Walliams and Kinney are top of the charts for Manchester’s bookworms in 2016
5 min read
Nine of the top ten books borrowed from Manchester libraries in 2016 were children’s titles, new figures show.
Authors David Walliams with four titles and Jeff Kinney, with three, dominated the top ten.
Figures for the most borrowed titles in public libraries are compiled and released annually by the UK Public Lending Right Office, part of the British Library.
Walliams’ four top hits with Manchester borrowers – Awful Auntie, Demon Dentist, Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy – were borrowed a total of 1,396 by young bookworms.
Kinney’s most successful titles – The Long Haul, Cabin Fever and The Last Straw – racked up a total of 1,068 loans.
Smash hit thriller The Girl On The Train was the most borrowed title for adults, being loaned out 328 times by Manchester’s libraries in 2016.
The high number of loans for children’s titles follows on from the strong success of local initiatives to get children reading, including Read Manchester and the annual Summer Reading Challenge.
Both schemes stem from a partnership between Manchester City Council and the National Literacy Trust, who have created Read Manchester as a campaign to promote reading and boost literacy throughout the city.
The Summer Reading Challenge offers rewards and prizes for children who take on the challenge to borrow and read at least six library books during the summer holidays. More than 5,700 Manchester children took part in the Challenge in 2016, with more than 3,750 of them reading six books or more.
Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, Councillor Luthfur Rahman, said: “It’s great to see that our work to encourage more children to visit their local library and get into reading at the earliest possible age is paying off, with children’s titles flying off the shelves of our libraries citywide in 2016.
“Through the Read Manchester campaign and the annual Summer Reading Challenge, we are helping more residents, schools and community groups to promote the enjoyment of reading in all Manchester communities and, in doing so, improve reading outcomes and opportunities for children and young people.”
Full list of the most borrowed titles in Manchester libraries (number of times borrowed follows author name)
1 Awful auntie David Walliams 405
2 The long haul Jeff Kinney 400
3 Dork diaries once upon a dork Rachel Renee Russell 349
4 The dinosaur that pooped the past Tom Fletcher, Dougie Poynter; Ill. by Garry Parsons 338
5 Cabin fever Jeff Kinney 337
6 Demon dentist David Walliams 333
7 The last straw Jeff Kinney 331
8 Gangsta granny David Walliams 330
9 Billionaire boy David Walliams 328
10 The girl on the train Paula Hawkins 328
11 Tom Gates: (A tiny bit) Lucky Liz Pichon 323
12 The ugly truth Jeff Kinney 320
13 Dog days Jeff Kinney 319
14 Dork diaries holiday heartbreak. Rachel Renee Russell 316
15 The boy in the dress David Walliams; Ill. by Quentin Blake 312
16 Opal Plumstead Jacqueline Wilson; Ill. by Nick Sharratt 308
17 Dork diaries party time. Rachel Renee Russell 294
18 Tom Gates is absolutely fantastic (at some things) Liz Pichon 292
19 Dork diaries Rachel Renee Russell 289
20 Rodrick rules Jeff Kinney 289
21 The third wheel Jeff Kinney 286
22 Diary of a wimpy kid Jeff Kinney 282
23 Dork diaries dear dork. Rachel Renee Russell 273
24 The princess and the giant. Caryl Hart 269
25 The brilliant world of Tom Gates Liz Pichon 267
26 Everything’s amazing (sort of) Liz Pichon 262
27 Mr Stink David Walliams; Ill. by Quentin Blake 255
28 Dork diaries TV star Rachel Renee Russell 254
29 Ratburger David Walliams 253
30 Princess Mirror-Belle and the Dragon Pox Julia Donaldson; Ill. by Lydia Monks 247
31 Dork diaries skating sensation Rachel Renee Russell 247
32 Hard luck Jeff Kinney 247
