`The Gruffalo` voted best bedtime story
London: Children`s classic The Gruffalo has been named the best bedtime story in the UK, says a poll.
The book, penned by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, tells the story of a mouse who hoodwinks an owl, a fox and a snake before finally getting the better off the terrifying Gruffalo itself.

The tale piped runner-up Winnie The Pooh followed by The Very Hungry Caterpillar in the poll of BBC Radio 2 listeners.

``I am going to come clean - it`s my favourite too,” the BBC quoted Jeremy Vine, who hosted the poll on his show, as saying.

“Julia Donaldson is the Shakespeare of children`s writers, and the funny thing about her is that, because the Gruffalo only came out 10 years ago, there are many, many people who haven`t even clocked that Britain has this genius in its midst.

``It`s not just The Gruffalo - it`s everything she has written. I am a massive fan, but I`m happy to take my place behind about 500,000 British children,`` he added.

Other books that made it to the list included Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, and Where The Wild Things Are.

ANI