IT IS one of the most famous children's books of all time.

Now, Mottisfont is hosting an exhibition on the author who put it all together.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea, written by Judith Kerr OBE, is just one of the attractions at Mottisfont, in celebration of the iconic book's 50th anniversary.

Having opened on Saturday, it launches a nationwide tour of Judith's work to be displayed at 11 National Trust properties across the UK.

Judith Kerr's first book, it began as a bedtime story for her own children and was published in 1968. With more than five million sales of the book to date, generations of children, parents and grandparents have read the book.

Judith said: "I first told this story to my small daughter long ago. She was rather critical of my other stories but used to say 'talk the tiger!'

"So, when she and her brother were both at school and I had more time, I thought I would make it into a picture book – and much to my amazement, here it still is 50 years later."

Alongside facsimiles of original artwork from the book, notes and sketches are being displayed alongside original artworks of her other books. Visitors can also get close to illustrations from the Mog stories and The Crocodile Under the Bed, among others.

The exhibition has been originated by Seven Stories, the national centre for children's books.

Kate Edwards, chief executive at Seven Stories, said: "Seven Stories is honoured to be the custodian of Judith Kerr's archive and privileged to be curator of an exhibition that celebrates her remarkable life and her outstanding contribution to children's literature.

"Visitors to Mottisfont will be treated to a unique opportunity to see reproductions of Judith's precious artwork, which shows how, through a lifetime of looking and drawing, her stories have become part of our nation's childhood."

An outdoor family activity trail will run alongside the exhibition at Mottisfont, which runs until September 2.