The Gruffalo, We're Going On A Bear Hunt and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. For parents up and down the country, these much-loved books are a staple of the bedtime routine - and loved by kids and adults alike.
However, in recent years, a new series has grown in popularity - and it is one my toddler absolutely loves. Written by McFly singer Tom Fletcher, The Who's In Your Book? stories are an interactive and fun way to end the day with your little one, with cute tales about dragons, aliens and other magical creatures.
So when I saw There's A Monster In Your Show was coming to The Lowry Theatre, I knew it would be the ideal first theatre show for my three-year-old.
The show, which has toured the UK two times before, is a musical stage adaptation of Fletcher's story, There's A Monster In Your Book - a tale about a cheeky little monster who is, as you may have guessed, is trapped in your book.
This was our first theatre trip as a family, so I was feeling pretty apprehensive before we took our seats inside The Lowry. What if my son cries or shouts? What if he hates it and wants to leave? What do I do about snacks?!
However, I needn't have worried, as the show actively encourages little ones to shout, sing, clap, and dance throughout the performance. In fact, the louder and more energetic the better.
The show is about a group of performers (Eloise Hare, Izzy Hollis, William Huke, Brian Maitland and Duncan Taylor) who discover they are not alone on stage ahead of a big performance. A little Monster is stuck in the show and wants to be part of the fun too, along with his friends, Dragon, Alien and Unicorn.
As you would expect, it quickly descends into mayhem with plenty of shenanigans by Monster and co, including Dragon sneezing fire on the stage and Unicorn strutting her stuff.
After the first song began, I was starting to worry if it could keep my toddler's attention - but as soon as Monster appeared on stage a few minutes in, he was captivated and couldn't stop laughing for the 55-minute runtime.
And there was plenty of interaction with the audience who were encouraged to high-five, spin and fly with the little furry creatures from their seats.
In addition to singing, dancing, and acting, the hardworking and excellent cast took on the role of puppeteers, voicing and controlling the cute little characters as they jumped, flew and crashed around the stage.
It also featured a nod to Fletcher's time on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2021, with Brian and Willian strutting their stuff with a quick routine to the famous music.
The simple and colourful set was practical, with the actors moving around the various blocks and pieces when needed to move the story on, without it feeling jarring.
The production was faithful to illustrator Gregg Abbott's creations in the books, bringing them to life superbly - with cheeky little Monster and his friends easily recognisable for the dozens of screaming kids in the audience.
Music featured during the production was written by Fletcher, alongside Barrie Bignold, and I guarantee you will be singing 'Oh help, oh no, There's a Monster In Your Show' in your head for some time afterwards.
There's A Monster In Your Show is the perfect first theatre outing for any toddler or young family. The feel-good story will certainly put a smile on the faces of both children and adults.
There's A Monster In Your Show is at The Lowry, Salford, from Tuesday May 27 to Sunday June 1. For more information and tickets visit www.thelowry.com.
