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MNHQ

*NOW CLOSED* What's your favourite bedtime story of all time? Do tell (and you could win a bundle of children's books worth £100) *NOW CLOSED*

185 replies

JaneMumsnet · 13/08/2013 12:55

Hello,

This October, we'll be publishing The Book of Bedtime Stories by Mumsnet and Gransnet - a collection of ten brilliant original bedtime stories written by the winners of our bedtime stories competition with Walker Books. Watch this space - from over 400 entries, former Children's Laureate Michael Rosen selected the ten winners, and the stories are beautifully illustrated by up-and-coming artists.

To launch the book, we'll be taking a nostalgic look at bedtime stories, and we'd love to know: what's your favourite bedtime story of all time?

Maybe it's one that you read were read as a child, and now read to your children? A magical picture book for babies and toddlers or a page turner under the covers, for older kids? Take a look at our children's book reviews if you need your memory jogged.

We'd love to hear what you think, so if you have a second, please tell us your:

  • favourite book for under 5s (babies to 4 year olds)
  • favourite book for 5-8 year olds
  • favourite book for 8-11 year olds
  • overall favourite bedtime story of all time?

All posters who tell us about their favourite books on this thread will be entered into a prize draw - one MNer will win a bundle of children's books worth £100.

Many thanks,

MNHQ

OP posts:
Droflove · 16/08/2013 00:06

The magic faraway tree was just the most amazing story ever! I can't wait to read it to my little fellow. There are so many fantastic books though, it's hard to choose. Reading is such a gift, I spent many days curled up in some corner of the house as a child lost in a book thanks to good bedtime stories with my mum from as early as I can remember.

lottietiger · 15/08/2013 22:45

In our house its the Mr Men set, different story every night and then back to the beginning of the set. We also like 3 little pigs, the huff & puff bit always goes down well. For me as a child anything by Enid Blyton, the Famous Five, Faraway Tree, Enchanted Wood or as i got older Judy Blume.

lorisparkle · 15/08/2013 20:33

Mine have all loved 'Owl Babies', and 'Where the wild things are'. My 5 year old loves 'Green Eggs and Ham' and my 7 year old loves any 'Horrid Henry'.

BehindTheScenesAtTheMumseum · 15/08/2013 17:55

Under 5s: Dogger by Shirley Hughes, or The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson, or Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

5-8s: probably Danny the Champion of the World although they bloody loved the Magic Faraway Tree books which I found hideously dull. Oh and we all love the Teddy Robinson stories and The Adventures of the Bullerby Children by Astrid Lindgren.

8-11: We are currently reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone which is turning out to be a brilliant bedtime read - pacey, exciting and satisfying. I'd also add Stig of the Dump and Tom's Midnight Garden.

TeaJunky · 15/08/2013 17:48

DD did love - and still loves at times - each peach pear plum when she was little.

DD (4) loves Tatty Ratty by Helen Cooper, and so do I and DH. its a beautiful story about a little girl called Molly who loses her toy rabbit, and while trying to keep the tears at bay, mum and dad put together a story over the routine of a day/bath/bedtime, of what tatty ratty could be up to on his adventure away from home.
Gorgeous illustrations.

Elainey1609 · 15/08/2013 17:42

We have a cole of different treasurey book collections
Little ones get to pick from them ...normally classics
Paddington Beth, Winnie the Pooh, fairy tales, dr Seuss.
They also look at a non fiction book before bed and ask questions or show me stuff sort of a show and tell
I actually enjoy that bit it's educational for me
After showing me something or asking a question I often find my self googling g I formation not long afterwards lol

Nodney · 15/08/2013 16:26

My DS favourite story is The Take of Peter Rabbit. Or Jeremy Fisher. Or The Tale of Benjamin Bunny. He practically knows the words to these and laughs at the same points everytime! He's been enjoying them since he was 3. He's 6 now. My all time favourite is the Ladybird tale of the escaping dog - Gingers Adventures. I love it and can still remember the words now!

