Ten Minutes to Bed: Little Fairy

Ten Minutes to Bed: Little Fairy by Rhiannon Fielding, illustrated by Chris Chatterton (Penguin Random House) HB RRP $16.99 ISBN: 9780241682951

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

Although Poppy has small wings, she’s determined to fly as high as the other fairies. But there’s just ten minutes to bedtime! She tries again and again. Then, as her confidence grows, she soars up into the night sky. With four minutes to go until bedtime, she hears a cry from a lost gnome. Poppy offers to fly close to the ground and guide him home. Now tired, Poppy returns to her mummy and folds ‘her wings with a yawn’ as the bedtime countdown draws to a close.

Rhiannon Fielding’s charming couplets roll off the tongue with ease, making this an ideal book to read to kids aged three to six before they go to sleep. As they listen to the magical story, they’ll discover not only the satisfaction of persistence but also the joy that comes from helping out a new friend.

Bright colours burst from Chris Chatterton’s images, and they are sure to captivate littlies. With their large eyes and cartoon-like appearance, the fairies and other forest critters will appeal to readers young and old. The endpapers are especially delightful, as they feature a map of The Land of Nod.

Ten Minutes to Bed: Little Fairy is perfect for calming young minds so they are able to doze off easily at the end of a busy day. A flutter of enchanting dreams is sure to follow.

Ten Minutes to Bed: Little Unicorn’s Christmas

Ten Minutes to Bed: Little Unicorn’s Christmas (Ladybird Books) by Rhiannon Fielding and Chris Chatterton HB RRP $14.99 ISBN 9780241489901

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

On the fly pages of this larger-than-usual board book is a coloured illustrated map of the Land of Nod – in daytime at the front of the book, and in nighttime at the back. Central to both maps is ‘Giants’ Town.’

The story, told in rhyming verse, beings on Christmas Eve when Twinkle the Unicorn is prancing through the trees. Dad wants her to go to bed, but she sees Santa Claus’ sleigh in the sky. There are only a few minutes to bedtime, but Santa has a problem – one of his reindeer is in bed with the flu and he still has 22 countries to go. Twinkle the Unicorn fills in for the sick animal and leads the sleigh.

Santa and his reindeer deliver gifts to children as the countdown continues to bedtime. Luckily, with only two minutes to go, the last gift is delivered (to Twinkle) and it’s time for sleep.

The maps on the fly pages don’t seem to replate to the story, but an imaginative child might make sense of them.

This book should appeal to children aged 3 to 6 years.

Little Unicorn: Ten Minutes to Bed

Little Unicorn: Ten Minutes to Bed by Rhiannon Fielding, illustrated by Chris Chatterton (Ladybird Books) HB RRP $14.99 ISBN 9780241408339

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

This is a larger board book for children aged 3 to 6-years, the second in a Ten Minutes to Bed series, the other being Little Mermaid. This book starts with something I loved to see in books as a child – a double-page spread showing the geography in which the story is set. There’s an ancient forest, an emerald green, a deadly creek, even a giants’ town and more. The pages sign with colour which is bright greens, blues and mauves.

Onto the story… With glittery feet and a sparkly horn, Twinkle the naughty unicorn (like so many naughty children), does not want to go to bed; she ‘was not tired at all.’ There’s a countdown from Daddy as Twinkle causes ‘a bit of riot’, dancing and prancing around. She dashes about, chasing pixies and sprites and fairies and then meets a hairy troll and then spots a baby dragon. She’s certainly making every moment before bedtime count. But – oh no! – she’s now forgotten how to get home! Of course, the way home is via a rainbow, and smart little Twinkle works to conjure one.

By bedtime Twinkle is – of course -- fast asleep in the Land of Nod. The last double-page spread is the same as the first, but the vibrant colours of the first have transformed to dark blues and mauves: it’s night-time of course!

This is a clever and charming book for Mums and Dads to read to their young children just before bedtime. It’s sure to be enjoyed by the reader and the read-to!