flash in the pan, it does have to have those enduring characteristics.”

CAMPAIGN GOALS

The Oxfordshire Reading Campaign was launched by Oxfordshire County Council, backed by the Oxford Mail, to improve reading standards in the youngest children. The goals are to:

Improve the proportion of children who reach Level 2B at Key Stage 1 to 86 per cent – a rise of 12 percentage points.

Increase enjoyment of and confidence in reading.

Eighty-one schools across the county, chosen based on Key Stage 1 results over the past three years, are being invited to take part.

The campaign is being run by the National Literacy Trust and will involve:

A reading intervention programme called Project X Code working with Year 2 children in up to 81 county primaries.

Volunteers coming in to schools to read one-to-one with the children involved in the Project X Code programme.

Training and professional development for teachers, teaching assistants, literacy co-ordinators and headteachers.

CHILDREN’S FAVOURITES NOW...IN 1992...AND IN 1972

Gangsta Granny, David Walliams

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, JK Rowling

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney

Horrid Henry, Francesca Simon

Rainbow Fairies, Daisy Meadows

You’re a Bad Man, Mr Gum, Andy Stanton

Mr Majeika, Humphrey Carpenter

War Horse, Michael Morpurgo

The Tale of Despereaux, Kate DiCamillo

Clarice Bean, Lauren Child

Where’s Wally? Martin Handford

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl

Diary of a Killer Cat, Anne Fine

The Hodgeheg, Dick King-Smith

Sleepovers, Jacqueline Wilson

Judy Moody, Megan McDonald

The Phantom Tollbooth, Norton Juster

Charmed Life, Diana Wynne Jones

James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl

Asterix and Son, René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo

Swallows and Amazons, Arthur Ransome

Pippi Longstocking, Astrid Lindgren

The Magician’s Nephew, CS Lewis

Paddington Bear, Michael Bond

The Story of Doctor Dolittle, Hugh Lofting

Five on a Treasure Island, Enid Blyton

Little Women, Louisa May Alcott

Charlotte’s Web, EB White

The Kingdom of Carbonel, Barbara Sleigh

The Railway Children, E Nesbit