The clock says eight and Hadyen and Dad begin their bedtime ritual, '...off to bed before it's too late...for what tomorrow brings.' Dad lists all the things that they might do tomorrow; playtime, cooking and swinging.
Hayden begins to prolong getting into bed. He fears what might be lurking in his bedroom once the light is turned off.
Dad checks all the usual places where things might hide, especially under the bed. Dad finds; a half-eaten plum, a missing toy, a smelly sock and so much more.
Now how else can Hayden put off going to sleep?
The story, by Wendy Haynes, flows beautifully off the tongue as you read it aloud and the moments of rhyme are a joyous roll of words.
Take a careful look at the soft, funny and whimsical illustrations by Brett Curzon. He skilfully uses lines and gesture to capture Hayden's emotions regarding his nighttime routine.
Hayden's Bedtime is listed on the 2019 NSW Premier's Reading Challenge Booklist for children in Kindergarten to Year Two.
If you need another bedtime story to help children conquer their fear of things lurking in the dark, then read The Ultimate Survival Guide to Monsters Under the Bed by Mitch Frost and Daron Parton.
Title: Hayden's Bedtime
Author: Wendy Haynes
Illustrator: Brett Curzon
Publisher: Inprint Publishing, $22.99
Publication Date: 19 March 2019
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 9780987643506
For ages: 3 – 6
