1865 Classic Was Just Crowned the 'Best Children's Book of All Time'
Typically, children's literature depicts a protagonist facing fantastical, sometimes frightening elements to encourage young readers to be brave in the face of real-life adversities. One of the most famous examples of this type of children's book is Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, published in 1865. Despite being over 160 years old, Collider recently named the whimsical classic as the "best children's book of all time."
The publication's ranking, published on July 10, also featured beloved children's books like 1926'sWinnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne, 1957's The Cat in the Hatby Dr. Seuss, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone byJ.K. Rowling, published in 1997, and 1952's Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. According to Collider, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland deserves to be at the top of the list partly due to Carroll's ability to world-build with his memorable descriptions of Wonderland's topsy-turvy ways.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel, 1871's Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There, served as inspiration for the Disneyanimated film, Alice in Wonderland, which premiered in 1951. In an interview featurette for the Alice in Wonderland DVD, Disney animator Eric Goldberg shared that he believed that the lasting popularity of Carroll's books hinges on the sheer weirdness of Wonderland. He also theorized that the books became so iconic partly because of John Tenniel's illustrations.
"I think the book Alice in Wonderland is popular because it's completely absurd," said Goldberg, who worked on Disney films like Aladdin and Hercules. "And also, I think the John Tenniel illustrations are very, very striking and very memorable for people. So I think the book in its kind of weirdness persists because, you know, people like weird, as they did when it was new. Still today it spans all generations."
In a separate interview for the DVD's featurette, Disney historian and artist Stacia Martin shared her belief as to why readers of all ages have been drawn to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There.
"It appeals to adults on the plane of logic, puzzles, and very intrepid word play. But also to children, it's just this amazing, almost a free-form fantasy world. It's kind of a self-guided tour of the inner workings of imagination," said Martin in the interview.
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 4:53 PM.