Celebrate family story time with Pyjamarama!

Thu 30 Apr 2020

Get ready for a pyjama party! Tomorrow (1 May) is Pyjamarama, the Book Trust's family festival of stories, and our staff at Derby Libraries have been busy choosing their favourite bedtime stories for young children.

Usually our libraries would be joining in with Rhymetime sessions  at our venues, but as we all have to stay at home this year, what better excuse for children to wear their pyjamas ALL DAY! Join in online to keep busy with some great activities, and listen to stories from amazing authors and presenters.

Enjoy stories, readings, draw-alongs, dances and quizzes, how to draw sessions and more all supported by favourite children's characters including PJ Masks, Horrid Henry and Tracy Beaker and a range of children's presenters, illustrators and authors. The festival will finish with a bedtime story reading - a chance for the children to wind down, come together and listen to a story. To join in, sign up at the Booktrust website at www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/have-some-fun/pyjamarama/pyjamarama-festival/

Our list of top bedtime stories for younger children is:

  1. Each Peach Pear Plum by  Janet and Alan Ahlberg. This classic picture book won the prestigious Kate Greenaway medal for illustration. It introduces the very youngest of readers to characters from traditional stories.
  2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Another classic picture book about a hungry caterpillar growing into a beautiful butterfly, introducing children to different foods and to counting.
  3. Peck, Peck, Peck by Lucy Cousins. Little woodpecker has just learned how to peck! What fun it is - just look at the holes he has made!
  4. Monkey Puzzle by Julia Donaldson. A wonderful comforting picture book. Can butterfly find his mum? From his descriptions he is helped by the other animals but they are never quite right.
  5. Penguin by Polly Dunbar. Can a penguin be the perfect present? Ben is delighted when he opens his present - but penguin says nothing. It is only when a passing lion intervenes that penguin speaks.
  6. The Tiger Who Came To Tea by Judith Kerr. This is a much loved picture book which tells the story of Sophie and what happened when she opened the door to a tiger! Although written over fifty years ago it is still a wonderful memorable story.
  7. Once Upon A Bedtime by David Melling. The sun is setting on Sleepy Street as Rabbit and the others begin to yawn. Rabbit helps his friends get ready for bed. But a strange noise means they can't go to sleep. Can they solve the problem?
  8. Peace At Last by Jill Murphy.  Mr Bear can't sleep, there are noises all over the house. Will he ever manage to sleep? The familiar noises and repetition make this picture book a favourite.
  9. Meg And Mog by Helen Nicoll. Meet Meg the witch who often gets her spells wrong. Here she goes to a spell party and accidentally turns all her friends into mice!
  10. 10. Shark In The Park by Nick Sharratt. Shark in the Park follows Timothy Pope on a trip through the park with his dad. Is that really a shark he can see?

Pyjamarama is a free festival from the Book Trust. The aim is to encourage families to develop a love of books, reading, and stories and to make sure all children enjoy a bedtime story.

For more books and stories, have a look at Derby Libraries' eLibrary. We have a range of children's eBooks and eAudio Books to borrow for free from Harry Potter to books by Julia Donaldson and David Walliams. You can also browse our eMagazines and hundreds of adult eBooks. The eLibrary is free and you can join with your library card, and if you're not a member we can issue you with a temporary library card while our libraries are closed. Find out more at www.inderby.org.uk/libraries/whats-on-offer/elibrary/