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Bedtime for Little Digger

by Smriti Halls, illustrated by Sue Hendra

Interest age: 2 to 4

Published by Simon & Schuster, 2026

  • Picture books
  • Poetry and rhyme

About this book

It’s bedtime for all the little diggers, cars, dumper trucks, buses, helicopters and planes. But the bright-eyed little yellow digger still has more to do: there’s a big pile of colourful fruit to be fetched and lifted.  

Tomorrow there will be lots of exciting things to lift and transport – a giant cupcake to a bunnies’ tea party or a mountain of jewels, perhaps. But, for now, all four of the busy little yellow diggers have to climb the sleepy hill to beddy-byes and tuck into their cosy little shed. And, it’s bedtime for the sleepy little listener of this story, too.  

Smriti Halls is at the top of her game when it comes to perfectly-pitched rhyming texts for children in the early years. The repetitive rhyme here of “it’s bedtime for…” works so well in including all the varied and interesting types of transport that little ones love, as well as inducing a calming and soporific effect when read aloud – perfect for bedtime. Picture book powerhouse Sue Hendra’s (the illustrator of the Supertato series) bright and friendly illustration gives just the right level of interest, cuteness and expressive vehicle faces for little ones. 

About the author

Smriti Halls is an award-winning, critically acclaimed children's author, published in more than 30 languages worldwide. Her books include #1 bestseller I Love You Night and Day, I'm Sticking with You, Elephant in My Kitchen and The Little Island.

With a cast of characters as varied as mischievous monsters and disgruntled geese, she explores relationship and identity; the personal and the political; how it feels to be in your own skin - and in someone else's. Her books, often fast-paced and funny or lyrical and tender, are always full of heart and hope and speak to the child in all of us.

Smriti also creates bold board books to engage the very smallest readers, young fiction for newly independent readers and beautiful, highly illustrated non-fiction for older readers including the award-winning The Ways of the Wolf.

The Little Island is currently shortlisted for the 2020 Little Rebels Award and the 2020 Teach Primary Awards, while I'm Sticking With You was the Independent Bookshops Children's Book of the Month for August 2020. Her forthcoming picture book Rain Before Rainbows (illustrated by David Litchfield) has been made available ahead of publication in partnership with Save the Children as a free e-book to support their work with families most affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Smriti works widely with children and adults in schools, libraries, festivals, bookshops and prisons to bring a love of reading and stories to the widest possible audience. She lives in London and is also published as Smriti Prasadam-Halls.

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