One Minute Till
Bedtime: 60-second poems to send you off to sleep, Selected by Kenn Nesbit, illustrations
by Christoph Niemann (Little, Brown and Company) HB RRP $41.95 ISBN:
978-0-34121-9
Reviewed by Bill Condon
This
is a dipping-in kind of book, in which there is a treasure to be discovered on
every page. A quality production, it’s made sturdy to last through dozens if
not hundreds of happy readings and even comes with a slip-on jacket.
The
first thing that must be noted is that the poems in this collection are
child-friendly. They are about mums and dads and grandparents, about lovable
pets and the funny things they get up to. They traverse topics such as the
school bus, the first day at kindergarten, rainbows, armadillos, bath time, and
dandelions. In fact, with 164 poems, each cleverly illustrated, One Minute Till Bedtime
touches
on a great many subjects that are sure to leave a smile on children’s faces as
they drift off to sleep.
Several
well-known writers are featured in the book while some are poets who have been
around for a long time, but I’m pleased to say, are still very much at the top
of their game. These include such luminaries as Jack Prelutsky, Colin West, and
Michael Rosen, to name just a few of many. It is also heartening to see such a
strong representation of Australian poets. I counted fifteen whose names I
recognised, too many to list, but again, to name only a few, take a bow, Dianne
Bates, Edel Wignell, Janeen Brian, Mark Carthew and Teena Raffa-Mulligan.
The
book is divided into six sections, each one beginning with a poem by Kenn
Nesbitt, America’s Children’s Poet Laureate from 2013 to 2015. While the
sections are not named, Nesbitt’s opening poem ably sets the scene for what is
to come. As befitting a book with this title, there are number of poems
concerning sleep. It’s difficult to choose a favourite from such an impressive
line-up, but to give a small example, here are the final lines from Good-Night Poem, by Ralph Fletcher:
Tuck your covers
snug and tight.
Tuck the good
into the night.
One Minute Till
Bedtime
is highly recommended.
Australian author
Bill Condon has written several books for children and young adults including
his latest novel for 8 to 12 year olds, All of Us Together (About Kids Books).
Bill has always had a special affection for poetry.
