Good Night, Sleep Tight!

by Claire Freedman, Rory Tyger (Illustrator)

Archie can't sleep. Grandma sings lullabies and tells him a story. She makes a warm milky drink and they cuddle up and count fireflies. Archie feels cosy and happy - but still not in the least bit sleepy! Surely there must be something Grandma can do to help a little bear fall asleep?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Storytime, Family, Fiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2003

About the author

I’ve been a writer for over 15 years now, but it wasn’t planned!

I had a variety of jobs, including secretary, trainee buyer at Harrods, dental nurse, production assistant in a reprographic and printing company and various others.

I began to write after joining a creative writing class. I had no success with article writing, or short stories, or fiction, but the first children’s story I wrote, for a magazine called Twinkle, was accepted for publication. Hooray!!!

Things snowballed and a lot (yes lots and lots) of hard work later I now write full time and have over 50 books published. I still go to the same writing class and we have become a big happy family of writers!

For me, writing is the best job ever. I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else. I love to create worlds for young children to enjoy and escape into – whether the stories are educational, bedtime, problem solving or just plain good fun. It’s also very exciting to see the first picture roughs, as my wonderful, talented illustrators bring the text to life.

I live on the Essex coast in a lovely two-bed-roomed flat, which I share with my husband, Michael. At long last I have an office to write in, with room for all my books and bits of scribbled on papers.

The seafront is (still) just around the corner, and I find a bracing walk (it gets freezing when the East wind blows from the North Sea!) or gentle stroll when the weather is warmer, is great for clearing my head and mulling over story ideas.

- excerpted from her website

Reviews

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute!

Ages: 2 - 5

Here’s a few of our bedtime favs: watch my reel!

Content Considerations: nothing to note.

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[Set · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute bedtime story of a little bear that isn't sleepy at all.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet bedtime story about a little cub whose grandmother is putting her to bed. Perfect for those nights when Gram is filling in for Mom or Dad.

[M.K. Aneal]

So sweet(:

[Lacie Ortiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a baby bear named Archie who isn't sleepy for bedtime. So his grandma asks him if he has all his stuffed animals, but that doesn't help him fall asleep. Then she suggest to drink a warm cup of milk to help him fall asleep, but that doesn't help either. Archie asks to watch the firewire to see if that makes him sleepy, but that doesn't help. Then Archie asks if his grandma can sing him a lullaby, so she does, but sure enough, the lullaby doesn't make him sleepy either. His grandma holds Archie tight where his is comfortable and rocks him back and forth while walking through the woods telling a story of all the naughty things Archie's mom use to do when she was younger. When they get back home, grandma tucks Archie into bed and gives a few soft taps on the nose, before she could say goodnight, Archie was fast asleep. I felt happy while reading this book because it reminded me of when I was younger and when I stayed over at my grandmas house. When I couldn't fall asleep, we would look out the window and stare at the tree across the street with a street light near it. So when it was dark, we could still see the tree. I dont know why, but it was and still is so satisfying to me. The illustrations in this book are so soft and warm which makes me feel so cozy when reading it. I also like how there are small illustrations within the written text so readers can connect a small image to what they read before they see the main picture on the page. This book would be a great use in younger classrooms as students can use it to gain a connection of the book to their relationship between their grandparents. It could also be used for students to get ideas of what they could try to make them sleepy for bed.

[Campbell Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a bear adventure throughout the day. Then when he tries to sleep his father tells him a story of the day he was born and what they did that day. Which made the little bear happy and able to sleep.


This was an extremely cute book! I loved how the story was told. It was compelling and enjoyable.

[Abby Peskin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another story about a child who is not tired and not ready to fall asleep. Little bear is staying with his grandma, and even though he is tucked in with all of his friends, he is still wide awake and not ready to sleep. He thinks maybe reading stories or drinking milk may help, but still feels wide awake afterwards. How will he fall asleep?

[Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

bedtime story-- grandma and grandkid

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the compassion this mama bear shows for her little bear who isn't tired and is having a hard time falling to sleep. May we all be as compassionate with our loved ones and ourselves!

[Jaid Wehrenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gift from Katie M for 2nd birthday

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of a Grandma bear trying to put her grandson to sleep.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

warm and sweet, cozy pictures and an adorable bear cub. The cub however won't go to sleep and Grandma bear is so patient that I felt myself thinking these are the kind of books you hate reading to a child at bedtime because it gives the ideas - I can't sleep so give me a story/warm milk/hours of company etc. Recently a book with a swear in the title - go the blank to sleep - came on the market, and while I am not a fan of picture books that are satires having seen a few shoved in with kid books in bookstores by not paying attention employees - it did hit a nerve of remembering I would want to offer my kids money, real estate, anything if they would just go the blank to sleep as I was in grad school and working and was just not up for a nightly ritual of an hour or two of bargaining and whining. Sigh.
a cute book nonetheless :)

[Kari Hilmanowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very cute story about a little bear that just wasn't sleepy at bedtime. His grandma gives him warm milk and counts fireflies with him, along with many other things....until finally he was sleepy enough for bed. It is a sweet bedtime story for young ones.

Example quote: "Grandma rocked Archie gently in her arms, all the way down to the apple grove and back."

Teaching opportunity: This is a great time to set up a bedtime routine with your children if you haven't already. Review the schedule and steps they need to go through to get into bed so that they feel tired and relaxed. Remember to incorporate relaxing activities, such as reading a book to them. Find out if there is something small and fun that they would like to add to their bedtime routine, such as a special glass of warm milk, or a nose nuzzle. Something fun and unique that will have them excited for bedtime.

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

something we're learning as parents: kids learn early how to manipulate to get their own way, especially at bedtime. Truman always seems to ask for something when we're getting ready for bed, and boy do we get tired of it. If you don't want your kid getting any new ideas, don't read this book. Although it was cute & fun, it has taught our little man all sorts of new things to say at bedtime. The best one "I'm just not tired" as he's yawning and has bags under his eyes.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure that this really has anything stylistically on other bedtime stories that I have read, but I do appreciate that it is a grandma bear babysitting the cub--nice to see a grandparent/grandchild variant on the theme--and the illustrations are as cozy and cuddly as a warm cup of milk and a favorite blanket!

[Michael Leitzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good book. Good read aloud book. good story for a bedtime for story for kids as well. Great illustrations.

[K.c. Buell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice bedtime story and my 6 month old liked the illustrations.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mine was about about a mommy not granny bear. Same title, etc.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has beautiful illustrations, but just a so-so story. Grandma has soporific kisses -- There. Now you don't have read it.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 Stars This is a cute little bedtime story. Cute Pictures, nice story! Sweet with out being too sappy!

[Miss Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

a little bear has trouble failing asleep while his grandma is babysitting. A cute story perfect for bedtime.

[Anthony Pate]

This is a really great book that can lead to many fun discussions with the entire class. One of the most common conversations is a discussion of everyone's night time routines.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very darling story.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

pajamarama. sweet tale of a grandma bear putting her grandbaby bear to bed. suitable for 4s.

[The Bougie Twins · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars