Stories living happily ever after in tech age: Mumsnet claims bedtime story alive and well

By Hayden Smith Monday 30 Sept 2013 - Metro

(Picture: Metro)

Lucy from The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe might have missed out on finding the portal to Narnia if she had been a child today.
Instead of exploring Professor Kirke’s house, she and her siblings would probably have been lolling about downstairs, engrossed in a game of Grand Theft Auto.
Even in the era of iPads and computer graphics, however, it seems the humble bedtime story is more popular than ever.
CS Lewis’s fantasy classic is among popular choices with the 89 per cent of mothers and fathers who read to their child before tucking them in, a survey shows.
In many cases, parents are starting new chapters in the family tradition, as only 67 per cent recall dozing off with ‘the end’ ringing in their ears when they were young.
‘It’s heartening to find the bedtime story is alive and well despite the popularity of screens of all shapes and sizes,’ said Justine Roberts, of Mumsnet, which carried out the poll.
Julia Donaldson’s The Gruffalo is the overall favourite story, with Roald Dahl’s Matilda the most read to five to eight-year-olds, the poll shows.
Lucy’s encounter with Mr Tumnus is top in the eight-to-11 category.
Celebrities have also been revealing beloved stories to Mumsnet, which this week publishes a book of bedtime tales by aspiring authors.