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Alfons Åberg #1
Good Night Alfie Atkins
An irresistible father-and-son team
Meet Alfie Atkins. Like all four-year-olds, sometimes he is stubborn. Tonight he doesn't want to go to bed. Lucky for him, Daddy is being especially nice -- taking care of all of Alfie's bedtime needs. But Alfie won't sleep, and it isn't long before he succeeds in tiring poor Daddy.
Meet Alfie Atkins. Like all four-year-olds, sometimes he is stubborn. Tonight he doesn't want to go to bed. Lucky for him, Daddy is being especially nice -- taking care of all of Alfie's bedtime needs. But Alfie won't sleep, and it isn't long before he succeeds in tiring poor Daddy.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1972
3 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
February 23, 2009
One of the two best goodnight stories for small kids that I know. (The other one is Astrid Lindgren's Jag vill inte gå och lägga mig!). Alfons runs his pushover dad ragged with a stream of excuses about why he can't possibly go to sleep yet.
This is another book that my four-year-old nephew Samuel really likes, and which I read to him when he visits. Samuel is is fascinated by the slightly different taboos in Swedish children's literature. ('"Daddy, I need to pee!" Dad brings the potty. In the end, Alfons pees one tiny, tiny drop.')
My favorite passage is towards the end, when Alfons has exhausted all the reasonable excuses and is trying the unreasonable ones. ('"Dad, look in the wardrobe! I think there's a lion in there!" Dad brings the flashlight. He looks carefully. No lion. Then he says "You very rarely find a lion in a wardrobe. Goodnight, and sleep tight, because now I am QUITE TIRED."')
This is another book that my four-year-old nephew Samuel really likes, and which I read to him when he visits. Samuel is is fascinated by the slightly different taboos in Swedish children's literature. ('"Daddy, I need to pee!" Dad brings the potty. In the end, Alfons pees one tiny, tiny drop.')
My favorite passage is towards the end, when Alfons has exhausted all the reasonable excuses and is trying the unreasonable ones. ('"Dad, look in the wardrobe! I think there's a lion in there!" Dad brings the flashlight. He looks carefully. No lion. Then he says "You very rarely find a lion in a wardrobe. Goodnight, and sleep tight, because now I am QUITE TIRED."')
March 26, 2019
Four-year-old Alfie Atkins - Alfons Åberg in the original Swedish - doesn't really want to go to bed, even though it is "almost nine." His series of delaying tactics, from his sudden insistence on brushing his teeth to his desire for a glass of water, will be very familiar to parents used to putting reluctant children to bed. Finally, having run through everything from a bedtime story to a change of sheets, Alfie calls for his Teddy Bear. But where is Daddy...?
This charming bedtime story, originally published in 1972, reminds me of an interesting conversation I had with some Swedish vacationers a few years back, in a pub in Caherciveen, on the west coast of Ireland. They had a six-year-old with them, and she had run riot all evening, until finally falling into an exhausted sleep on the massive window-sill. Her mother laughed, and said that Swedish children were pretty much allowed to do what they liked, on the theory that the school-years would be soon enough to enforce discipline.
Good Night, Alfie Atkins certainly seems to bear out that observation, as patient Daddy runs and fetches until he literally collapses from exhaustion! The centrality of the child's needs and desires is everywhere evident, and young readers will find in this story the reassurance that they are loved, even when they're being something of a pest. Gunilla Bergström's engaging narrative shows a sensitivity to and appreciation of child psychology that older readers will also find appealing. I can't say that I particularly cared for the illustrations, which had a distinctly 70s flavor to them, with their loud colors and rather cartoonish lines, but they weren't enough of a distraction to detract from my enjoyment.
All in all, a most enjoyable foray into a previously unfamiliar children's author, and I thank my goodreads friend Manny for recommending it!
