Winnie-the-Pooh turns 100 - and YEP readers share their favourite children’s books

Bedtime stories are precious.

It may just be a few minutes you spend reading with your child before they doze off, but the memories last a lifetime, as the books you loved as a child are often the ones you love for life.

This week marks 100 years since the first-ever Winnie-the-Pooh book was published by A.A Milne.

It’s a beloved classic which got us thinking about what other kids' stories have stood the test of time.

We asked YEP readers to tell us their favourite books to read to their children, and here is what they said.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

When you think of children’s book characters, Peter Rabbit is quick to come to mind. Beatrix Potter’s mischievous bunny has delighted young readers since 1902. The Tale of Peter Rabbit sees Peter disobey his mother by sneaking into a farmer’s forbidden garden. The illustrations are gorgeous and the moral lesson never grows old.

Room on the Broom

With their crazy characters and creative rhymes, Julia Donaldson books are a delight to read aloud. Room on the Broom is one the author’s most well-known and it is a tale about a kind witch who invites a surprising collection of animals to join her on her broom. Alongside Donaldson’s words, Axel Scheffler’s expressive illustrations bring this magical story to life.

Mr. Men & Little Miss

Whether it’s Mr Messy, Mr Bump, or Little Miss Chatterbox, there’s a Mr Men & Little Miss character who represents all of us. These delightful short books by Roger Hargreaves celebrate the personality traits that make us unique, and they’re pretty funny too. Did you know the books are deliberately published as small square paperbacks so they can easily fit into a child’s hands?

Gerry the Giraffe

In Gerry the Giraffe by Melissa Northway, Gerry wants to join the volleyball team but he fears that he’s not strong enough. Feeling excluded, the giraffe trains hard every day and an amazing reward for his efforts await him. A tale of perseverance, resilience, and great sportsmanship, this message is simple but very relevant to young kids.

The Jolly Christmas Postman

The Jolly Christmas Postman is the story which comes out every festive season because it is a modern classic. Written by Allan Ahlberg and illustrated by Janet Ahlberg, the story is set on Christmas Eve in Fairy-Tale Land. Riding his bike through the snow, the postman has an important task to deliver mail to a range of famous fairy-tale faces including Humpty Dumpty and Little Red Riding Hood. What’s great about this book is that each page is interactive.