Can I Sleep in Your Bed Tonight?

by Andreas Sahar

Tap, tap, tap... Just when Mom thinks everyone is finally asleep, tiny footsteps echo down the hall. One determined child appears at her door, then another, and another! Each with an urgent reason why their own bed simply won't do tonight. Written in bouncy, rhyming verse, this charming bedtime story perfectly captures the sweet dance of nighttime parenting. A delightful tale that will have parents chuckling in recognition and children begging to read it again... preferably in Mom and Dad's bed!

ANDREAS SAHAR, most known for his work in songwriting and screenwriting, is the father of three children of his own. Can I Sleep In Your Bed Tonight? blends his professional and personal life experiences together in a new, humorous format for all to enjoy.

Genres: Picture Books

38 pages, ebook

Published June 1, 2025

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Can I Sleep in Your Bed Tonight? is an illustrated picture book for children told in a rhyming format.
Unfortunately this book fell very flat for me and wasn't what I thought it was going to be at all.
The rhyming starts out well but goes a little disjointed, and the illustrations were more anime taking away the cosiness and nostalgia this book had the potential to have. I also didn't like the fact the mother told two of the children to change their pyjamas and sleep on the floor in their room because they had wet the bed. This was quite shocking to me as a mother and portrays neglect. I also didn't like that the father left the mother to deal with everything, then stomped off angrily to sleep on the couch. It could have ended better, such as them all snuggling up together to ride out the thunderstorm.

[anzhelika ୨ৎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 2 stars ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

to be honest, i wouldn't really call this a childrens' book, the story seems more for the parents. also, if it's a childrens' book, the font might be a little bit difficult for them to read because it's cursive. the rhymes were fun though, so i guess children might enjoy that. the illustrations in this book were done in an anime style, and in my opinion, that doesn't really fit the vibe of a kids book. and one more thing i'd like to mention, that i've seen others mention, is that there are negative messages. the mother in the book told her kids to sleep on the floor after peeing the bed, and the father in the story was just unbothered and left the responsibilities to the mother. this had so much potential, but the execution was just not it unfortunately.

˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley, Holzer Books LLC, and Andreas Sahar for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗

[Jules (Bookishfoxes) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this eARC.

This is a strange one... The rhyming is very impressive! But the story feels... off? There are some things said by the parents that gave me a bit of an ick. The art, however, is enjoyable.

I'm not sure if I recommend this one. Not for young kids at least.

[Crystal K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley & Holzer Books LLC for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

4 stars

Idk why I thought this was going to be a horror book—the cover really doesn’t give off fun book vibes.
That said, the poem/story actually gives a thoughtful perspective from a parent’s POV, especially the mother’s.

[cinnamonwitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the anime-style artwork—it’s expressive, fun, and captures the chaos of parenting in such a relatable way. The book absolutely nails the relentlessness of having kids, especially the sleep deprivation that seems to start at birth and never quite ends—even when they’re older.

That said, I did find myself frustrated by the portrayal of the mother as the one solely responsible for dealing with the kids while the dad sleeps peacefully. It leans into a stereotype that, while sadly common in real life, feels a bit tired in storytelling. I would’ve loved to see a more balanced depiction of parenting.

As for the audience, I’m not entirely sure who this is for. I wouldn’t read it to my own children—my oldest is two—but maybe when he’s older? Still, it reads more like a children’s book for adults. I definitely related to it as a parent, but I’m not sure a child would find it especially engaging on their own.

Thank you so much for the ARC!

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a successfully rhymed narrative, this is a picture book that would more suit the knowing parent than the child. It concerns a family where all the kids in turn interrupt their parents' slumbers demanding the chance to sleep in with them for the night. One by one (or two by two, with the case of the twins) they ask, and one by one they're turned away, until…

With the artwork looking a touch AI but probably too good for that (too much consistency between frames, principally) and a bit Saturday morning Japanese-made cartoon, this is a bright, colourful thing. But I still feel it falls between two stools – not really brilliant for the kids, and just an arch, knowing whimsy for the passing adult. Mothers will nod at it, especially, for the realism of it and the attendant gender balance, but I see few who would keep this on the shelf for a repeat visit. Three and a half stars.

