From movie tie-ins to old favorites, our 2015 Facts and Figures compilation of children’s bestsellers reveals a wide range of titles, not dominated by one franchise as in many previous years. Our lists are based on print unit sales at outlets that report to Nielsen BookScan, which tracks roughly 80% of the print market. Here we compile the books that sold more than 100,000 copies in four categories: Hardcover Frontlist, Paperback Frontlist, Hardcover Backlist, and Paperback Backlist.
Hardcover frontlist is dominated by the usual suspects of big franchises (Wimpy Kid, Frozen, Minecraft, the Descendants), a new Dr. Seuss title, media personalities (Jimmy Fallon, Bill O’Reilly, and Rush Limbaugh), and some kid and teen favorite authors like Victoria Aveyard, R.J. Palacio, and Kiera Cass.
Paperback frontlist had John Green on top, supported by the film release of Paper Towns, followed by a raft of books tying in with more movies, including Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, The 5th Wave, Max, Frozen, Minions, Insurgent, and Inside Out.
In hardcover backlist, a strong Seussian showing, coupled with such staples as The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Goodnight Moon, and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, claimed many of the top spots, along with a #1 showing for Wimpy Kid.
The paperback backlist list features a hodge-podge of strong sellers – perennial favorites like Love You Forever, The Care and Keeping of You, and The Elf on the Shelf; YA novels by John Green, James Dashner, Veronica Roth, and Gayle Foreman; as well as newer bestsellers like the graphic novels from Raina Telgemeier, and A Long Walk to Water, Newbery Medalist Linda Sue Park’s novel based on a true story.
Hardcover Frontlist
200,000+
1. Old School: (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #10). Jeff Kinney. Abrams/Amulet (1,483,855)
2. The Isle of the Lost (Descendants). Melissa de la Cruz. Disney-Hyperion (492,939)
3. What Pet Should I Get? Dr. Seuss. Random House (464,409)
4. Tales from a Not-So-Perfect Pet Sitter (Dork Diaries #10). Rachel Renée Russell. Simon & Schuster/Aladdin (341,304)
5. Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard. Rick Riordan. Disney-Hyperion (309,846)
6. Tales from a Not-So-Dorky Drama Queen (Dork Diaries #9). Rachel Renée Russell. Simon & Schuster/Aladdin (292,752)
7. The Day the Crayons Came Home. Drew Daywalt, illus. by Oliver Jeffers. Penguin/Philomel (283,793)
8. Twilight 10th Anniversary/Life and Death. Stephenie Meyer. Little, Brown (252,927)
9. Descendants: Mal’s Spell Book. Disney Press (215,351)
10. Your Baby’s First Word Will Be Dada (board book). Jimmy Fallon, illus. by Miguel Ordóñez. Macmillan/Feiwel and Friends (209,998)
100,000+
11. Library of Souls (Miss Peregrine #3). Ransom Riggs. Quirk (186,789)
12. The Amazing Book Is Not on Fire. Dan Howell and Phil Lester. Random House (183,201)
13. Rush Revere and the Star-Spangled Banner. Rush Limbaugh. Simon & Schuster/Threshold (180,818)
14. Little Blue Truck (board book). Alice Schertle, illus. by Jill McElmurry. HMH (179,580)
15. Hitler’s Last Days. Bill O’Reilly. Macmillan/Holt (169,651)
16. The Polar Express (30th Anniversary Edition). Chris Van Allsburg. HMH (158,878)
17. Descendants: Junior Novel. Rico Green. Disney Press (153,005)
18. Red Queen. Victoria Aveyard. HarperTeen (148,627)
19. Seuss-isms! Dr. Seuss. Random House (141,236)
20. Auggie & Me: Three Wonder Stories. R.J. Palacio. Random House/Knopf (139,017)
21. The Heir. Kiera Cass. HarperTeen (125,683)
22. Olaf’s Night Before Christmas (Frozen). Disney Press (124,362)
23. Anna & Elsa #1: All Hail the Queen (Frozen). Erica David, illus. by Bill Robinson. Random House/Disney (120,724)
24. Minecraft: Construction Handbook. Matthew Needler. Scholastic (115,718)
25. Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know. DK (109,226)
26. How to Catch Santa. Jean Reagan, illus. by Lee Wildish. Random House/Knopf (109,070)
27. Minecraft: Combat Handbook (updated edition). Stephanie Milton. Scholastic (103,736)
28. The Story of Christmas (board book). Patricia A. Pingry, illus. by Rebecca Thornburgh. Worthy/Candy Cane (101,986)
29. Descendants: Mal’s Diary. Disney Press (101,444)
Paperback Frontlist
200,000+
1. Paper Towns (movie tie-in). John Green. Penguin/Speak (356,180)
2. The One and Only Ivan. Katherine Applegate. HarperCollins (230,493)
3. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (movie tie-in). Jesse Andrews. Abrams (223,383)
4. Harry Potter Coloring Book. Scholastic (220,360)
5. The 5th Wave. Rick Yancey. Penguin/Speak (218,820)
150,000+
6. Hollow City (Miss Peregrine #2). Ransom Riggs. Quirk (192,932)
7. Anna’s Birthday Surprise (Frozen Fever). Jessica Julius. Random House/Disney (159,972)
8. Max: Best Friend. Hero. Marine. Boaz Yakin. HarperCollins (156,630)
9. Time to Shine! (Frozen). Random House/Disney (153,060)
100,000+
10. Pit Crew Pups (Paw Patrol). Kristen L. Depken. Random House (135,212)
11. Diary of a Minecraft Zombie. Herobrine (132,626)
12. Who’s the Boss? (Minions). Little, Brown/LB Kids (129,864)
13. Pokemon Deluxe Essential Handbook. Scholastic (124,423)
14. Insurgent (movie tie-in). Veronica Roth. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen (124,007)
15. National Geographic Kids Almanac 2016. National Geographic Kids. (123,155)
16. Inside Out: The Junior Novelization (Disney/Pixar Inside Out). Suzanne Francis. Random House (120,740)
17. Hello, Olaf! (Frozen). Andrea Posner-Sanchez. Random House/Disney (119,673)
18. Welcome to Headquarters (Disney/Pixar Inside Out). Random House/Disney (114,686)
19. Kristy’s Great Idea: Full-Color Edition (The Baby-Sitters Club Graphix #1). Ann M. Martin, illus. by Raina Telgemeier. Scholastic/Graphix (112,971)
20. Ready to Roll! (Paw Patrol). Random House/Golden (110,628)
21. Pete the Cat’s Train Trip. James Dean. HarperCollins (109,692)
22. Journey into the Mind (Disney/Pixar Inside Out). Random House/Disney (106,331)
23. Minions: The Junior Novel. Lucy Rosen. Little, Brown (100,435)
Hardcover Backlist
400,000+
1. First 100 Words. Roger Priddy. Macmillan/Priddy (685,182)
2. The Long Haul (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #9). Jeff Kinney. Abrams/Amulet (554,250)
3. Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Dr. Seuss. Random House (520,817)
4. Green Eggs and Ham. Dr. Seuss. Random House (441,964)
5. The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Eric Carle. Penguin/Philomel (406,642)
6. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. Dr. Seuss. Random House (401,020)
300,000+
7. Goodnight Moon. Margaret Wise Brown, illus. by Clement Hurd. HarperCollins/HarperFestival (398,319)
8. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Bill Martin, Jr., illus. by Eric Carle. Macmillan/Holt (391,863)
9. Wonder. R.J. Palacio. Random House/Knopf (384,871)
10. The Day the Crayons Quit. Drew Daywalt/Oliver Jeffers. Penguin/Philomel (368,783)
11. Dr. Seuss’s ABC. Dr. Seuss. Random House (355,519)
12. The Book with No Pictures. B.J. Novak. Penguin/Dial (318,623)
13. The Cat in the Hat. Dr. Seuss. Random House (314,236)
200,000+
14. Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? Dr. Seuss. Random House (298,957)
15. On the Night You Were Born. Nancy Tillman. Macmillan/Feiwel and Friends (296,803)
16. Guess How Much I Love You. Sam McBratney, illus. by Anita Jeram. Candlewick (287,643)
17. Giraffes Can’t Dance. Giles Andreae, illus. by Guy Parker-Rees. Scholastic/Cartwheel (284,601)
18. Dear Zoo. Rod Campbell. Simon & Schuster/Little Simon (276,439)
19. Little Blue Truck. Alice Schertle, illus. by Jill McElmurry. HMH (260,242)
20. Animals. Jennifer Quasha. DK (258,969)
21. The Going to Bed Book. Sandra Boynton. Simon & Schuster/Little Simon (240,176)
22. The Giving Tree. Shel Silverstein. HarperCollins (235,309)
23. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Bill Martin, Jr., illus. by Eric Carle. Simon & Schuster/Little Simon (235,278)
24. Elf on the Shelf. Chanda A. Bell and Carol V. Aebersold. CCA&B (235,151)
25. Are You My Mother? P.D. Eastman. Random House (231,087)
26. What Do You Do with an Idea? Kobi Yamada, illus. by Mae Besom. Compendium (223,319)
27. Little Blue Truck’s Christmas. Alice Schertle, illus. by Jill McElmurry. HMH (216,928)
28. The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book. Jeff Kinney. Abrams/Amulet (214,795).
29. I Love You Through and Through. Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak, illus. by Caroline Jayne Church. Scholastic/Cartwheel (208,879)
30. Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. Eileen Christelow. HMH (207,022)
31. Allegiant. Veronica Roth. HarperCollins/Tegen (205,212)
32. Dr. Seuss’s ABC. Dr. Seuss. Random House (204,948)
33. Hard Luck (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #8). Jeff Kinney. Abrams/Amulet (204,669)
34. Minecraft: Construction Handbook. Scholastic. (203,474)
100,000+
35. Four. Veronica Roth. HarperCollins/Tegen (198,246)
36. Dragons Love Tacos. Adam Rubin, illus. by Daniel Salmieri. Penguin/Dial (191,105)
37. Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Jeff Kinney. Abrams/Amulet (189,024)
38. Little Owl’s Night. Divya Srinivasan. Penguin/Viking (188,997)
39. Noisy Farm. Tiger Tales (176,201)
40. Hop on Pop. Dr. Seuss. Random House (175,200)
41. Minecraft: Combat Handbook. Scholastic. (173,154)
42. Go, Dog. Go! P.D. Eastman. Random House (170,654)
43. Where’s Spot? Eric Hill. Penguin/Warne (167,839)
44. Where the Sidewalk Ends. Shel Silverstein. HarperCollins (167,241)
45. Press Here. Hervé Tullet. Chronicle (167,140)
46. Are You My Mother? P.D. Eastman. Random House (166,222)
47. Moo, Baa, La La La! Sandra Boynton. Simon & Schuster/Little Simon (163,106)
48. How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Dr. Seuss. Random House (160,223)
49. My First Read and Learn Bible. Scholastic (158,981)
50. Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid # 6). Jeff Kinney. Abrams/Amulet (156,814)
51. The Last Straw (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #3). Jeff Kinney. Abrams/Amulet (156,153)
52. Rodrick Rules (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #2). Jeff Kinney. Abrams/Amulet (156112)
53. Tales from a Not-So-Glam TV Star (Dork Diaries #7). Rachel Renée Russell. Simon & Schuster/Aladdin (156,071)
54. Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You. Nancy Tillman. Macmillan/Feiwel and Friends (155,059)
55. Fox in Socks. Dr. Seuss. Random House (154,447)
56. Frozen. Victoria Saxon. Random House/Disney (152,396)
57. The Jesus Storybook Bible. Sally Lloyd-Jones. HarperCollins/Zonderkidz (150,505)
58. The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #7). Jeff Kinney. Abrams/Amulet (149,413)
59. Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site. Sherri Duskey Rinker, illus. by Tom Lichtenheld. Chronicle (149,104)
60. The Pout-Pout Fish. Deborah Diesen, illus. by Dan Hanna. Macmillan/FSG (148,454)
61. Minecraft: Essential Handbook. Scholastic (147,154)
62. Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #4). Jeff Kinney. Abrams/Amulet (143,816)
63. 5-Minute Princess Stories. Disney Press. (143,523)
64. Barnyard Dance! Sandra Boynton. Workman (142,129)
65. The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #5). Jeff Kinney. Abrams/Amulet (139,771)
66. Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb. Al Perkins. Random House (137,746)
67. The Blood of Olympus (Heroes of Olympus #5). Rick Riordan. Disney (134,761)
68. The Little Engine That Could. Watty Piper. Penguin/Grosset & Dunlap (134,219)
69. Minecraft: Redstone Handbook. Scholastic (132,956)
70. Where Is Baby’s Belly Button? Karen Katz. Simon & Schuster/Little Simon (132,273)
71. Potty. Leslie Patricelli. Candlewick (131,835)
72. 5-Minute Snuggle Stories. Disney (128,694)
73. The Poky Little Puppy. Janette Sebring Lowrey, illus. by Gustaf Tenggren. Random House/Golden (127,042)
74. Peek-a-Who? Nina Laden. Chronicle (126,432)
75. Eleanor & Park. Rainbow Rowell. Macmillan/St. Martin’s Griffin (123,566)
76. Happy Birthday to You! Dr. Seuss. Random House (120,585)
77. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (World of Eric Carle). Bill Martin, Jr., illus. by Eric Carle. Macmillan/Priddy (118,032)
78. There’s No Place Like Space! Tish Rabe, illus. by Aristides Ruiz. Random House (116,973)
79. How to Babysit a Grandma. Jean Reagan, illus. by Lee Wildish. Random House/Knopf (116,874)
80. Fox in Socks. Dr. Seuss. Random House (114,950)
81. I Am Malala. Malala Yousafzai. Little, Brown (114,192)
82. Ten Tiny Toes. Caroline Jayne Church. Scholastic/Cartwheel (113,736)
83. A Is for Apple. Georgie Birkett. Tiger Tales (113,674)
84. 5-Minute Marvel Stories. Disney/Marvel Press (113,224)
85. Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life (Dork Diaries #1). Rachel Renée Russell. Simon & Schuster/Aladdin (113,159)
86. Wipe Clean Early Learning Activities. Roger Priddy. Macmillan/Priddy (110,286)
87. The Itty-Bitty Kitty Rescue. Ursula Ziegler Sullivan. Random House/Golden (102,292)
88. Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! Dr. Seuss. Random House (102,190)
89. Unbroken (Young Adult Adaptation). Laura Hillenbrand. Random House/Delacorte (101,542)
90. Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims. Rush Limbaugh. Simon & Schuster/Threshold (101,418)
91. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Sanja Rescek. Tiger Tales (100,560)
92. Room on the Broom (board book). Julia Donaldson, illus. by Axel Scheffler. Penguin/Dial (100,534)
93. How to Babysit a Grandpa. Jean Reagan, illus. by Lee Wildish. Random House/Knopf (100,422)
Paperback Backlist
200,000+
1. Paper Towns. John Green. Penguin/Speak (919,478)
2. Laugh Out Loud Jokes for Kids. Rob Elliott. Baker/Revell (482,580)
3. Love You Forever. Robert Munsch. Firefly (387,202)
4. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. Ransom Riggs. Quirk (368,816)
5. Looking for Alaska. John Green. Penguin/Speak (357,120)
6. The Scorch Trials. James Dashner. Random House/Ember (326,542)
7. The Maze Runner. James Dashner. Random House/Delacorte (311,472)
8. The Death Cure. James Dashner. Random House/Delacorte (282,365)
9. The Giver. Lois Lowry. HMH (267,903)
10. Drama. Raina Telgemeier. Scholastic/Graphix (258,075)
11. Smile. Raina Telgemeier. Scholastic/Graphix (235,420)
12. The Fault in Our Stars. John Green. Penguin/Speak (218,457)
