*I JUST love Australians & their accents!* Of course it's Harry Potter! Im 18 and in my entire school life ive read TONS of books & when i mean TONS it's for sure TONS haha, but I've never read a book that i couldn't put down until i read the Harry Potter series. I just love how JK Rowling can make some readers [ like me ] read books from cover to cover within hours! it's amazing. Im so glad that her books have gone world wide. It's amazing to see the different people all over the world who enjoy the same books. Im from Puerto Rico and i know alot of people who enjoy Harry Potter books as well. Of course we read them in english, spanish translated books just dont have the same effect. Anyways thought id put my 2 cents in. ps. To Kill a Mockingbird & Pride and Prejudice are amazing as well!

Well. im assuming they figured Harry Potter would be in the number one slot. I'm also sort of surprised they didn't expect the classics... I dont know what they do in Australia, but in the US we're forced to read those books for class. and then they're explained. so we like them. And the other factor is that people dont read much, so if they have to choose afavorite book, and the only ones they've read are the ones they've been forced to read in school... there aren't many options for a favorite book.

Well of course they love Harry Potter! Who wouldn't? Heheh -- it's obviously obvious that J.K. has sparked children's imaginations all over the globe. :) ~ sniffers

Us American kids love Harry Potter too =) Eragon was number five, and those are pretty good books. It said that The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was number two, I was never big on that series. But its all not surprising.

That's cool and all, but I really wish I had mugglecast. I know they're working hard on it... but I'm getting withdrawal symptoms from this...

That's cool and all, but I really wish I had mugglecast. I know they're working hard on it... but I'm getting withdrawal symptoms from this...

That is super weird because my favorite books are of course hp, but second to that would definatly be Pride and Predjudice. I hated To Kill a Mocking Bird though, my mom thought I was crazy lol

Of course HP would make #1!!! I love To Kill a Mockingbird and Pride and Prejudice aswell.

everyone loves hp!!!!!

not surprising :P

Of course it's gonna be Harry Potter.I mean, what else would it be? HP rocks!!!

wow they have great taste in books!!

Well of course Potter took the top spot! What other books are that awesome??

I've got a friend from Australia who loves Harry Potter! We talk about it a lot. I'm so glad that children and adults akin can enjoy Harry all over the world!

They should poll Americans. I'm sure they would find similar results. Dang, those aussie kids have good taste :D Although I suppose people who visit this site might be biased...for obvious reasons lol.

Although it's great to hear fellow Aussies taste's appealing to the classics, i can't help but think that maybe our school system may be a little responsible. I know at people from at least 4 different schools in my area alone who had to read 'To Kill a Mockingbird', Pride and Prejudice' and others such as 'Animal Farm', 'Goodnight Mr Tom', 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' (which was also a top on the list) and LOTS of Shakespeare. When we studied 'To Kill a Mockingbird' we also had to watch the movie and everything. English class was the best :D Incidentally, did anyone see the mistake in the online article? It says: John Marsdon's 'Tomorrow, when the world began' - not 'Tomorrow, when the WAR began' - stupid newspaper writer's :P

yay! I love australian authors. everyone go to this link and watch the movies. its hilarious! http://www.potterpuppetpals.com/index.html

It's not surprising!!! Not once u actually READ the classic books and see what they're about. I'm an aussie, and all my friends enjoy classic books, and HP too!!!!!!!!!:-)

Us Aussie's know our books. I loved To Kill a Mockingbird and Pride and Prejudice, we read it in school this year and pretty much everyone in my class loved it... I don't see why theyre suprised.

Why are you people surprised?? Just because we're an island (however large) and get the HP books (and movies) way after everyone else, doesn't mean we don't LOVE them!! :D They are the BEST!! And all you people in US should consider reading some Australian books if you love us so much. They're seriously great! Trust us HP fans!! ;)

v in insia love harry potter too.......tell me abt some1 who duznt!!!!!!

