Books
are not just for BeDTIMe
To Hilary, for growing the wonderful library of stories that inspired this book. —EP
To my lovely nephew Sergio. —AP
First published in Great Britain in 2024 by Little Steps Publishing Vicarage House, 58-60 Kensington Church Street, London W8 4DB www.littlestepspublishing.co.uk
ISBN: 978-1-915641-23-6
Text copyright © 2024 Eleanor Pearson
Illustration copyright © 2024 Angela Perrini All rights reserved.
The rights of Eleanor Pearson to be identified as the author and Angela Perrini to be identified as the illustrator of this work have been asserted. This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of Little Steps Publishing.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Designed by Celeste Hulme
Printed in China
1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2
Books are not just for BeDTIMe
Eleanor Pearson
Illustrated by Angela Perrini
Secretly peeping over the pages to spy on the passengers, wondering where they have come from, wondering where they are going.
Books are NOT just for bedtime … Books are for buses.
Books are NOT just for bedtime … Books are for gardens.
Lying on my tummy in the shade of a fig tree, shoes and socks kicked off, the cool grass tickling my toes.
Books are NOT just for bedtime … Books are for waiting rooms.
Sliding off a slippery seat, overhearing whispered conversations, interrupted by coughs and sniffs and sneezes.
Ahh choo!
Books are NOT just for bedtime … Books are for beaches.
The warm sun on my knees, the scent of salt and sun cream in my nose, sandy fingers turning sandy pages.
Books are NOT just for bedtime … Books are for libraries.
Cocooned by a well-worn beanbag, an unsteady pile of stories beside me, one ear listening for the ‘shhh’ of the librarian.
‘Shhh!’
Books are NOT just for bedtime …
Books are for park benches.
Words dancing in the wind, to a chorus of rustling leaves and birdsong.
Books are NOT just for bedtime … Books are for toilets.
‘Excuse me!’
Books are NOT just for bedtime …
Books are for trains.
Cheek pressed against the cold window, a rushing blur of concrete and green, checking to see if the next station is mine.
Books are NOT just for bedtime … Books are for cafes.
A spoonful of froth, a careful sip, a drip on the page. Oops!
Books are NOT just for bedtime …
Books are for road trips.
Or maybe not…
Books are NOT just for bedtime … Books are for queues.
Shuffle forward, stop, read, shuffle forward, stop, read,
shuffle forward, stop, read, ‘Next please!’
Books are NOT just for bedtime … but … books are BEST for bedtime.
Warm and sleepy under the covers, pages glowing in the soft lamp-light, a familiar voice reading, ‘Once upon a time …’