13. Sisters. Raina Telgemeier. Scholastic/Graphix (215,162)
14. An Abundance of Katherines. John Green. Penguin/Puffin (213,892)
15. Knock-Knock Jokes for Kids. Rob Elliott. Baker/Revell (211,025)
16. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. J.K. Rowling. Scholastic/Levine (210,505)
17. The Kill Order. James Dashner. Random House/Delacorte (203,692)
100,000+
18. Divergent. Veronica Roth. HarperCollins/Tegen (199,982)
19. The Care and Keeping of You. Valorie R. Schaefer. American Girl (196,412)
20. The Book Thief. Markus Zusak. Random House/Knopf (192,064)
21. The Lightning Thief. Rick Riordan. Disney-Hyperion (182,730)
22. Big Snowman, Little Snowman (Frozen). Tish Rabe. Random House/Disney (178,303)
23. Where She Went. Gayle Forman. Penguin /Speak (177,047)
24. The Elf on the Shelf. Carol Aebersold. CCA&B. (176,998)
25. Where the Wild Things Are. Maurice Sendak. HarperCollins/HarperTrophy (172,188)
26. If I Stay. Gayle Forman. Penguin/Speak (168,931)
27. The Outsiders. S.E. Hinton. Penguin/Puffin (163,859)
28. Highlights Hidden Pictures. Highlights Press (160,593)
29. Ultimate Sticker Book (Frozen). Pamela Afram. DK (159,419)
30. Pete the Cat and the Bad Banana. James Dean. HarperCollins (159,351)
31. Dinosaurs Before Dark (Magic Tree House #1). Mary Pope Osborne, illus. by Sal Murdocca. Random House (152,763)
32. Hatchet. Gary Paulsen. Simon & Schuster (152,596)
33. A Long Walk to Water. Linda Sue Park. HMH (149,941)
34. Cinder. Marissa Meyer. Macmillan/Square Fish (144,057)
35. A Wrinkle in Time. Madeleine L’Engle. Macmillan/Square Fish (143,180)
36. Thirteen Reasons Why. Jay Asher. Penguin/Razorbill (136,449)
37. Out of My Mind. Sharon M. Draper. Simon & Schuster/Atheneum (133,725)
38. The Wishing Spell (The Land of Stories #1). Chris Colfer. Little, Brown (131,509)
39. Pete the Cat: Too Cool for School. James and Kimberly Dean. HarperCollins (130,575)
40. Chase Is on the Case! (Step into Reading). Carolyn Hay. Random House (129,042)
41. Pat the Bunny. Dorothy Kunhardt. Random House/Golden (128,827)
42. The Hunger Games. Suzanne Collins. Scholastic Press (126,008)
43. A Tale of Two Sisters (Frozen). Melissa Lagonegro. Random House/Disney (123,382)
44. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. Sean Covey. Simon & Schuster/Touchstone (122,979)
45. The Night Before Kindergarten. Natasha Wing, illus. by Julie Durrell. Penguin/Grosset & Dunlap (120,788)
46. Number the Stars. Lois Lowry. HMH (118,989)
47. Invasion of the Overworld. Mark Cheverton. Sky Pony Press (114,762)
48. Sisters Forever (Frozen). Random House/Disney (114,126)
49. The Care and Keeping of You 2. Cara Natterson. American Girl (114,105)
50. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Sherman Alexie. Little, Brown (109,343)
51. Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Rick Riordan. Disney-Hyperion (108,695)
52. Counting by 7s. Holly Goldberg Sloan. Penguin/Puffin (108,247)
53. The Selection. Kiera Cass. HarperCollins/HarperTeen (107,893)
54. Room on the Broom. Julia Donaldson, illus. by Axel Scheffler. Penguin/Puffin (107,415)
55. DC Super Friends: Flying High (Step into Reading). Nick Eliopulos. Random House (105,489)
56. Will Grayson, Will Grayson. John Green and David Levithan. Penguin/Speak (104,786)
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. J.K. Rowling. Scholastic/Levine(104,728)
58. Because of Winn-Dixie. Kate DiCamillo. Candlewick (101,842)
59. It’s Kind of a Funny Story. Ned Vizzini. Disney/Miramax (101,431)
60. A Pet for Pete. James Dean. HarperCollins (100,859)
These listings have been updated since original publication with additional titles added.
