Harry weaves his magic among Kids' Top 50

Children voted Matilda by Roald Dahl their favourite all-time book in 1988, but that was before the days of Harry Potter.

This year, steamrollered by J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series and Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Matilda has been pushed back to third place in the Whitcoull's Kids' Top 50.

Prime Minister Helen Clark last night unveiled the list compiled from 85,000 votes sent in by children from all over New Zealand at the Whitcoulls store in Queen St.

Children aged 5 to 12 from more than 1700 primary and intermediate schools voted.

Perennial favourites such as Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy by Lynley Dodd (ranked fifth), The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis (ranked 12th) and The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (ranked 17th) made the top 20.

Five New Zealand books make the list - Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy, The Whale Rider, The Little Yellow Digger, Buddy and this year's Children's Choice Award Winner, Why Do Dogs Sniff Bottoms?

Roald Dahl continues to be a firm favourite with eight of his stories, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, in the top 50.

The Whitcoulls Kids Top 50:

1 Harry Potter Series, by J K Rowling.
2 The Lord of the Rings, by J. R. R. Tolkien.
3. Matilda, by Roald Dahl.
4. The BFG, by Roald Dahl.
5. Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy, by Lynley Dodd.
6. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl.
7. The Adventures of Captain Underpants, by Dav Pilkey.
8. Artemis Fowl, by Eoin Colfer.
9. Chinese Cinderella, by Adeline Yen Mah.
10. The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien.
11. The Twits, by Roald Dahl.
12. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C. S. Lewis.
13. Double Act, by Jacqueline Wilson.
14. Holes, by Louis Sachar.
15. The Power of One, by Bryce Courtenay.
16. Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism, by Georgia Byng.
17. The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle.
18. Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr Seuss.
19. Secrets, by Jacqueline Wilson.
20. Vicky Angel, by Jacqueline Wilson.
21. The Cat in the Hat, by Dr Seuss.
22. The Dare Game, by Jacqueline Wilson.
23. Whale Rider, by Witi Ihimaera.
24. Bad Girls, by Jacqueline Wilson.
25. The Illustrated Mum, by Jacqueline Wilson.
26. Northern Lights, by Phillip Pullman.
27. The Witches, by Roald Dahl.
28. Charlotte's Web, by E. B. White.
29. Dustbin Baby, by Jacqueline Wilson.
30. Badjelly the Witch, by Spike Milligan.
31. James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl.
32. Fantastic Mr Fox, by Roald Dahl.
33. Winnie the Pooh, by A. A. Milne.
34. George's Marvellous Medicine, by Roald Dahl.
35. Why Do Dogs Sniff Bottoms?, by Dawn McMillan & Bert Signal.
36. Girls Out Late, by Jacqueline Wilson.
37. The Princess Diaries, by Meg Cabot.
38. The Bad Beginning, by Lemony Snicket.
39. Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell.
40. The Little Yellow Digger, by Betty & Alan Gilderdale.
41. Just Crazy, by Andy Griffiths.
42. Deltora Quest: The Forest of Silence, by Emily Rodda.
43. Girls in Tears, by Jacqueline Wilson.
44. The Famous Five: Five on a Treasure Island, by Enid Blyton.
45. Tomorrow When the War Began, by John Marsden.
46. Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak.
47. Buddy, by V. M. Jones.
48. Tongue Tied, by Paul Jennings.
49. Skeleton Key, by Anthony Horowitz.
50. Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen.