Frances is a young badger who does not want to go to bed. Mother and Father badger are patient and loving parents, but they
do have their limits. Just as a human child, Frances does her best to postpone her bedtime, and she is quite inventive. From a drink of milk, to giants and tigers, to remembering to brush her teeth, Frances cleverly finds reasons to get up and stay awake. Finally, her overactive imagination gets her into a bit of trouble with Father, and he lays down the law. She realizes that he means business about going to sleep and she thinks twice about getting out of bed one more time, even when something really scary happens in her room. She handles the scary problem on her own, providing her with an opportunity to think independently and to finally go to sleep on her own.
Originally published in 1960, this endearing story is
beautifully illustrated by Garth Williams and has become a bedtime favorite for more than two generations of young children. My own copy is accompanied by a delightful reading on cassette tape, and, although battered and dog-eared my original edition continues to be enjoyed by my grandchildren.
Because the bedtime blues are common in most every family, this book comes highly recommended. It is a perfect bedtime story for young children as it comforts their fears about the dark and allows for validation of their feelings about bedtime rules.
Note: The original version of Bedtime for Frances has a
reference to the possibility of a spanking, which may be appalling to some parents. However, in this beautifully conceived story, the spanking does not actually happen. I personally have not seen the more recent versions of this story, but it is my understanding that the spanking reference has been omitted.