Parents help further kids' development by sharing their favourite childhood tales

A recent survey of 2,000 parents with pre-school aged children has uncovered that almost two thirds (58%) have curated a list of must-read books for their tots.

The list including classics they cherished in their own childhood, with a notable 62% keen to pass on the stories they adored as kids.

Iconic tales such as 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' by Eric Carle, 'Dear Zoo' by Rod Campbell, and 'Elmer' by David McKee were found to be favourites.

Childcare experts Busy Bees have crafted a 'top 40 books' list to celebrate the roll-out of their fresh educational programme, Bee Curious, which is expertly designed to ignite a lifelong zest for learning through the joy of play and the magic of storytelling.

Gill Jones MBE, the group's chief quality officer, has praised the power of storytelling, saying: "Storytelling is crucial for children's development, helping them to learn about the world around them and build important communication skills."

She went on to stress the significance of narrative in early years, noting: "The results from this research show just how important storytelling is during children's early years and beyond, with parents understanding the vital role it plays in early development."

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Parents typically dedicate a hearty 21 minutes daily to reading with their kids, and a staggering 97% confess they relish this quality time. While they acknowledge it's a great way to improve their child's development, it's also a great way to strengthen their bond.

Almost three quarters says their children love to hear the same story night after night, and whilst 27% see the funny side of this, almost half admit they've skipped a few pages to speed things along.

Repetition is key in improving a reading and language skills, but it's good to mix it up every now and again. However, 35% of parents find they lack inspiration when scouting out new reading material.

A resourceful 45% hit up the local library for inspiration, and nearly one third (31%) lean on tips from their nursery or childcare provider. To make the process of selection easier, Busy Bees have created their own 'book-u-lator' tool to help parents decide what to read next.

Gill explained: "We hope the tool we've created offers those looking for inspiration some ideas for different books to read with their little ones, outside of the classics."

"The new curriculum brings together 40 years of experience, global best practice and the latest scientific research to nurture natural curiosity and give children a head start for school."

"All of our early years educators have been trained to support children's individual development, allowing them to provide quality, playful teaching."

The company is also currently on the hunt for the nation's best bedtime storyteller, with the winner set to receive £1,000 and a donation of the top 40 books to a local library of their choice.

Top 40 stories to share with your kids:

The Gruffalo (Julia Donaldson)

The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Eric Carle)

The Tiger Who Came to Tea (Judith Kerr)

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (Michael Rosen)

Winnie-the-Pooh (A A Milne)

The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Beatrix Potter)

Dear Zoo (Rod Campbell)

Guess How Much I Love You (Sam McBratney)

Room on the Broom (Julia Donaldson)

Where’s Spot? (Eric Hall)

I Want My Potty! (Tony Ross)

Elmer (David McKee)

The Rainbow Fish (Marcus Pfister)

Goodnight Moon (Margaret Wise Brown)

Giraffes Can't Dance (Giles Andreae)

Funnybones (Janet and Allan Ahlberg)

Owl Babies (Martin Waddell)

Mog the Forgetful Cat (Judith Kerr)

That's Not My Teddy (Fiona Watt)

Peek-a-Who? (Nina Laden)

Green Eggs and Ham (Dr Seuss)

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy (Lynley Dodd)

The Jolly Postman and Other People's Letters (Janet & Allan Ahlberg)

Peace at Last (Jill Murphy)

The Lion Inside (Rachel Bright)

Each Peach Pear Plum (Janet and Allan Ahlberg)

Where the Wild Things Are (Maurice Sendak)

Oh Dear! (Rod Campbell)

Elephant and the Bad Baby (Elfrida Vipoint)

Orange, Pear, Apple, Bear (Emily Gravatt)

Shark in the Park (Nick Sharratt)

Bathtime for Little Rabbit (Jorg Muhle)

Chocolate Moose for Greedy Goose (Julia Donaldson)

Peepo! (Allan Ahlberg)

Winne the Witch (Valerie Thomas and Korkby Paul)

I Want My Hat Back (Jon Klassen)

So Much (Trish Cooke)

Clap Hands (Helen Oxenbury)

Cars and Trucks and Things That Go (Richard Scarry)

Harry the Dirty Dog (Gene Zion)