The Sleepiest Sleep

Bedtime is perfect with Granny and Grandpa

Barry Timms

Margarita Kukhtina

For my mum – B.T. To all little adventurers, for sweet dreams and cosy nights – M.K. First published 2024 by Nosy Crow Ltd Wheat Wharf, 27a Shad Thames, London, SE1 2XZ, UK Nosy Crow Eireann Ltd 44 Orchard Grove, Kenmare, Co Kerry, V93 FY22, Ireland www.nosycrow.com ISBN 978 1 83994 329 4 (HB) ISBN 978 1 83994 330 0 (PB) Nosy Crow and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Nosy Crow Ltd. Text © Barry Timms 2024 Illustrations © Margarita Kukhtina 2024 The right of Barry Timms to be identified as the author and of Margarita Kukhtina to be identified as the illustrator of this work has been asserted.

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Barry Timms • Margarita Kukhtina

When sweet little Patterpaw first came to stay,

her granny and grandpa cheered, “Hip, hip, hooray!”

They tickled and cuddled and chuckled with pride . . .

. . . but soon it was sunset and Patterpaw sighed – the yawniest yawn of all, of all, the yawniest yawn of all.

Though Patterpaw settled, all ready to doze . . .

her grandpa was worried from whiskers to toes.

“This ground is too lumpy and bumpy,” he said.

“Why didn’t we think to prepare a soft bed?”

But Granny just smiled and called up to the trees, where birds chirped and chattered in twos and in threes.

“Please help little Patterpaw get a night’s rest by making a bed using only the best!”

So off the birds f luttered for scraps of fine stuff – the leafiest leaves and the f luffiest f luff.

They pecked and they gathered it into a heap . . .

The comfiest bed

for the sleepiest sleep . . .