[Sareema · Rating 3 out of 5]

_____________________________________________
I greatly liked the rhyming scheme; it made this a quick read. The art was refreshing.
Good, attentive parents always keep an open hand for their kids whenever needed.
If the author wanted to share the shenanigans kids pull to sleep with their parents?
This was a good one. If not, then the parents had a dismissive tone.
I'll assume the parents were aware of these tactics!
Overall, it came off as a book with comedic undertones, and I'm sure parents will share a laugh or two while reading this.

I thank Holzer Books LLC for providing me with an eARC of 'Can I Sleep in Your Bed Tonight' through NetGalley.
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[FaithfulReviewer (Jacqueline) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Holzer Books LLC and NetGalley for a digital ARC copy in return for a honest opinion

I thought this was going to be a sweet little bedtime story book...

Unfortunately I have a few problems with this book. The illustrations are ok but not great. The font is completely unsuitable for a young child to be able to read, or to even follow along with when an adult is reading it to them. It's far too curly a script for children to recognize the letters clearly.
I know the author is American but rhyming 'hands' with 'pants' is a bit of a stretch, even with an American accent. Having said that, Sahar does have a background in music where you can get away with more slant rhymes than you can on the page.
The actual story is the most problematic for me. I'm not ok with the messaging in this book aimed at a young audience. Showing the children automatically waking Mum up but not Dad during the night, showing Daddy going off and leaving Mummy to deal with all the kids in their bed on her own, while he swans off to get a more restful sleep and last but not least, Mummy's response to the twins. Telling children to sleep on the floor who have wet the bed is NOT acceptable in any circumstances and could lead to bigger problems later on. Normalising unhelpful stereotypes in childrens literature does not sit well with me.

#CanISleepinYourBedTonight #ChildrensLiteratuer#NetGalley

[TAreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story starts off well, and I enjoyed the rhyming! Certain things, like asking the kids to manage on their own after an accident in bed, felt odd. The art is really good, but I think it didn't completely match the theme and story. I think choosing a less curvy font would've made the reading experience better. The theme and writing is very relatable but it felt a little extreme at a few points. It also would've been nice to see the father also help out the mom. Overall, it was a good read, but I believe it could've been much better!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Reading Adventures · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Adorable and Relatable. In this cute story Mom is trying to get kids to sleep and to go to their own bed. Then as usual, each child comes in with an excuse to be in her bed for the night. Will she ever get some rest?
This is a great story for your bedtime routine. The story has playful rhyming text and adorable pictures that really capture how it feels when in this crazy bedtime moments. As a mom of 2little ones, one with Autism, this feels like my every night routine.
Every parent will totally understand. Kids will laugh and enjoy. A great way to get your giggles out before bed.
Enjoy with your little family.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Holzer Books LLC through NetGalley.
This ebook captures family nighttime life. Every one of the kids comes in to ask Mom if they can sleep with them in their bed. She is kind but firm and sends them all back to their own beds. Meanwhile, Dad sleeps through it all. A thunderstorm brings everyone back to be together and Dad finally wakes up and leaves. Humor for adults and children alike. The rhythmic text helps readers connect to the action. I love mom's eyes and expressions as the book progresses.

[Cassie Webb · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Can I Sleep In Your Bed Tonight?" is a charming children's book written in rhymes. It tells the story of kids getting scared and wanting to sleep in their parents' bed. The artwork is done in an anime style, which isn't my favorite for children's books, but the story is sweet and relatable for many families.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sophy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short and funny picture book about a family's nightly struggle with their kids wanting to sleep in their parents' bed. The mom is firm and says no to each of them—until a storm hits. Suddenly, all the kids pile into her bed, and the poor dad ends up sleeping on the couch. It's a relatable and charming story for parents and kids alike.

[Codi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this one pretty funny, from a parent's perspective, but I wouldn't call it a childrens' book. The illustration style being in anime was a fun change of pace though and it was very realistic (especially the father...)