Tag Archives: Bedtime Stories

Jun1

My Little Barlaagany (Sunshine) – Melissa Greenwood

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Harper Collins Australia

May 2023

  • ISBN: 9780733342998
  • ISBN 10: 073334299X
  • Imprint: ABC Books AU
  • RRP: $24.99

Gumbaynggirr artist Melissa Greenwood has created another beautiful and stylish picture book to add to your collection of First Nations titles. This is a dreamy and gentle bedtime love story between mother and child, country and culture. With a text that is interspersed with words from her own traditional language, and her own contemporary styled artwork this will become a staple for many bedside readings for little ones.

I love that Melissa’s artwork echoes traditional stylistic components but her fusion with more contemporary colours and placement of features makes it a real stand-out. This one with its frequent use of pastels completely encapsulates that soothing rhythm we look for to send a little one off to sleep, and the passage of time from day to night is echoed in the change of colours and tones.

At the end of the book the entire text is written in both her own language and English. I think the only thing that would have made this more perfect would have been a CD so that we who might struggle with some pronunciation could listen to its beauty in the language of the creator.

Highly recommended for your little readers – or as a stunning gift for a newborn jarjum in your mob.

Why not take time to check out Miimi and Jiinda for artwork and lifestyle items from Melissa and her Miimi (mother)?

Apr19

Goodnight Glow Worms – Aura Parker

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9780143792918Penguin Australia

March 2020

  • ISBN: 9780143792918
  • Imprint: Puffin
  • RRP: $24.99

Goodnight, Glow Worms shining bright,
Time to dim your Glow Worm light.
Glow Worms gleaming, beaming round,
Can’t switch off and can’t wind down.

This is so absolutely adorable it almost makes me wish I still had a little one to read it to for bedtime (almost!).

The little glow worms are having a bit of trouble getting themselves sorted for ‘lights off’ and bed time and their small human counterparts will love not only their various procrastinations but their lovely colours. Which would be the favourite one for your own glow worm?

With very sweet rhyming text and utterly gorgeous illustrations the countdown to all the glow worms finally going to sleep will be a huge hit in your own bedtime routines.  Of course, for me, the stunning endpapers are once again a real highlight (yes yes I know I have a ‘thing’ about endpapers!).

The whole resounds with joy and and imagination and I could easily see that crafting some colourful glow worms would be a fabulous follow-on.

Highly recommended for little glow worms from around 2 years upwards.

There is also a wonderful activity pack available!

GGW Act Pack header

 

Jan16

Ten Minutes to Bed: …. Rhiannon Fielding/Chris Chatterton

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Image result for putting kids to bed clip art

Penguin Random House Australia

There would not be many parents (or grandparents/carers) who haven’t had to coax a small one to bed at some time and if that’s you right now this little series which has been brought to my attention would be a perfect shared read to give that heads up that it’s sleep time.

They are colourful and full of lively and rhythmic text which is accentuated by the use of varying font size and design with lots of the onomatopoeia that children love to echo.

I love that each has a full double spread map of The Land of Nod at the end so adult and child can locate where the characters might hang out.

These would be really suitable for cuddle-up-on-a-lap bedtime reading or indeed as a prelude to naptime in an early childhood setting.

You may choose the latest which is the mermaid or perhaps your little reluctant sleeper is more of a monster *wink*.

Recommended for children from babies upwards to around four or five years old.

 

Ten Minutes to Bed: Little Mermaid

9780241372678

August 2019

ISBN: 9780241372678

Imprint: Ladybird

RRP: $14.99

Ten Minutes to Bed: Little Monster

9780241348918

December 2018

ISBN: 9780241348918

Imprint: Ladybird

RRP: $14.99

Ten Minutes to Bed: Little Unicorn

9780241348925

September 2018

ISBN: 9780241348925

Imprint: Ladybird

RRP: $14.99

 

 

Jul2

The Puffin Book of Bedtime Stories

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Penguin

9780143796732

July 2, 2019

Puffin

RRP $29.99

bedtime

If you are looking for a special gift for a little reader – and it’s never too early to think about Christmas, let’s face it! – this would be the perfect fit. Eight of Australia’s best- loved picture books from some of our best and brightest authors and illustrators are beautifully presented in this hardcover omnibus.

Bed Tails by Meredith Costain and Mitch Vane

Sophie’s Big Bed by Tina Burke

Baby Tawnies by Judy Paulson

It’s Bedtime, William! by Deborah Niland

One Very Tired Wombat by Renee Treml

A Bear and a Tree by Stephen Michael King

Jesse by Tim Winton and Maureen Prichard

Come Down, Cat by Sonya Hartnett and Lucia Masciullo

Take a peek inside here.

Whether as a read-aloud for snuggling up on these wintery days and nights or for the newly independent reader this will be the ideal choice to inspire imagination and a love of stories.

The special touches of the pages framed in lilac tones and the glorious endpapers along with the beautiful textured binding all combine to make this a treasured addition to the bookshelf.

Be prepared for many cries of ‘read it again!’ from your chosen audience.

Highly recommended for little ones from toddler upwards.

Apr22

The Dream Bird –  Aleesah Darlinson/Emma Middleton

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dreambirdes

Wombat Books

ISBN: 9781925563337

Release: 1 April 2018

Price: $19.99 Hardback

 

For a family of insomniacs no explanation is needed about the difficulties sometimes of going to sleep – no matter how busy the day, or the level of tiredness. Young and old in my crew this is something we deal with constantly.

Over the years I’ve dealt with this problem from both a personal and a professional aspect. Many children have a real difficulty with calming down from their busyness of the day and sadly, I have seen some medicated to do so.

George is a child who finds it incredibly hard to switch off from his days and even though his family have strategies to offer, none seems to work for him. But Gran has the solution (as so often we Grans do!). She tells him a beautifully lyrical and soothing story about the Dream Bird who takes children on magical dream journeys to the places that are just right for each.

This is not just a story about getting children to sleep. It is an affirmation of the joy and comfort of bedtime stories, the power of imagination and of course, family love and tenderness.

Aleesah’s text is so beautifully wrapped in an almost ethereal swirl of illustrations which evoke the cross-over between reality and fantasy. Whether it’s leaping with leopards, swimming with mermaids or visiting a land of lollies and other yummy treats, every child deserves a Dream Bird to lullaby them to sleep.

Enjoy some insight into Emma’s illustrative process here.

Highly recommended for your little people whether as an addition to library shelves or as a charming gift to a special child.