What was the greatest ever bedtime story?

The BFG (Big Friendly Giant) by Roald Dahl.

I read this (in serialised form--Ron note the spelling) to both my son and daughter several times. They also insisted that I do the voices for each character in various British accents. I gave the giant a South Yorkshire accent, the kind you hear around Barnsley (or Baa-nsley) and Sophie was made to sound vaguley like one of my young cousins in Bedfordshire. Elaborate, I know, but essential to storytime! When my granddaughter is old enough, she will also be getting the same treatment!

Of course, anything by Dahl was popular with my kids--they liked the dark undertones of his works and so do I.

Also, if you can get your hands on this book, do yourself and your kids or grandkids a big favour (Ron--spelling!) and grab it:

 How Tom Beat Captain Najork and His Trained Sportsmen by Russell Hoban (Ilustrated by Quentin Blake)

This is one of the funniest and most delightful children's books I've ever read. And the characterisation of Tom's main nemesis, his Aunt Fidget Wonkham-Strong, is priceless!

I never knew George MacDonald wrote children stories! You learn something everyday. Lol.

I think all parents use the T.V. to entertain their children to some degree, Chris. In moderation I am sure the children are no worse off for it. As I've admitted in another thread, when I was a child, "Mr. Rogers" was a comfort to me.

It's the parents who clearly don't have the patience or parenting skills to relate to their children and use the T.V. to compensate, that I have a problem with.

Having said that; I am not a harried parent trying to hold down a full time job and raise children. If I were, perhaps I would see things differently. :-)

When I was a bit older, but still a youngster, I used to love reading Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House on the Prairie" books.

I must have read all of them at least a dozen times over the years!

Diana..ever read this??

Has anyone ever read David and the Phoenix by Edward Ormondroyd (1957)? It was my favourite book as a kid. Shades of Harry Potter!