Coronavirus: People are stocking up on children’s books during pandemic, Amazon ranking shows

‘The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids’ is at the top of the list

People have been stocking up on children's books during the coronavirus pandemic (stock image). (Getty/iStockphoto)

People are stocking up on children’s books during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Amazon best sellers ranking.

The “Best Sellers in Books” list was overwhelmingly occupied by kids’ tomes on Wednesday, with the rare exception of popular releases for grown-ups sprinkled here and there.

Amazon’s “Best Sellers in Books” ranking compiles best sellers across all book categories and isn’t restricted to a particular genre or age group – suggesting that the demand for children’s books has indeed massively increased.

This is presumably the result of orders placed by parents or caretakers looking to keep children busy and entertained while families remain on confinement together and schools are closed.

The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids – which, as its name suggests, is filled with 800+ jokes for children, is currently at the top of the ranking.

It’s followed by a preschool workbook and It’s Not Easy Being a Bunny, a picture book.

The first exception comes in fifth place, which is occupied by Delia Owens’s novel Where the Crawdads Sing.

Drawing books, workbooks, additional picture books, craft books and a cookbook for “young chefs” are also among the top 50 best selling books of the moment.

Among the tomes for grown-ups who made the ranking is Celest Ng’s novel Little Fires Everywhere, the TV adaptation of which is now available to stream on Hulu, as well as Erik Larson’s The Splendid and the Vile, a nonfiction about Winston Churchill.

Also featured are Glennon Doyle’s memoir Untamed and a colouring book for adults.