Goodnight Grandchild by Michelle Robinson

Subtitled, The perfect bedtime book, and with a charming image of grandparents and the children going to bed, picking up this book will aid caregivers who at the end of the day, need a rhyming story to set the mood for sleep. As they say goodnight to their old and new toys, read stories with their grandparents, they recall the things they did during the day with their grandparents: tickling, walking, playing, baking, in all sorts of weather. Lovely images of the older people with their young grandchildren cover each page and readers will see the range of things children do with their grandparents. One amongst many likeable images of the neighbourhood, shows end of day activities: brushing teeth, reading a story, walking the dog, tucking into bed, and then lights out. Each activity reveals the love they all share, and even when they are far apart, they know they are always in their hearts.

Grandparents are kind, courageous, caring and clever, and these qualities are given a front line in this warm hearted story. Kids will want to share their images of grandparents and the things they do with them, and how much impact they have on their lives.

The text is supported by warmly humorous illustrations of the two children and their grandparents, doing all the activities mentioned in the text. Bright, detailed full colour illustrations show a loving family doing many things together, coming together at bedtime with routines that lead the children to snuggle into their beds, love and kindness in their hearts.

Themes: Family, Relationships, Grandparents, Grandchildren, Sleep, Bed time, Humour.

Fran Knight