From The Cat in the Hat to Where the Wild Things Are, there are thousands of stories, both old and new, that we love to share with our children. But which are The US’ most popular kid’s books, films and characters of all time?
At The Ellie Sparkles Show we’ve analyzed Google monthly search data across more than 700 popular books, children’s films and fictional characters to determine which rank as the nations favorite.
We’ve also surveyed 1,000 parents of 5-8 year olds across the US to discover how often we read to our children, the amount we spend on books and entertainment per month, the types of stories we choose and the biggest benefits reading has on their learning and development.Parents are reading to their children an average of six times per week, but 77% wish they read to them more
Taking the time to dive into a book with your child is a great way to support their brain development, encourage them to use their imagination, and strengthen the bond between you. Our survey reveals that parents in the US are reading to their child an average of six times per week, with one in three reading with them every single day.
Despite most parents reading to their children on a regular basis, 77% wish they could read to their child even more and 39% have implemented set reading times, highlighting the importance parents place on this quality time.
Other ways parents promote reading is shown with 61% visiting a library with their child, and 55% putting subtitles on when their child is watching a film or TV program.
The Most Popular Children’s Books In The United States 📚
It’s safe to say we are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing the perfect story to read with our child.
We analyzed monthly Google search volumes for 388 of the top selling and best rated children’s books for children aged up to 10 years old to determine the USA’s top reads.
Dog Man comes out on top as the US’ favorite children’s book. Written by the famous creator of Captain Underpants, Dav Pilkey’s latest book series tells the comedic tale of a canine cop that is half dog and half human.
The 4.15 out of 5 star-rated graphic novel series is Googled 49,500 times on average each month in the US, nearly 600,000 times each year!
In second place is the New York Times bestseller for the last 5 years, Wonder. With a powerful message about the importance of kindness and acceptance, it comes as no surprise R.J. Palacio’s story receives an average of 33,100 searches each month in the US.
Despite being released over 150 years ago, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women is the third most popular children's book, with an average of 27,100 searches on Google each month. Following the lives of four sisters, the novel has recently been transformed into a film starring Emma Watson, Meryl Steep and Timothée Chalamet.
Other books that feature in the top 20 include The Hobbit, The Rainbow Fish, Where the Wild Things Are and Booked.
The Most Popular Children’s Movies In The United States 🎬
With 31% of parents letting their kids watch a movie every day, it’s clear that this type of media makes up a core part of our children’s lives, learning and development. Because of this, we set out to discover which movies the kids of the states love the most. We looked into the monthly Google search volume across 241 of the highest rated children’s films suitable for ages 10 and below on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes.
Despite being released over 15 years ago in 2007, Ratatouille is the number one movie of choice for kids in the US today, with an average of 165,000 monthly Google searches for the term ‘Ratatouille movie’, which is almost two million each year! The 8.1 out of 10 rated Disney-Pixar animation follows the story of Remy, a Parisian rat who pursues his passion for cooking with the help of an unlikely friend.
After Ratatouille, The Lego Movie ranks as the next most popular for kids. With a 7.7 out of 10 rating on IMDB, the film is searched for 135,000 times on average each month. Cars, Elf, Madagascar, and Up all rank equally in third with 110,000 average monthly searches each. 2017’s Coco is the newest movie in the top 10, ranking in seventh place with an average of 74,000 Google searches each month, whilst E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial sits in ninth position as the oldest, having been released 40 years ago in 1982.
The US' Most Beloved Characters From Children's Stories
Kids books, movies, games and comics are jam-packed with lively, colorful characters that are not only loved by them, but also across generations.
To find out which kids' story characters are loved the most in the US, we looked into the Google monthly search data for over 100 popular characters.
If there’s one thing parents can be sure of, it’s that kids love superheroes - and our ranking proves this. Marvel’s Spiderman comes out on top as the number one kids character in the US, averaging 1,830,000 Google searches each month. Batman, Harley Quinn, and Wonder Woman are other characters in the top 10 that fall into the superhero category.
After Spiderman, SpongeBob SquarePants is the next most popular kids character, with his name being searched on Google 1,220,000 times in an average month. Everyone’s favorite young wizard Harry Potter follows in joint second with the same 1,220,000 average monthly searches.