MooseyMoo · 15/08/2013 16:22

For under fives, I Like it When & Stick Man

When I was young, my favourite book was Dogger

ToffeeWhirl · 15/08/2013 16:07

So hard to choose, but here goes:

Favourite book for under 5s: 'The Tiger Who Came to Tea' by Judith Kerr.
Favourite book for 5 - 8: 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'
Favourite book for 8 - 11: 'Harry Potter' series
Overall favourite: 'The Tiger Who Came to Tea'

sonjachall · 15/08/2013 12:23

Room on the Broom (Julia Donaldson) - favourite book for under 5s (babies to 4 year olds)
George's Marvellous Medicine (Roald Dahl) - favourite book for 5-8 year olds
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (JK Rowling) - favourite book for 8-11 year olds
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (JK Rowling) - overall favourite bedtime story of all time?

LittleMissSnowShine · 15/08/2013 10:49

Favourite book for under 5s - Very hard to narrow down because we do love a few old favs like The Tiger Who Came to Tea and Peace at Last mixed with a few newer ones, esp Moon Rabbit by Natalie Russell and A Bit Lost by Chris Haughton

LifeofPo · 15/08/2013 10:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

weebarra · 15/08/2013 09:57

Under 5's:
Dogger
Peepo
V hungry caterpillar
Sharing a shell
Dear Zoo

5-8:
DS1 loves Roald Dahl, think he would probably recommend James & Giant Peach and the Witches.

AugustRose · 15/08/2013 09:43

My childrens' favourites are old books passed down from their brother (just about to turn 17).

For the 2 year old: little board books about a bear called Brendon; At the Park, At the Farm, At the Beach - they are really bad but he loves them and wants them over and over again. Currently going through Meg and Mog books too.

For the 6 year old: books about a car called Gumdrop and his owner Mr Oldcastle, she loves them and now she can read them herself. They were bought for our oldest child by his Grandad who passed away 5 years ago so they are very special.

11 year old: absolutely anything she can get her hands on!

We have so many favourites but I would have to say anything by Julia Donaldson, my overall fave being Room on the Broom.

justsailingthrough · 15/08/2013 09:39

I still read to my 2 children (12 and 9), and we take it in turns to choose a book. Over the last few months we have been reading the Swallows and Amazon series and are now on book 5. they have both been really inspired by the adventures which are real and achievable. this summer they have both been sailing, the 12 year old always imagines he is captain john, the 9 year old feels she is in the coot club. I think that the bedtime read for us really brings us together, they both still look forward to it, and it has given us endless topics to talk about.

Willdoitinaminute · 14/08/2013 23:43

Under 5 - The Gruffalo
5-8 - The Twits
8-11 How to Train your Dragon

Merrylegs · 14/08/2013 22:52

Dogger by Shirley Hughes. For any age. By the time we get to 'Then Bella did a very kind thing' there's not a dry eye in the house. And then it ends so brilliantly. Marvellously satisfying. An emotional rollercoaster.

kellyscarlett · 14/08/2013 22:26

my kids scarlett (8) and cohen (5) love the jolly postman they love opening the letters!

LoveBeingItsABoy · 14/08/2013 21:08

Have to say its Each peach, pear, plum

majjsu · 14/08/2013 21:06

My LO who is under 5 loves fairytales ie Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks and the Three Bears...

For the age 8-11, I loved Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery.

olivo · 14/08/2013 20:43

Under 5, it has to be Day Monkey, Night Monkey, it is just fabulous and I, I mean Dd, loves the rhymes and the craziness of it.

UnitedZingDom · 14/08/2013 20:33

guess how much I love you

llynnnn · 14/08/2013 20:10

Under 5's - peepo,
5-8's - tiddler, gruffalo, superworm, or anything by Julia Donaldson/axel schleffer!
8-11's - Charlie and the choc family, Matilda, twits.

My favourite overall for my children is tiddler by Julia Donaldson. My favourite all time from my childhood was the magic faraway tree by Enid blyton. I read that over and over and adored it :)

Picklepepperpiper · 14/08/2013 20:00

Under five: Owl Babies or 'Baby Owls' as it was known it our house. This was a favourite for a long time and my dd knew it off by heart at the age of 2.

I can't wait until she is older and we can start with Roald Dahl books, the first one we start with will be The Witches or Matilda.

snowymum12 · 14/08/2013 19:57

Under 5 has to be 'The Biggest Kiss by Joanna Walsh and Judith Abbott, it's gorgeous!
5-8, for me is 'Giraffes Can't Dance', it's a lovely little read and really uplifting.
8-11 anything by Michael Murpurgo is always a decent read.

Best bedtime story of all time...in our house it's The Gruffallo. I love a circular story and this is the cream of the crop!