This charming bedtime story, originally published in 1972, reminds me of an interesting conversation I had with some Swedish vacationers a few years back, in a pub in Caherciveen, on the west coast of Ireland. They had a six-year-old with them, and she had run riot all evening, until finally falling into an exhausted sleep on the massive window-sill. Her mother laughed, and said that Swedish children were pretty much allowed to do what they liked, on the theory that the school-years would be soon enough to enforce discipline.
Good Night, Alfie Atkins certainly seems to bear out that observation, as patient Daddy runs and fetches until he literally collapses from exhaustion! The centrality of the child's needs and desires is everywhere evident, and young readers will find in this story the reassurance that they are loved, even when they're being something of a pest. Gunilla Bergström's engaging narrative shows a sensitivity to and appreciation of child psychology that older readers will also find appealing. I can't say that I particularly cared for the illustrations, which had a distinctly 70s flavor to them, with their loud colors and rather cartoonish lines, but they weren't enough of a distraction to detract from my enjoyment.
All in all, a most enjoyable foray into a previously unfamiliar children's author, and I thank my goodreads friend Manny for recommending it!
March 19, 2023
..lasīju meitai un kopīgi smējāmies, ka Alfona iemigšanas stāsts ir diezgan līdzīgs mūsējam.
December 23, 2012
Cousin Sofie sent us this story from Sweden. We read the Swedish version "God natt, Alfons Åberg". What mama loves most about this book is that it is a little story about a boy who is being taken care of by his papa. There are so many stories where the mama is the care taker, but this story shows Alfons and his papa going through a night routine. My favorite part of the story is when Alfons asks papa for a drink and spills it on his bed. "Eller kanske spiller han med vilja?" asks the writer. (Is it possible he did it on purpose?) I love this question. I turn to my mama and grab her face with my little hands and I say, "Mama, I think he DID do it on purpose." A few lines later Alfon's papa says, "Nä, men! Ojojojojoj." I think this sounds so funny. Mama says it's like saying, "Oh, dear." Now, when I drop my food at the table or the dog is being naughty I turn to mama and say, "Ojojojoj." This makes mama laugh. She says it sounds so cute coming out of my mouth. Most of all, I like to see how loving Alfons' papa is to him. He is a patient papa, just like mine.
July 21, 2022
Really boring and what an annoying child to deal with. The drawings could are also not great. There are better books out there!
April 26, 2023
A Swedish import from the early 70s, Alfie Atkins’ antics have been translated into many languages and shared the world over. It’s bedtime and four-year-old Alfie does not want to sleep or go to bed. As many four-year-olds do, he tries to think of as many things that he can ask his incredibly patient father to do to delay the matter. They start off simple enough, a drink of water (which he gleefully tips over the bedsheets) or a need to use the toilet until they become ever more elaborate and it’s Alfie’s father who ends up falling asleep first!
First in the famous series of picture books, Bergstrom stories were original in their depiction of a single-parent family in which dad is the primary carer. Simply drawn illustrations with bold colours focus on character and humour – a story that many children will connect with.
First in the famous series of picture books, Bergstrom stories were original in their depiction of a single-parent family in which dad is the primary carer. Simply drawn illustrations with bold colours focus on character and humour – a story that many children will connect with.
November 29, 2014
We started to discover Alfie Atkins series (we read it in Norwegian, so he is Albert Åberg for us) from this book. And fell in love immediately! Though not all of them ar the same level from my point of view, yet I'd recommend them all. They are so real, simple and smart, so honest, too. Just love them.
November 24, 2025
So cute ^^
Look forward with the rest of Alfie´s adventures.
Good night, Alfie Atkins by Gunilla Bergström get a 7.3/10 stars.
Look forward with the rest of Alfie´s adventures.
Good night, Alfie Atkins by Gunilla Bergström get a 7.3/10 stars.
September 30, 2018
الحق که حکایت منه تو شبهایی که خوابم نمیبره:))) البته برای من ورژن بزرگونهتره و به عروسک خرسی و شیطونی کردن ختم نمیشه:))
عاشق تصویرهاشم. واقعا تصویرگریش عالی بوده . پس خلاصه که دمِ خانم گونیلا بریستروم هم حسابی گررم که هم نوشته هم کشیده.
عاشق تصویرهاشم. واقعا تصویرگریش عالی بوده . پس خلاصه که دمِ خانم گونیلا بریستروم هم حسابی گررم که هم نوشته هم کشیده.
May 10, 2019
I really loved this book because it's just Alfie and his DAD. So many children's books focus on Moms and their interactions with kids. In this one, Dad is doing the care-giving and I love it. I love it despite the fact that Alfie's Dad is smoking a pipe (I disapprove of smoking in general but especially in materials for children). However, t
The way the pipe and its smoke are drawn allow it to be very plausible that it is a bubble-pipe.
I love that despite the fact that Alfie's Dad enables Alfie's delaying bedtime, eventually when Dad falls asleep on the floor and doesn't answer Alfie, Alfie investigates and then cares for his Dad by not waking him up and by covering him with a blanket.
It's a sweet story showing how positive mutual caring for each other can be. I really enjoyed it a lot and would recommend it highly.
The way the pipe and its smoke are drawn allow it to be very plausible that it is a bubble-pipe.
I love that despite the fact that Alfie's Dad enables Alfie's delaying bedtime, eventually when Dad falls asleep on the floor and doesn't answer Alfie, Alfie investigates and then cares for his Dad by not waking him up and by covering him with a blanket.
It's a sweet story showing how positive mutual caring for each other can be. I really enjoyed it a lot and would recommend it highly.
October 17, 2018
در ایران، مجموعه تلویزیونی انیمهٔ الفی اتکینز، از کارتونهای پرطرفدار دههٔ ۶۰ بود. ۸ جلد از کتابهای الفی اتکینز نیز به فارسی ترجمه شدهاست. ۴ جلد نخست از سوی انتشارات «هنرسرای اندیشه» در سال ۱۳۸۸ منتشر شد. در سال ۱۳۹۰ امتیاز چاپ مجدد این ۴ جلد و سایر کتابهای این مجموعه به نشر «آفرینشگر» واگذار شد. «شب بخیر الفی اتکینز»، «الفی اتکینز و دوست خیالیاش»، «تو ترسویی الفی اتکینز؟»، «بابایت چکار میکند الفی اتکینز؟»، «چه کسی الفی را نجات میدهد؟»، «خیلی زرنگی الفی اتکینز!»، «خوشحال باش الفی اتکینز!» و «زود باش الفی اتکینز!» عنوان ۸ کتابیست که با ترجمهٔ علی توکلی و نیلوفر انواری تاکنون به فارسی منتشر شدهاست.
August 20, 2021
16/1001 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up
"Alfie Atkins is sometimes cranky, and sometimes nice. Tonight he is cranky...."
"Alfie Atkins is sometimes cranky, and sometimes nice. Tonight he is cranky...."
December 5, 2021
Book #56: Good Night, Alfie Atkins
Alfons Åberg/Alfie Atkins is the master of procrastination. Very charming book about a boy, who doesn’t want to sleep, and his exhausted single daddy.
Alfons Åberg/Alfie Atkins is the master of procrastination. Very charming book about a boy, who doesn’t want to sleep, and his exhausted single daddy.
May 29, 2022
Kuulostaa uskottavalta, sanoo iskä. Vauva nukkui lukemisen ajan eikä näin ollen anna arviotaan.
October 28, 2024
Grāmatiņa kurā ir attēlots arī mūsmājas izdomātie "rituāli" tieši pirms miedziņa😁
December 1, 2016
This book falls into a category of bedtime books that make me nervous - books that suggest further ways for my daughter to use when she is trying to stall her bedtime. However, this is still a particularly cute book in that category and I love the ending more than some others (ahem, Bedtime for Frances). It's also nice to see a bedtime book where Daddy is the one handling bedtime, since that's who usually puts our daughter to bed.
