READING LIST: children's books for adults

I had a story read to me by my parents every night when I was little (until I was too old to mention on the internet), so reading to my future children is something I'm really looking forward to. The little girls I babysit have such a huge collection of books and the smaller one, Rose, loves having a story read to her at bedtime.

I've found that there are actually quite a few books on her bookshelf that I've loved reading too, whether it's the clever illustrations or the surprisingly sophisticated jokes that have me amused. There's quite a trend right now for children's books that appeal to adults too and I think part of it is also down to parents wanting their children to be exposed to more than just the usual Disney-type offerings.

Home by Carson Ellis was featured on design*sponge and This Is London has quite a cult following - I think it only recently came back into print - and both of these books actually seem to be geared towards adults just as much as children. The Olivia books have great illustrations - though I admit I do find the pigs a little creepy - and Shackleton's Journey is more of an illustrated infographic-type book that my dad might just well get for his birthday next month!

What were your favourite story books as a child? I remember We're Going On A Bear Hunt being a favourite of both my parents, though I wasn't all that keen - the Beatrix Potter books, however, always captured my imagination.