Books are not just for BeDTIMe
Eleanor Pearson & Angela Perrini
Books
are not just for BeDTIMe
To Hilary,
Published in Australia in 2024 by Little Steps Publishing Suite 83/20-40 Meagher Street Chippendale, NSW 2008 www.littlesteps.com.au
Text copyright © 2024 Eleanor Pearson Illustration copyright © 2024 Angela Perrini
The moral rights of the author and illustrator have been asserted. This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. Inquiries should be addressed to the publishers. All rights reserved.
A Catalogue-In-Publication entry for this book is available from the National Library of Australia.
ISBN: 978-1-922833-51-8
Printed in China Designed by Celeste Hulme 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Books
are not just for BeDTIMe
by Angela Perrini
Eleanor Pearson
Illustrated
Books are NOT just for bedtime … Books are for buses.
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 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.
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.
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 …’
Yes, books are BEST for bedtime.
Books are great companions no matter where you are.
One thing’s for sure … books are not just for bedtime! Where will you read this book?
BOOkS are not just for BeD
TIme
Eleanor Pearson
*
Angela Perrini