Our Rating:
Library Formats:
Book
Age Group:
Children
Genre:
Bedtime Stories
Written by a parent of two 11 and 8 year old boys:
The Sleepy Pebble and other stories is a collection of short stories which are designed to be calming at bedtime. It is rare that I borrow a book from the library and then buy a copy myself- that defeats the object of using the library of course. However, I cannot go without this book! It has been so helpful for calming my youngest child down at bedtime over the last few weeks. I have so much faith in the authors, that I have also bought Professor Alice Gregory’s nonfiction book Nodding Off: The Science of Sleep from Cradle to Grave and can’t wait to get stuck into that.
I’m a parent of a bad sleeper. At their worst bedtimes can drag on all evening, and I am constantly looking for the fix that is going to help Max drift off peacefully: pillow sprays, nightlights, cuddles, and gradual retreat, even reading great big tomes to bore him into submission- I have tried it all!
This book isn’t a magic wand but is a great bedtime read for children, particularly one who wriggles and suffers with anxiety. This book helps to calm body and brain. It has a lovely textured cover and attractive artwork too.
It starts with a short story about a sleepy pebble and has four other calming tales. Each story cleverly incorporates imagery, muscle relaxation and mindfulness.
Look beyond sleepy pebble’s seabed and imagine the waves rolling, see sleepy pebble in your hand, squeeze him and let go to relax, do some slow breathing and get all cosy and snug in bed, just like Pebble in his seabed.
I suspect that most sleep professionals would say that reading your child to sleep is a big no-no and I would be inclined to agree but for children who have trouble switching off at bedtime or just want a relaxing story, you can’t go wrong with these charming tales. They are enjoyable for children and frazzled parents alike!
Hear from Professor Alice Gregory and Christy Kirkpatrick about writing the book and how we can help our children drift into the land of nod.