On Average Parents Spend $27 On Reading Materials Every Month
From buying the next sequel in a gripping book series to paying for your monthly library card, the average parent spends $26.61 on reading materials each month.
The top five states spending the most include:
Washington D.C. spends the most each month at $58.88 on average, reaching over $700 each year ($706.56). California follows in second, spending $15 less each month at £43.88, and Vermont sits in third spending $43.67.
With the likes of Netflix, Disney Plus and Apple TV becoming staple subscriptions in many family households, our survey reveals parents spend an average of $36.11 each month for these types of services. The top five states spending the most include:
Parents in Nebraska are paying the most for film and TV services at $70.67 each month, which over a year is costing them a staggering $848. Vermont and Washington D.C. follow in a close second and third spending $65.50 and $63.19 respectively.
How Do Parents Choose Which Books To Read With Their Children?
With so many books to choose from, all offering something unique, we wanted to find out what parents look out for when choosing the perfect read with their child.Stories that include racial diversity are a high priority for parents in the US with almost seven in 10 (69%) believing it's important to read books that fall into this category with their kids. As well as racial diversity, 56% of parents agree it's important to read books including religious diversity, 48% would like to see their kids reading books that feature gender diversity, whilst 42% encourage reading books that include sexual diversity. Interestingly, 37% of parents read different books to their children based on their gender.
As children grow and learn, they are extremely receptive to their surroundings, meaning stories which feature diverse characters in inclusive storylines are great for introducing them to different cultures and lifestyles, teaching them the importance of acceptance from a young age.
In addition, our survey reveals that almost seven in 10 parents (67%) give their child the freedom to choose which books they read, ultimately making the experience for them even more enjoyable as they begin to explore the types of stories they enjoy most.
When it comes to choosing between reading real books or using kindles, it appears that technology has not surpassed the ultimate feeling of turning a real page in a book, with 61% opting for a physical version and just 25% using a digital device.
The Benefits Parents Are Finding When Reading To Their Children
As well as being a fun activity for children, with 79% of parents saying their child enjoys the time they spend reading, there are also a wide variety of benefits reading can have, from improving language skills to helping your child develop empathy. It can even strengthen the bond you have with your child and encourage regular quality time with them.
Our survey reveals that more than seven in 10 parents have noticed that reading with their child helps to stimulate their imagination and creativity (73%), whilst 46% have noticed it has improved their attention span.
We’ve partnered with Camilla Mazetto, a Post-Doctoral Psychologist at Williamsburg Therapy Group who has commented on the biggest benefits storytelling with your child can have:
Positive Role Models And Messages In Children’s Entertainment
With children living in a digital age where they can easily access, absorb and imitate behaviors they see in the media, it’s vital for parents to find positive examples for them to follow - just like our very own Ellie Sparkles. We looked at Common Sense Media reviews to find out the states 25 most popular children’s books rank for their positive messaging and positive role models portrayed. With both metrics given a score out of five, the books Wonder, Booked, and Anne of Green Gables all scored five out of five across both factors. As a heartwarming story of self-love and acceptance, Wonder by R. J. Palacio conveys key messages to kids surrounding the power of our words and how they can make people feel, the beauty of being different, and knowing when to say sorry.Written entirely in verse through the eyes of 12-year-old football star Nick, Booked by Kwame Alexander teaches children about the ups and downs of life, and how to overcome unexpected challenges.
Despite first being published over 100 years ago (1908), L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables teaches timeless lessons that are important for every child. Imagination, tenacity, and a commitment to being a good friend are just some of the admirable traits found in the main character, Anne Shirley.
With many beautiful stories out there for you and your child to explore, what story will you be reading with them next?
Methodology
We surveyed 1,000 parents of children ages 5 to 8 years old across the United States to understand families' habits when it comes to reading books and watching movies.
To reveal the most popular children’s stories in the United States, we analyzed over 700 of the best rated books and movies in the world according to reputable review sites such as IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes Goodreads and Publishers Weekly. The sample was refined to only include stories suitable for the ages 0-10 years old based on Common Sense Media’s age rating score.
We then analyzed Google search trends for each book and movie to reveal the average monthly demand across the United States for each. The term ‘book’ and ‘movie’ were added to the end of each title to make sure the search intent was for the correct medium.
This research was commissioned by WildBrain Spark, owner and producer of The Ellie Sparkles Show.