The Quickest Bedtime Story Ever!
Louise Fitzgerald and Kate Hindley
Nosy Crow

Most young children will go to extreme lengths to delay getting into bed and this behaviour is what debut author, Louise Fitzgerald, plays on in her story.
According to our narrator, the story contains just ten words: well that’s as maybe, but there’s a whole rigmarole to go through beforehand. First, we – the listeners and the four little animal characters herein – need to promise to go to sleep at the end of the book. Then, in fairness, the grown-up reader aloud must promise to use their best reading voice and of course that will only be possible if said voice has done a whole-hearted warm-up. Comfort is crucial for all parties involved, so pillows must be plumped up,

a check kept so no pages are skipped (as if!). It’s vital too, for all the toys to be tucked in (they love a bedtime story and you can devise a way of doing this) – check they’re all present as the odd one could still be lurking unnoticed. Oops! almost neglected a bit of a razzmatazz,

but that over – hurrah! We can begin – we’re on the way … zzzzzzz.

This hugely funny take on the bedtime formalities will surely strike a chord with vast numbers of humans, young and adult but it’s difficult to know which category will like it more. I really, really, really wish I’d had this book yesterday when I was putting a very reluctant three year old relation to bed; a procrastinator of the first order, she could give Louise Fitzgerald more than a few additional ideas. I know young Faith and countless other preschoolers will love exploring the plethora of funny details in some of Kate Hindley’s spreads and joining in with the actions depicted on many others (more opportunities for delaying tactics).
I suspect sharing this story will become part of the bedtime routine in many a household.