Why does everyone find it such a shock that Austrlian kids love Harry Potter? I can remember in 2001 that JK Rowling did a poll on her site AND it was in the news papers for how much people in EVERY country like Harry Potter, and these were the results. 1st was of course Britain, 2nd was Australia, 3rd was the US. Seriously, Ther's a bigger population of Harry Potter book fans in Australia, it's true. I'm telling the truth, seriously. Anyway, I can sense that you won't believe me. Anyways, people, please don't bagg me for saying all this, that would be the work of a cheat skate. It just goes to show that evertone think of us Austrlians pathetic, slow on the uptake morons. I live in Mebourne and I (+frinds, and other people, ect-) get the FULL vibe! But luckily, lately, us Aussies have been getting up to scratch. Even at the Commonwealth Games last March (2006) only a couple of months ago, the Queen said that Australia, in Britains opinion, has so far been the most developed country in a century, plus you Americans think that Dame Edna is a real woman! Just kidding, she didn't say that, but she did say that Australia has so far been the most developed country out of all. I was born in Centre London, left at 3 yrs, moved to Japan, left after 2 yrs, moved to Papua New Guinu, left after 6 months then came here to Austrlia 3 years ago. So I know what's going on, seriously. Even if I was a bit young, and as a I come from Britain but live in Austrlia (My parents, ect-) I DEFINITELY know what is going on. That doesn't make much sense, but anyway. Please don't get offended by this guys, I really don't want it. P.S - Angus & Robertson are the best book shop here in Australia, right after Dymocks that is, yeah! GO AUSSIES!

i meant india** sorry 4 da slur!!!v love u jo!!!**)

P.S - The above comment was posted by Timothy, not TDeSou, well, it was posted by TDeSou, like this comment will say that it is posted by TDeSou, but it's not. It was posted by Timothy. And you can call me either Timothy, Timmy or Tim, which every suits you. Anyway, remember, Timothy, Timmy ot Tim.

Of course it is!!!!!!!!! Did they think we didn't or something! I bet if the Americans voted for it too, it wouldn't be news, because on this site, only the Americans really count. Well, that's how it seems to be evrywhere, they are always favoured.

I agree with what you said Timothy! How true!

in reply to SarSar's comment about the school system, yes they do make us read. this year im doing to kill a mocking bird and Romeo and Julliete. many of the book's youv'e mentioned i've read at school. i dont know why people are suprised with the whole 'Australian kids love Harry Potter' thing, of course they do, everyone does. All the books mentioned in the article are good books and it isn't suprising they are there (John Marsden is a genius and should have gotten a higher spot) because, beleive it or not, Australian kids read!

Honestly! 'The poll coordinators were stunned to discover classics such as To Kill a Mockingbird and Pride and Prejudice were among the favorites. ' What's wrong with reading books like those? Do they really think us THAT illiterate? And why is it news that Aussie kids love HP? ANY kid in any country loves Harry Potter, why do we count more? lol, sorry. had a bad day :P AUSSIES ROCK!! we have good taste in books :P

Posted by Cookieprincess13 10 hours ago Well. im assuming they figured Harry Potter would be in the number one slot. I'm also sort of surprised they didn't expect the classics... I dont know what they do in Australia, but in the US we're forced to read those books for class. and then they're explained. so we like them. And the other factor is that people dont read much, so if they have to choose afavorite book, and the only ones they've read are the ones they've been forced to read in school... there aren't many options for a favorite book. Cookiepricess13 – We’re not forced to read the Harry Potter books, but you think you’ve got it bad, in my class we’re forced to do this think called ‘Reading Circles� Where we are only allowed to read up to a certain amount of pages and before you read that amount of pages you collect a job that you have to do, eg – If you choose’ Questioner you have to re-read (My way, ‘skim’) through the book and find 10 or more Questions about the book which you write on your folder and share at the next English class. There are HEAPS of jobs, word wizard, Researcher, Summarizer you name it! Right now, my groups reading a book called Boy Overboard by Morris Gleitzman, so far – pretty good. Back on topic, I’ve read the Harry Potter books over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again, well….9 times to be precise, just to see if I can find more clues. All I found was that R.A.B was Regulus Black and the locket which Harry and Sirius found whilst cleaning out Grimmauld Place, but that had already been found by someone else! (I was so upset when people started bagging me on a previous comment board when I told my opinion, and I was in PARIS when it was found, sighs). Anyway, I’m just gonna wait till Book 7 comes out, can’t wait. This comment is posted by Timothy (TDeSou).