33 Dork diaries pop star. Rachel Renee Russell 246
34 Elmer and the monster David McKee 243
35 Elmer and the whales David McKee 241
36 Genius ideas (mostly) Liz Pichon 240
37 Excellent excuses (and other good stuff) Liz Pichon 238
38 Sir Scallywag and the deadly dragon poo Giles Andreae; ill. by Korky Paul 234
39 That’s Not My Goat Fiona Watts: ill. Rachel Wells 233
40 How many? : a first numbers book Rod Campbell 223
41 My big Barefoot book of wonderful words Illustrated by Sophie Fatus 217
42 Kenny Wright : superhero James Patterson 216
43 Extra special treats ( … not) Liz Pichon 214
44 Fancy dress jungle Nick Sharratt; Ill. by Nick Sharratt 213
45 Meg and the Pirate Jan Pienkowski, David Walser 209
46 My guide to Manchester: the complete guide to the city> Jonathan Schofield 206
47 Let’s go Shopping Peppa Lauren Holowaty 203
48 That’s not my fox Fiona Watt; Ill. by Rachel Wells 201
49 Busy Engines Lift-the-flap Book Dan Crisp 200
50 Dragon jelly Claire Freedman; Ill. by Sue Hendra 199
51 KS3 science study guide – higher : Paddy Gannon; Edited by Paddy Gannon198
52 My Brother is a Superhero David Solomons; Cover design or artwork by Laura Ellen Anderson 198
53 Winnie’s big bad robot Valerie Thomas; Ill. by Korky Paul 197
54 Where’s Wally? Martin Handford 196
55 Daisy the Festival Fairy Daisy Meadows 194
56 Go set a watchman Harper Lee 194
57 pretty girls : a novel Karin Slaughter187
58 The murder road Stephen Booth 185
59 Molly Twinkletail Runs Away Daisy Meadows 183
60 The fault in our stars John Green 183
61 Elizabeth is missing Emma Healey 181
62 Make me Lee Child 181
63 KS2 science study book Edited by CGP Books 180
64 The Scarecrows’ wedding Julia Donaldson; Ill. by Axel Scheffler 178
65 Spot goes shopping Eric Hill 175
66 The dinosaur that pooped a planet Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter; ill. by Garry Parsons 175
67 Shark in the dark Nick Sharratt 175
68 Where’s Wally? The Fantastic Journey : The Fantastic Journ> Martin Handford 174
69 Cat and dog Michael Foreman; Ill. by Michael Foreman 173
70 The crocodile under the bed Judith Kerr 173
71 The slightly annoying elephant David Walliams; Ill. by Tony Ross 172
72 The diary of Dennis the Menace. Steven Butler 172
73 The Queen’s orang-utan David Walliams; Ill. by Tony Ross 171
74 Improve your IELTS writing : Study skills Sam McCarter, Norman Whitby 169
75 Where’s Wally Now? Martin Handford 169
76 The highway rat Julia Donaldson; Ill. by Axel Scheffler 167
77 The mouse who ate the moon Petr Horacek 167
78 Where the wild things Are Maurice Sendak; Ill. by Maurice Sendak 165
79 Ratburger David Walliams 165
80 Personal Lee Child 165
81 Bella Tabbypaw in Trouble Daisy Meadows 164
82 Jacqueline Wilson’s Happy Holidays Jacqueline Wilson; Ill. by Nick Sharratt 163
83 Yes! No (Maybe…) Liz Pichon 162
84 Hello ladybird! Chloe Inkpen, Mick Inkpen 162
85 Bears don’t read! Emma Chichester Clark 161
86 The butterfly club Jacqueline Wilson; Ill. by Nick Sharratt 161
87 The Last Chocolate Chip Cookie Jamie Rix; Ill. by Clare Elsom 161
88 Maisy Plays Football Lucy Cousins 161
89 The burning room Michael Connelly 160
90 Friday on my mind:A Frieda Klein Novel Nicci French 160
91 The flying bath Julia Donaldson; Ill. by David Roberts 160
92 Life in the United Kingdom : official study guide Jenny Wales160
93 We’re not scared! Chloe Inkpen; Mick Inkpen 159
94 Alert James Patterson 158
95 Drama queen Rachel Renee Russell 157
96 My first trucks and diggers let’s get driving : 156
97 Tilly and Friends Who’s Hiding? Polly Dunbar 156
98 Rogue lawyer John Grisham 156
99 Spot’s opposites Eric Hill 155
100 What’s that? Rod Campbell 155
101 Career of evil Robert Galbraith 155
102 Cross justice James Patterson 154
103 Little puppy lost Holly Webb; ill. by Rebecca Harry 154
104 After you Jojo Moyes 154
105 Harry Potter and the deathly hallows J K Rowling 154