In the Night Garden: The Bedtime Book

Product Information

The episodes end with the Tittifers singing their song, and then one character gets ready to go to sleep. In 2007 [7] and 2008, [8] the show won the Children's BAFTA for "Pre-School Live-Action," as well as being nominated in 2009. With soothing words and spectacularly detailed, hand-cut collage artwork, she has fashioned a bedtime book like no other. Rex does the honors…and once they are beyond their initial panic at his appearance, the onlookers cheer wildly.

Sit down with In the Night Garden and read the first few pages up to the point where the girl starts to tell "the first tale I was able to read, from the crease of my left eyelid. I've put off reviewing this one not out of laziness (mostly), because it is one of the most stunningly beautiful books I have ever read, and I'm still lost for words. I definitely need to spend some more time poring over the pages, but I just think I love the way the silhouette of the black cat is just so subtle on your choice of the blue backgrounds. well, perhaps a review will come soon after all as In the Cities of Coin and Spice has finally arrived for me to devour. The writing style in the beginning seems a little purplish with a lot of description but gradually you come to appreciate its vividness as an integral part of the stories and you simply can't put down this book of monster princesses, witches, horse-women, Stars, skin traders, dog-headed monks, Selkies, satyrs, and priestesses.

One Thousand and One Nights meets European folktales and modern fantasy (think, perhaps, a somewhat more self-serious Princess Bride) in a nested series of linked short stories. It was 1am, and I set the book down, after having to re-read one of the pivotal revelations on the last page and say "ohhh. I just love looking for the cat and looking at the cat, and I don’t know, she’s just kind of slinky and curious and gentle, and yeah, I just think I love looking at the cat throughout.

In the spring of 2008, several new toys arrived, including roll-along characters, Talking Cuddly Makka Pakka, Ninky Nonk Pop-up tent and more.

Some of the tales are quite dark, others bring a smile or a laugh to the fore - like the tale of the princess in the tower which is both at the same time. It really isn’t a retelling of any of those stories, but there were lots of little nods, sometimes with similarities and sometimes with twists, and with the tiniest hint of satire. I will definitely continue reading Valente and look forward to the follow up book to this one - In the Cities of Coin and Spice.