book cover

The Bedtime Bear

by Ian Whybrow, illustrated by Axel Scheffler

Published by Pan Macmillan, 2020

  • Adventure
  • Funny
  • Interactive
  • Picture books
  • Poetry and rhyme

About this book

Join Bedtime Bear as he journeys to a variety of places on his way to bed, in this superb lift-the-flap book for young children. The tale begins in the jungle, where Bedtime Bear hitches a lift with a friendly tiger on a bicycle. Travel onwards to the North Pole, where a sheep in a jeep zooms out from behind a snowdrift to take Bear on the next part of the journey. Stop for a snack at the Mouse Motel and turn the wheel to reveal delightfully disgusting menu choices, such as soapy sausages and worms on toast. The characters are reunited on the final page in the form of cuddly toys belonging to a little boy who is ready for bed.

The distinctive illustrations by Axel Scheffler are a visual feast, bursting with colour and humorous detail. Wacky rhyming text invites children to search each page for flaps to lift, tabs to pull and wheels to turn, helping them to develop their observational and fine motor skills. Many of the mechanical components are sandwiched between the double-thickness pages, which helps to protect them from over-enthusiastic handling. This entertaining, interactive book is sure to become a firm bedtime favourite.

About the author

Having spent much of his life teaching English and Drama, Ian started writing full time in 1989. He has written over a hundred books for children, including the best-selling Harry and The Bucketful of Dinosaurs series which won the Children's Book Award in 2000, and his stories have been translated into 25 languages. His books are known for their humour and child-friendliness and range from picture books to novels, short stories and poetry. 

Ian lives with his wife in Middlesex and has two children and four grandchildren. Apart from his family, his passions in no particular order are: The Herefordshire Marshes — where he retreats to write in an idyllic Victorian villa; digging; running; walking with friends; swimming; cycling (especially in France); the poet Stevie Smith; the theatre; books, films and hedgehogs.

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