Time for Bed's Story

by Monica Arnaldo, Monica Arnaldo (Illustrator)

Overview

In this engaging, laugh-out-loud funny picture book, a child’s bed tells it like it is.

Bed has something to say.

Bed knows you do not like bedtime.

And Bed gets it. But look …

YOU are not so great, either …

Bed is fed up. Bed’s patience is wearing thin. For years, Bed has put up with the kicking at night, the jumping during the day, not to mention the storing of all manner of stinky items. But enough is enough. Now it’s time to consider Bed’s feelings …

In a story that’s never been told before, Monica Arnaldo’s hilarious picture book explores the point of view of an unusual narrator: a child’s bed. Irreverent and full of personality, Arnaldo’s Bed is also full of love and compassion, making for a relatable and, ultimately, endearing story. This playful and highly original book offers a lighthearted way to approach discussions on communication, perspective and viewpoint. It can be used to promote critical thinking in young children and an understanding that there are at least two sides to every story. It also contains character education lessons on compassion, respect and empathy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781525302398
Publisher:	Kids Can Press
Publication date:	09/01/2020
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	324,590
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD510L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Monica Arnaldo is an illustrator and author living in Montreal, Quebec. Her work has appeared in children's magazines, picture books and middle-grade novels. Her clients include Owlkids Books, Penguin Random House, Éditions Scholastic, Chirp magazine and Chickadee magazine.

Editorial Reviews

A cute, original, and funny book for younger readers.—Kirkus Reviews

For a story hour about out-of-the-box thinking, this is a novel, cheerful way to get children to view things from a different perspective.—School Library Journal

There's a nice blend of snark and warmth in this offbeat furniture narrative ...—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

... recommended for home and school libraries ...—CM Magazine

... a stroke of conceptual genius.—New York Times

From the Publisher

08/01/2020

Gr 2–4—Bedtime often has a negative reputation, but when does anyone ever think about bedtime from the perspective of the bed? Bed has decided to speak out and voice his concerns after so many years of discontentment. From being kicked and drooled on at night to being jumped on during the day, Bed is having a hard time. The stinky mysteries under the bed are getting to him, and he can not bring himself to even talk about the tooth incident. But, now that the child who sleeps on Bed is getting older, it seems like the right time to ask for a little consideration of Bed's feelings, too. Children who enjoy stepping away from the traditional storytelling style will appreciate the humor of this book. Bed has real personality and says everything that a typical bed, if alive, might be thinking. Short sentences make the story accessible for a range of readers, but the humor is best suited for those midway through elementary school. Vintage colors and patterns adorn each page, providing a retro quality to the story. Each illustration is dynamic, shifting in perspective from close-up to broader views, varying the feel of every page. The character of Bed is endearing in his curmudgeonly demeanor, especially as the child takes no notice. VERDICT For a story hour about out-of-the-box thinking, this is a novel, cheerful way to get children to view things from a different perspective.—Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver P.L.

School Library Journal

2020-06-03
A sentient bed is fed up with a child’s complaints about bedtime.

It is bedtime, and Bed has something to say. The anthropomorphic piece of furniture shares that it understands that the child doesn’t like bedtime, but Bed is frustrated with the child, too. At night, Bed gets kicked and drooled on. In the daytime, the child is noisy and jumps on the bed. There’s even a stench coming from under Bed. Covered in stickers and continuously mistreated, Bed pleads for the child to try and understand Bed’s feelings. In its aggrieved narration, Bed refers to itself in the third person while addressing the child in the second person, making readers feel that Bed is talking to them. This fresh, distinctive delivery creates a quirky, humorous story. The illustrations are colorful, and expressive headboard facial features bring Bed to life. The end falls flat, with no real resolution, but the illustrations support the limited text with sweet smiles of appreciation between child and Bed. Many different emotions are portrayed on Bed’s face—annoyance, disgust, embarrassment, sadness, and more—making it an excellent vehicle for learning empathy and respect. The child illustrated is fair-skinned with dark hair, with one visiting friend who has brown skin and dark hair. (This book was reviewed digitally with 12.78-by-17.88-inch double-page spreads viewed at 44% of actual size.)

A cute, original, and funny book for younger readers. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews