Celebrate International Children's Book Day - What's your favorite story?

I don't usually post on Thursdays, but today is a holiday of sorts that needs to be recognized - especially because it's about books!
From the ICBD website:
"Since 1967, on or around Hans Christian Andersen's birthday, 2 April, International Children's Book Day is celebrated to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children's books." In honor of this special holiday, Casper Sleep wants to know what children's bedtime stories are my favorites. Casper is a mattress company loves bedtime stories so much, they send one out with every mattress they sell!     * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * When my kids were little, one of my favorite things was bedtime. Not because it also meant time for mommy to have wine (although, hey, don't knock it) but more because I loved climbing onto their beds and reading stories with them. We had a huge basket of board books that we read together - favorites included The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, and The Big Red Barn, also by Margaret Wise Brown - I can still recite those by heart. Then we moved on to books with paper pages and fell in love with Dr. Seuss. The boys liked to go fishing with my husband, so their favorite was McElligot's Pool ... "Oh the sea is so full of a number of fish... If a fellow is patient he might get his wish!" When the boys were 6 and 4, I started reading Harry Potter out loud to them at night after reading to their little sister. I think we read the first two books together, and then they started reading them on their own. And I stayed in my daughter's room, reading only to her until she discovered Judy Moody and kicked me out. Bedtime wasn't as much fun once they started reading by themselves - or at least not as much fun for me. Sure, I got to have that glass of wine more quickly, but I miss the days of snuggling up with pajama clad kids smelling like freshly shampooed hair, hanging on my every word. Children's books are magical for so many reasons. They help kids develop language skills, they help expand horizons, imaginations and creativity, and give kids a chance to explore new ideas and places without leaving the comfort and safety of home. But they also are magic for the bonds they create when parents and kids read together, especially at bedtime. I'm so glad I've passed my love of books and reading along to my children, and that I know they will do the same someday with their own kids.