Wake up and bedtime routines!
I am so excited to share the thinking behind the two new Zeki titles...
And to point out things you might like to notice and share with your little one.
I was asked by my publishers if I would consider writing a bedtime and getting up story for Zeki.
Reader I bawlked! Bedtime is a whole GENRE of books for this age group - how could one carve a new angle or being something fresh to a story? Nah!
So, I did what I always do - sat at my desk for a bit, walked around the garden ranting, "this is just silly" (or words to that effect.) Then I read some articles on sleep routines – nothing I hadn't already thought about... nada...
Then I read an interesting piece by a child psychologist talking about how overnight was the longest a young child was separated from their parents. She said it was important to re-establish connection – and especially touch – on greeting a young child in the morning...
And I was off!
My many years running Baby Rhyme Times repaid me - singing Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes numerous times a day for sixteen years leaves a mark. Now it formed the structure to my morning story. (Click here for a wonderful instrumental version from Jazz Cat Louis Kids Music if you're looking for something special to sing along to.)
And to point out things you might like to notice and share with your little one.
I was asked by my publishers if I would consider writing a bedtime and getting up story for Zeki.
Reader I bawlked! Bedtime is a whole GENRE of books for this age group - how could one carve a new angle or being something fresh to a story? Nah!
So, I did what I always do - sat at my desk for a bit, walked around the garden ranting, "this is just silly" (or words to that effect.) Then I read some articles on sleep routines – nothing I hadn't already thought about... nada...
Then I read an interesting piece by a child psychologist talking about how overnight was the longest a young child was separated from their parents. She said it was important to re-establish connection – and especially touch – on greeting a young child in the morning...
And I was off!
My many years running Baby Rhyme Times repaid me - singing Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes numerous times a day for sixteen years leaves a mark. Now it formed the structure to my morning story. (Click here for a wonderful instrumental version from Jazz Cat Louis Kids Music if you're looking for something special to sing along to.)
Mum greets a sleepy Zeki (above) then opens the curtains to let the sun in (eyes);
Daddy shakes a cereal box to a morning tune (ears); and Zeki munches crunchies, more awake now as he sips zingy juice (mouth). Then it's off to wash his teeth (with minty-fresh toothpaste - nose). Now we were getting somewhere... |
Mum helps Zeki put on his buzzy top -
he pushes his head through and Mum helps pull it over his shoulders. Then the dance theme continues as, (using his knees to) bounce and groove, Zeki shimmies into his shorts. Finally, on go his yellow jelly sandals and, toes pointing upwards, he does the happy feet dance! |
The energy level increasese on each page and on the final spread he's ready to greet the day. I hope that a parent and child reading along could incorporate some of the ideas into their own morning routine. Fun details to notice - energetic animals! If you're familiar with Zeki Loves Mummy / Zeki Loves Daddy, you'll know the fun Ruth Hearson and I had with the background fabrics and details. This time around, we focussed on 'morning' animals and birds. So, Zeki's world is crowded with cockrels, larks, chickens, busy bees, jumping frogs and dancing ducks! Can you spot them all on the last spread? If you look really carefully (right), you see that even the sleepy sheep on Zeki's sleepsuit are frolicking about (especially if you compare them with how sleepy they are on the companion title, Zeki, Sleep Tight! below). |
Once again, Zeki's senses are at the centre of the narrative as, one by one, they slow down starting with the soothing taste of his goodnight dring of warm milk.
Mum closes the curtains, and the room is hushed, the light is low and the mood is sleepy. Each sentence gets longer and slower, full of snoozy, lazy, dosy sounds to sooth a young child towards sleep.
And if you noticed the sheep on the sleep suit dozing, you'll love the hibernating bears, night owls, sleepy foxes, slow sloths and lazy cats in the illustrations - can you spot them all on the last spread?
Once again, it has been beyond a pleasure to work with the amazingly talented Ruth Hearson on this pair of titles. What other illustrator would call you up and say, "so I'm working on the dreamy cream drawing and I was thinking what is the softest thing in the world, and I thought it's the inside of a rabbit's ear, so I've made Zeki's towel into a rabbit - is that OK?"
Is that OK? It's more than OK!
And if you noticed the sheep on the sleep suit dozing, you'll love the hibernating bears, night owls, sleepy foxes, slow sloths and lazy cats in the illustrations - can you spot them all on the last spread?
Once again, it has been beyond a pleasure to work with the amazingly talented Ruth Hearson on this pair of titles. What other illustrator would call you up and say, "so I'm working on the dreamy cream drawing and I was thinking what is the softest thing in the world, and I thought it's the inside of a rabbit's ear, so I've made Zeki's towel into a rabbit - is that OK?"
Is that OK? It's more than OK!