Goodnight glow worms by Aura Parker

Reminiscent of the rollicking fun of Parker's Meerkat Christmas this entertaining, colourful book has been republished in board book format for even younger readers to enjoy at bedtime. Four coloured glow worms have trouble settling down to sleep, the pictures perfectly capturing the mayhem of over excited children bouncing around, wide awake. The rhyming text playfully incorporating all the bedtime routines employed by parents everywhere, counting to three, the kisses goodnight, teddy bear cuddles, a toy to sleep with and the blankie, Parker has it all covered for this age group. Concepts such as colours and numbers are cleverly included and contribute to a soothing and sleep-inducing read as sleepy children listen to predict the next rhyming word. The watercolour and pencil illustrations fill the small pages, creating a visual feast of details for young eyes to explore after reading.

Themes: Fireflies, Bedtime.

Gabrielle Anderson