World Book Day: Dark secret stories behind some of our favourite children's bestsellers

dailystar.co.uk:

HARRY POTTER: Author J.K Rowling’s mum died when she was 25 and her relationship with her dad was broken when she started penning the series, featuring an orphan boy wizard and with every plot motivated by death.

Living in poverty, with depression and contemplating suicide, she imagined her feelings as the evil soul-sucking Dementor characters.THE BUTTER BATTLE BOOK: There couldn’t be a more chilling a children’s tale right now than this one by Dr Seuss – a Cold War-based story about opposing sides who disagreed on how to eat buttered bread.

It’s aim was to highlight the dangers of nuclear weapons, and the risk to mankind if peace can’t be achieved.JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH: Every Roald Dahl book had elements which reflected his own life.

In James And The Giant Peach the main character is sent to live with a wicked aunt when his parents are eaten by a rhino. In real life, Roald’s sister and dad died when he was three and his mum packed him off to a boarding school where he was regularly caned by a nasty headmaster.THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS: The spoiled son of writer Kenneth Grahame gave him the impetus to create the woodland adventures tale as a method of getting him to sleep, with headstrong Alistair inspiring Mr Toad.