Poor Ned (9 months) has been sick this week so we have been reading lots of stories to make him feel better. Our, Ned and I, favourite of the moment is Goodnight Harry by Kim Lewis. I have always loved her pastel illustrations as they are so soft and look so tactile, you feel like you can just walk into her landscapes and pat her animals. Her books are all based around English farm life, with her main series based on a border collie called Floss. The Harry in Goodnight Harry is a beautiful brown toy elephant who can’t sleep. His friends Lulu, the toy lamb and Ted, the ted, have already fallen asleep but Harry is having trouble, so thinking he is not really tired yet he decides to try and wear himself out. When that fails he lies in bed and begins to worry, this is where I can really relate to Harry as often I lie in bed and worry also, it just makes me want to hug Harry. His friends Lulu and Ted wake up and sit quietly with Harry, making him feel loved until he is ready in his own time to fall asleep. I find this picture book so touching and it’s so relevant in this day and age when it is proven that children begin to worry from a very young age. It is always nice to know that you are safe and loved – that would help anyone sleep!

The colour in this cover image is quite washed out the colours in real life are much stronger.

Top 5 GOING TO BED BOOKS…

1. Goodnight Harry (Kim Lewis) 8+ months

2. Goodnight Me (Andrew Daddo and Emma Quay) – Andrew Daddo, yes one of those Daddo brothers, wrote this for his children and now it is a delightful book. Quay brings this little orang-utan (I didn’t know they could be so cute) to life as he say goodnight to his whole body. You will giggle when he says Goodnight to his bottom! Almost like a meditation ritual this book is simple and so beautiful. 6+ months

3. The Going to Bed Book (Sandra Boynton) – Boynton is always fun and silly. This book is a lovely way to have a laugh with your bubba as her crazy animals get ready for bed in the silliest ways. 8+ months

4. Time for Bed (Men Fox and Jane Dyer) – Rhythmic like a lullaby this book is perfect for little ones going to bed. Dyer’s illustrations are the perfect companion as they picture security and comfort of mummy and daddy animals then finally the little toddler falls asleep with his mummy. 6+ months

5. Sophie’s Big Bed (Tina Burke) – Gosh, this girl’s illustration is just divine! With all her books it is not about the text as much as it is about her pictures. The children have so much expression and their smiles light up the pages. In this book Sophie is graduating from her much loved cot to a big bed and as you can see from the front cover it really is a BIG BED. 6+ months

I have found with Ned that bedtime books like these are effective in the way that you read them. Ned responds really well to the comforting and lulling tone in my voice, he looks at my mouth to see where the noise is coming from and will actually even try and reach up and touch my mouth. As I start to read it is amazing to see him physically stop and listen intently to what I’m reading, this is why I love being a mum.