Irish author Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl has been voted Britain's all-time favourite Puffin book, beating classics like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Stig of the Dump for the accolade.
Colfer’s book was chosen by some 68 per cent of those who voted in an online poll organised by Puffin to mark their seventieth anniversary.
The children’s book publisher offered readers a selection of seven books, one from each decade, from which to choose the winner.
Over 10,000 votes were cast, with Colfer's story beating Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, as well as The Family from One End.
Street by Eve Garnett, Charlotte's Web by E. B. White, Stig of the Dump by Clive King, Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian and The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog by Jeremy Strong.
Artemis Fowl was Colfer's first story in a series about a young criminal mastermind who kidnaps a fairy in order to rebuild his family fortune. The Wexford writer described his book's selection as the Puffin of Puffins as his "proudest professional moment."
“For Artemis to be in a collection with Stig and Charlie is a huge thrill, but to win a public vote as well, it’s like two birthdays in one go,” he said.