I’m sure that some of us may be lucky enough to remember, as children, having a gorgeous collection of bedtime stories to pore over every night. And I’m also sure that lots of us will have had a particular favourite which we read time and time again before seeking out other titles by the same author. It’s time to start that bedtime tradition for somebody else by gifting them this gorgeous collection of bedtime stories featuring a stellar cast of authors.
Make sure you read my Q&A with author, Kieran Larwood as he tells us about his contribution to this collection and what made bedtime stories special for him.
‘A comforting story tonight for a happy day tomorrow . . .
A gorgeous gift to treasure for years to come, this collection of bedtime stories is brimming with hope and positivity as an antidote to the at times challenging world we live in.
Fabulously illustrated by Sarah McIntyre, the stories promote modern-day messages of inclusivity, acceptance and bravery in the face of adversity.
With brand new stories from: Aisha Bushby, Ann Jungman, Ayesha Braganza, Claire Barker, Emma Carroll, Hannah Lee, Ingrid Persaud, Kate Saunders, Kieran Larwood, Lou Kuenzler, Lucy Farfort, Martyn Ford, Michael Mann, Natasha Farrant, Pip Jones, Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Reba Khatun.’
Today, I’m spotlighting ‘Queen Bea,’ the contribution of Kieran Larwood (who is also the author of one of my favourite middle grade trilogies, ‘The Legend of Podkin One-Ear.)
Tell us about your story
My story was inspired by the mason bees in our garden that my daughter and I love to watch hatching and building their homes every spring. It’s about a little girl who is, at first, scared of bees; but who learns how important they are through a magical adventure.
What was your favourite bedtime story as a child?
When I was very little, the bedtime story I wanted every single night was ‘Pip Pip Goes to London’ from a big book of Richard Scarry stories I had. I absolutely loved all the characters and spotting the tiny details in Richard’s beautiful pictures.
Kieran is right that illustrations can absolutely make a book come to life. Anybody lucky enough to receive a copy of this cosy collection will love spotting all the little details in Sarah McIntyre’s beautiful illustrations which stud the pages like precious jewels. I am a huge fan of her cat illustrations so I was pleased to spot one whilst I was reading ‘Queen Bea.’
Not only could this collection be the start of a new bedtime tradition, it may just introduce someone to their new favourite author! Highly recommended for anyone aged 7+
Jo.
*Many thanks to Faber Children’s Books for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour*
Library Girl and Book Boy 