-I think I’ll highjack Jo’s personal headquarters or something, oh the pain, the pain! Anyway, why does everyone go on about all us Aussies accents?? My accents weird, because I’ve moved from country to country when I was small, I had a full cockney one when I was two, then moved to Japan (I couldn’t pick much up in New Guini) lost it at the International School and because everyone spoke in a kind of American accent, I gained a bit of an American one (When I wad told this by my parents a year ago I CRACKED! Any way, left Japan, still had a bit of a clear British accent (dropped my yank’s one) and the reason I had a clear one was because the English speaking Japanese kids spoke really clearly) then moved here to Australia! And now my 25% British accent is an imitation of a leaking tap. Which is kind of bad I a minor way for me, but still! Pretty damn good! P.S - Thanks Cate!

YAY Go us Aussies...Of course we all love HP (who doesn't!!!)

Kitastrophy is so right! And everyone who says or said what she said is right too! How exactly is that news, that we love Harry Potter books?? We’ve loved them for ages! And why’s it such a SHOCK that we like reading ‘To kill a Mocking Bird’? I’ve read that book, it’s really sad; especially when the black guys get’s killed for running away from the prison with a crime on his back that he never committed! And Pride and Prejudice is a FANTASTIC book! Who the bloody ell’ wouldn’t read it ~? ~?~?~?~?~! Maybe not only A&R but do the USA find us Australia not as intelligent and sophisticated us them? Time for Tim’s riddles! The man in the picture is my father’s sun, brothers and sisters, I have none. P.S – Wish me luck for Zone Cross Country tomorrow, even if you are on the other side of the world, it still counts. I came 1st in House Cross Country, I’m now in Zone, if I come in the top 6 I’ll get into State like last year! Anyways, wish me luck guys! Comment posted by Timothy (TDeSou).

Pat on the back, to all you other Aussies (like me) who love HP! I wonder why i didnt hear about this servey? Good to see, though that Aussie kids are still reading alot of great books by Aussie authors (who rule)

i am one of the people they asked :) harry potter was what i said ofc :)

i have a scan of that article (including a colour list of the books) and told mugglenet about it. they havn't got back to me yet though.

arther7, think about other writers like emily rodda and terry pratchett, they have at least 25 books each, and JK rowling only has 6. So yeah it's ovbious that HP would win, but not coz they're counting all the books that she's got as 1. BTW! AUSTRALIA ROX!

Yeah HP books are the best books ever!! This year I read To Kill A Mocking Bird it was really good so I am glad that it made the list also!

"Harry Potter (of course) made the #1 spot." Wow lol that sounds so bigheaded, as though no other book in the entire universe could possibly beat Harry Potter.

Good. To Kill a Mockingbird and books like that are deserving of recognition once in a while, in addition to Harry Potter.

Its not surprising. Harry potter is the best book in the world!!!

not surprised that HP made it..neither am i surprised that To Kill a Mockingbird made it..its one awesome book. -o.g.

How can people be surprised that Pride and Prejudice and To Kill A Mockingbird are on the list!? Their both fabulous books, and along with Harry Potter or both my favorites..

I'm offended that they think so little of us kids. I'm 14 and my parents have actually stopped buying me books because I read so many and it's costing too much lol. I LOVED P&P and To Kill a Mockingbird. And, of course, HP ROX. What I mean is, kids can read classics, we can have coherent and intelligent conversations, and I just think adults underestimate us so much. Either they're forgotten what it's like to be kids or they were stupid (lol) but give us a break already. We're SMART!

Well of course ! everyone loves Harry Potter right everybody? (",)

Hey Timothy. You said earlier on that Australia has more fans than anywhere in the world. I was wondering whether I could have a URL to proof of that. It's just that there's a petition going on to get the Aussie release date moved back and we're going to send it to WB. I wrote to the author and he said that I should get the URL because that information willl look good in the letter. I hope you can get the URL to me. Thanks, Cate.

Of course we love HP! Why is everyone so surprised? But I was surprised to see that us kids also like stuff like "To Kill a Mockingbird". I thought I was the only one!

Yay for HP! Of course, it's not just the Australian 'kids' that love Harry, us Aussie adults do as well!! Cheering as an expat all the way from London!

Ohhh, that's pickle. That poll was more than a year ago, I can't remember the site. tell you what, I'll ask my friend Daniel tomorrow, he voted, so he might know. P.S - i just made the state team like last year, 4th.

Thank you Timothy. That information will be extremely good for the petition. Thank you.

@Cate - My freind, Xavier, told me to look it up on google, because I hadn't thought of that. Anyway, I'll search the web and see what I can get for you, thanks! This comment is posted by Timothy (TDeSou).