July 25, 2020
Läst till 1LI100 Barn och ungdomslitteratur, 30 högskolepoäng
March 8, 2023
www.drobnymmaczkiem.com
@drobnymmaczkiem Instagram/Facebook
Albert jest FAJNY. Baaardzo lubimy Alberta. Trafił do nas przez przypadek, bo w wielkim kartonie od „znajomej znajomego” z rzeczami po dziecku znajomej znajomego. Zakopany był wśród puzzli, lekko zdezelowanych zabawek i wymęczonych książek. Nie znaliśmy go wcześniej i po pierwszym przekartkowaniu podeszłam do niego sceptycznie, głównie przez ilustracje, które wydawały mi się mało atrakcyjne dla trzyletniego wtedy mojego syna. Jakże sie myliłam! Po pierwszym przeczytaniu było już wiadomo, że mój syn pokochał Alberta. Ja natomiast nie mogłam się nadziwić jaka perła trafiła nam się w tym szarym kartonie zmientolonych rzeczy. Trafił nam się Albert Albertson. Naprawdę fajny gość: „To jest Albert Albertson, lat cztery. Albert czasem trochę rozrabia, a czasem jest grzeczny. Dziś rozrabia, bo jest bardzo niezadowolony, że musi iść spać.”Albert ma też super tatę: „To jest tata. Tata nigdy nie rozrabia i zawsze jest miły. Czasem aż za miły. Tak jak teraz: choć jest już późno, czyta Albertowi piękną i długą bajkę o koniu.” Dobra wiadomość jest taka, że przygody Alberta stanowią serię książek napisaną przez szwedzką autorkę i ilustratorkę Gunillę Bergströn. W Szwecji seria o Albercie…a właściwie Alfonsie (szwedzki – oryginalny Albert Albertson to Alfons Åberg) to już dobro narodowe prawie jak Pippi Pończoszanka. Seria powstała bardzo dawno temu, bo już w latach siedemdzisiątych. U nas dopiero zaczyna cieszyć się popularnością co mnie w ogóle nie dziwi. Bardziej dziwi, że tak późno.
Co jest takiego fajnego w tym Albercie? Albert to czterolatek z krwi i kości – raz potulny, innym razem denerwujący. Mieszka z tatą, który ze stoickim spokojem znosi jego wybryki, zaspokaja wszelkie potrzeby i odpowiada na każde pytanie. Tata naprawdę bardzo go kocha. Ta miłość właśnie uderza we wszystkich częściach. Taka codzienna, niepozorna, wyczerpująca niekiedy miłość do dziecka. I tu, co ciekawe, wachlarz postaci się kończy. Albert i tata. A gdzie mama? Tego nie wie nikt. Może mama jest w pracy, może nie mieszka z Albertem i tatą, a może jej po prostu nie ma. Jest za to tata, który ma z Albertem piękną więź i który cierpliwie wypełnia wszystkie swoje obowiązki. Od razu też widać, że ten duet żyje ze sobą w idealnej symbiozie.
Nam, zrządzeniem losu, trafiła się pomarańczowa książeczka opowiadająca o tym jak Albert próbuje wszystkimi siłami przeciągnąć moment pójścia spać. I tu możemy się, my rodzice, uczyć filozofii stoickiej w praktyce. Tata Alberta, wiecznie pykający fajeczkę Pan, już chyba niemłody, to prawdziwy filozof-praktyk: „Tato, poczytaj mi książkę! Tato! Zapomnieliśmy umyć zęby! Tato! Chce mi się pić! Tato! Wylało się! Tato! Chce mi się siku!…” Tato jest na każde zawołanie. Rzec by się chciało, znajomy nam scenariusz wieczorny z czterolatkiem w roli głównej. Mój syn był zachwycony pomysłami Alberta, ja nie mogłam powstrzymać się od śmiechu. Albert jest naprawdę FAJNY.
