The 10 Most Popular Bedtime Stories of 2008

Hannah Tennant-Moore

A recent British survey found that traditional fairy tales are no longer popular bedtime stories for children. So what are parents choosing to read instead? According to The Baby Web Site, which conducted the survey, the top 10 children's books of last year were mostly funny or sweet tales, with a smattering of classics that have stood the test of time.

In order of popularity, here are the books that put kids to bed in 2008:

1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle 

2. Mr. Men by Roger Hargreaves 

3. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson 

4. Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne 

5. Aliens Love Underpants by Claire Freedman & Ben Cort 

6. Thomas and Friends from The Railway Series by Rev. W. Awdry 

7. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame 

8. What a Noisy Pinky Ponk! by Andrew Davenport 

9. Charlie and Lola by Lauren Child

10. Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Robert Southey

I have no objections to anything on the list (though I have always liked the premise of the Thomas books much more than the actual stories), but I must admit I was disappointed that the Skippyjon Jones books didn't make the list. Apparently, Spanish-speaking Siamese kitties are just so 2006.

What do you read your kids before bed?

Photo: jellybabies.co.uk