@drobnymmaczkiem Instagram/Facebook
Albert jest FAJNY. Baaardzo lubimy Alberta. Trafił do nas przez przypadek, bo w wielkim kartonie od „znajomej znajomego” z rzeczami po dziecku znajomej znajomego. Zakopany był wśród puzzli, lekko zdezelowanych zabawek i wymęczonych książek. Nie znaliśmy go wcześniej i po pierwszym przekartkowaniu podeszłam do niego sceptycznie, głównie przez ilustracje, które wydawały mi się mało atrakcyjne dla trzyletniego wtedy mojego syna. Jakże sie myliłam! Po pierwszym przeczytaniu było już wiadomo, że mój syn pokochał Alberta. Ja natomiast nie mogłam się nadziwić jaka perła trafiła nam się w tym szarym kartonie zmientolonych rzeczy. Trafił nam się Albert Albertson. Naprawdę fajny gość: „To jest Albert Albertson, lat cztery. Albert czasem trochę rozrabia, a czasem jest grzeczny. Dziś rozrabia, bo jest bardzo niezadowolony, że musi iść spać.”Albert ma też super tatę: „To jest tata. Tata nigdy nie rozrabia i zawsze jest miły. Czasem aż za miły. Tak jak teraz: choć jest już późno, czyta Albertowi piękną i długą bajkę o koniu.” Dobra wiadomość jest taka, że przygody Alberta stanowią serię książek napisaną przez szwedzką autorkę i ilustratorkę Gunillę Bergströn. W Szwecji seria o Albercie…a właściwie Alfonsie (szwedzki – oryginalny Albert Albertson to Alfons Åberg) to już dobro narodowe prawie jak Pippi Pończoszanka. Seria powstała bardzo dawno temu, bo już w latach siedemdzisiątych. U nas dopiero zaczyna cieszyć się popularnością co mnie w ogóle nie dziwi. Bardziej dziwi, że tak późno.
Co jest takiego fajnego w tym Albercie? Albert to czterolatek z krwi i kości – raz potulny, innym razem denerwujący. Mieszka z tatą, który ze stoickim spokojem znosi jego wybryki, zaspokaja wszelkie potrzeby i odpowiada na każde pytanie. Tata naprawdę bardzo go kocha. Ta miłość właśnie uderza we wszystkich częściach. Taka codzienna, niepozorna, wyczerpująca niekiedy miłość do dziecka. I tu, co ciekawe, wachlarz postaci się kończy. Albert i tata. A gdzie mama? Tego nie wie nikt. Może mama jest w pracy, może nie mieszka z Albertem i tatą, a może jej po prostu nie ma. Jest za to tata, który ma z Albertem piękną więź i który cierpliwie wypełnia wszystkie swoje obowiązki. Od razu też widać, że ten duet żyje ze sobą w idealnej symbiozie.
Nam, zrządzeniem losu, trafiła się pomarańczowa książeczka opowiadająca o tym jak Albert próbuje wszystkimi siłami przeciągnąć moment pójścia spać. I tu możemy się, my rodzice, uczyć filozofii stoickiej w praktyce. Tata Alberta, wiecznie pykający fajeczkę Pan, już chyba niemłody, to prawdziwy filozof-praktyk: „Tato, poczytaj mi książkę! Tato! Zapomnieliśmy umyć zęby! Tato! Chce mi się pić! Tato! Wylało się! Tato! Chce mi się siku!…” Tato jest na każde zawołanie. Rzec by się chciało, znajomy nam scenariusz wieczorny z czterolatkiem w roli głównej. Mój syn był zachwycony pomysłami Alberta, ja nie mogłam powstrzymać się od śmiechu. Albert jest naprawdę FAJNY.
August 13, 2019
It's 9 o'clock and bedtime, but Alfons Åberg (Alfie Atkins in English) does not want to sleep. After his dad comes in to tell a fairytale about a horse, Alfons remembers that he hasn't brushed his teeth. He then gets thirsty, spills water on the bed and suddenly needs to pee... And on it goes...
In the course of the book, Alfons manages to come up with so many adorable excuses to not go to bed, until his dad gets so tired, he falls asleep on the floor while searching for his teddy. Then Alfons realizes that he can't come up with more excuses since dad is already asleep, so he better go to sleep too.
This book has been passed down between me and my siblings and is now in the possession of my 3-year-old niece. It's a brilliant goodnight story for children that uses reverse psychology to calm a child to sleep. I've read this book to my niece more times than I can count and neither she nor I have gotten tired of it. It's adorable, funny and gets both adults and children tired in some way.
In the course of the book, Alfons manages to come up with so many adorable excuses to not go to bed, until his dad gets so tired, he falls asleep on the floor while searching for his teddy. Then Alfons realizes that he can't come up with more excuses since dad is already asleep, so he better go to sleep too.
This book has been passed down between me and my siblings and is now in the possession of my 3-year-old niece. It's a brilliant goodnight story for children that uses reverse psychology to calm a child to sleep. I've read this book to my niece more times than I can count and neither she nor I have gotten tired of it. It's adorable, funny and gets both adults and children tired in some way.
November 13, 2022
Joskus mä mietin miksi lainaan lapselle kirjastosta kirjoja, joissa lapset ovat tottelemattomia ja "oikukkaita", saa vielä ties mitä ideoita. No, ihan symppis tämä kirja kuitenkin on. Mikko Mallikas juoksuttaa isäänsä, vaikka pitäisi jo olla nukkumassa. Milloin on pissahätä, milloin jano, milloin mitäkin. Isä on vähän liian kiltti ja passaa Mikkoa kunnes nukahtaakin itse olkkarin lattialle. Vertaistukea taaperon vanhemmille, sitä asiaa kun olisi eniten juuri silloin kun pitäisi laittaa pää tyynyyn.
June 29, 2019
Mietin hieman kauhulla tätä kirjaa lukiessani sitä, että toivottavasti tästä kirjasta ei oteta vaikutteita meidän perheen iltapuuhiin. Luojan kiitos lasta itseään nauratti enemmän Mikko Mallikkaan pelleily kuin olisi kiehtonut heittäytyä samanlaiseen ralliin!
Kirjassa on kuvaus jokaisessa perheessä tutusta tapahtumasta, nukkumaanmenosta ja nukkumisesta kieltäytyvästä lapsesta.
Kirjassa on kuvaus jokaisessa perheessä tutusta tapahtumasta, nukkumaanmenosta ja nukkumisesta kieltäytyvästä lapsesta.
January 13, 2021
Watched a reading of this on YouTube.
A popular story of a kid who doesn’t want to sleep and tries every trick in the book to stay up- very similar to Bedtime for Frances. The story is good, but I couldn’t get over the lack of chins and necks on the characters- it’s a really strange illustration style.
A popular story of a kid who doesn’t want to sleep and tries every trick in the book to stay up- very similar to Bedtime for Frances. The story is good, but I couldn’t get over the lack of chins and necks on the characters- it’s a really strange illustration style.
March 2, 2023
Ļoti mīļa un jauka grāmatiņa bērniem, ko lasīt pirms miedziņa. Manuprāt, katrs bērns Alfonā atpazīs sevi, jo bērniem pirms miedziņa vienmēr pēkšņi vajag padzerties, pačurāt, vajag mīļmantiņu, un varbūt kāds mošķis kaut kur paslēpies. Šīs situācijas tik pazīstamas. Un bērns šo pasaku klausījās ar ļoti lielu uzmanību, un esmu pārliecināta, ka viņš saklausīja līdzību ar sevi.
February 25, 2018
Alfie is much more obnoxious than funny and the art isn't good. It was nice that he tucked in his dad and finally went to sleep though.
August 7, 2019
Alfie finds all sorts of excuses not to fall asleep, wearing out his patient father in the meantime.
April 1, 2020
Loti jauka vakara pasacina bērniem par Alfonu un vina tēti.
August 14, 2021
Väldigt bra som godnattsaga, vi läser den varje kväll.
September 4, 2021
Amazing book, I recommend. I'm amazed...
March 4, 2022
I liked the story but was unimpressed by the illustrations.
July 17, 2022
I loved this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews