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Time for Bed
Darkness is falling everywhere and little ones are getting sleepy, feeling cozy, and being tucked in. It’s time for a wide yawn, a big hug, and a snuggle under the covers—sleep tight! “Working beautifully with the soothingly repetitive text, each painting conveys a warm feeling of safety and affection.” —School Library Journal
28 pages, Board Book
First published January 1, 1993
48 people are currently reading
4115 people want to read
About the author
Mem Fox
122 books426 followersMerrion Frances Fox is an Australian writer of children's books and an educationalist specialising in literacy. Fox has been semi-retired since 1996, but she still gives seminars and lives in Adelaide, South Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 529 reviews
March 14, 2023
A good bed time story for kids—but mostly because it's about going to bed.
It's full of the following misinformation:
• The "whole wide world" is actually NOT going to sleep. Only your half of the world is going to sleep. Or perhaps more accurately, "only approximately 1/24th of the world is going to sleep while approximately 7/24ths are asleep (less some 3rd shift workers)".
• Some of these species do not care for their young. And in fact would probably eat their young.
• A "baby bee" does NOT look like a bee. "Bee larvae"—Google it and inform your youngster about the facts of entomology.
It's full of the following misinformation:
• The "whole wide world" is actually NOT going to sleep. Only your half of the world is going to sleep. Or perhaps more accurately, "only approximately 1/24th of the world is going to sleep while approximately 7/24ths are asleep (less some 3rd shift workers)".
• Some of these species do not care for their young. And in fact would probably eat their young.
• A "baby bee" does NOT look like a bee. "Bee larvae"—Google it and inform your youngster about the facts of entomology.
February 28, 2017
Borrowed from Owlseyes, thanks!
Mem Fox on being detained by US immigration: 'In that moment I loathed America'
Mem Fox
https://www.theguardian.com/commentis...
Mem Fox on being detained by US immigration: 'In that moment I loathed America'
Mem Fox
https://www.theguardian.com/commentis...
October 8, 2023
“Time For Bed”, illustrated by Jane Dyer, is a special book I imagine parents reading to infants, toddlers, and beyond; a warm part of tucking-in that families would cherish. It is brief enough to always fit in; a thematic, soothing tradition. I would enjoy giving this to my niece and coming nephew. A unique touch I learned is that author Mem Fox, is a famous name in Australian board books. It seems right to know any good author in Canada.
I am giving four-star feedback because no story was woven together to retain and pass along. The purpose seems to be to show us one loving, warm tableau of an animal’s home life on each page, which Mem does indeed do well. The words are the simplest possible, to connect with the tiniest children and lull them. Floating, alliterative rhyming encourages potentially reluctant or distracted children that falling asleep at this moment is positive and timely. They understand everyone in their immediate world is doing the same. The grace and soulfulness of this sleeping exercise is far apart from geographic time zones. When we say “whole world” to an infant, we mean the sky stretching above her home and the billions of life forms sharing the night of her environment.
The dearest message is twofold: we aren’t alone in falling asleep. Especially: every other Earthling, mammals and all of the other kinds, share our base needs in common. We come from parents, all of us born tiny, and metamorphose at our species’ pace. Jane’s precious drawings of animal infants with their Mothers, sweetly equalize us all. Being vegetarian, the gentle eyes of that precious calf warm my heart. The sweet mouse being hugged and kissed, reminds me of the pinkie we helped last year; a loveable angel just like that.
I am giving four-star feedback because no story was woven together to retain and pass along. The purpose seems to be to show us one loving, warm tableau of an animal’s home life on each page, which Mem does indeed do well. The words are the simplest possible, to connect with the tiniest children and lull them. Floating, alliterative rhyming encourages potentially reluctant or distracted children that falling asleep at this moment is positive and timely. They understand everyone in their immediate world is doing the same. The grace and soulfulness of this sleeping exercise is far apart from geographic time zones. When we say “whole world” to an infant, we mean the sky stretching above her home and the billions of life forms sharing the night of her environment.
The dearest message is twofold: we aren’t alone in falling asleep. Especially: every other Earthling, mammals and all of the other kinds, share our base needs in common. We come from parents, all of us born tiny, and metamorphose at our species’ pace. Jane’s precious drawings of animal infants with their Mothers, sweetly equalize us all. Being vegetarian, the gentle eyes of that precious calf warm my heart. The sweet mouse being hugged and kissed, reminds me of the pinkie we helped last year; a loveable angel just like that.
September 13, 2017
My two year old wants to read this every night.
It makes a great board book and bedtime story. It has that "classic" feeling to it much like Goodnight Moon and Brown Bear Brown Bear.
It makes a great board book and bedtime story. It has that "classic" feeling to it much like Goodnight Moon and Brown Bear Brown Bear.
March 25, 2017
Oh this book is such a delight. I've read so many picture books lately that are such rubbish, it was wonderful to read one of such high quality. The text was beautifully and simply written and illustrations were soft and reminiscent of nightfall. I read a copy online through open library, but I'm sure a hardcopy would be worth investing in if you have young children.
April 10, 2015
Gwyn approves. We read this four times tonight.
April 14, 2024
A soothing bedtime read-aloud with a nice array of animals
January 7, 2013
I hadn't realised this was a Mem Fox book until I was looking for a couple of little board books for Hugh for Christmas. To be honest, I found the cover so ugly - something about the colours and typeface and overall design - that I'd never picked it up before.
But I love Mem Fox - I grew up with Possum Magic which was a huge favourite of mine, and Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge. A friend gave us Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes at our baby shower, which Hugh (and I) love, but this is new to me.
It's quite sweet and very simple. Each double-page spread features a mother animal and her offspring, and the rhyme goes like this:
And so on. About halfway it changes from "it's time for bed" to "it's time to sleep", and it ends with a little girl being put to bed with the lines:
It has a very soothing lullaby rhythm to it that makes it perfect for bedtime reading, though of course I'll happily read it whenever they bring it to me to read.
But I love Mem Fox - I grew up with Possum Magic which was a huge favourite of mine, and Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge. A friend gave us Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes at our baby shower, which Hugh (and I) love, but this is new to me.
It's quite sweet and very simple. Each double-page spread features a mother animal and her offspring, and the rhyme goes like this:
It's time for bed, little mouse, little mouse,
Darkness is falling all over the house.
It's time for bed, little goose, little goose,
The stars are out and on the loose.
And so on. About halfway it changes from "it's time for bed" to "it's time to sleep", and it ends with a little girl being put to bed with the lines:
The stars on high are shining bright--
Sweet dreams, my darling, sleep well...
Good night!
It has a very soothing lullaby rhythm to it that makes it perfect for bedtime reading, though of course I'll happily read it whenever they bring it to me to read.
March 11, 2008
I only give it three stars because it is not totally accurate. For example, it says, "it's time for bed, little sheep, little sheep. The whole wide world is going to sleep" I know they needed this to rhyme but first of all, baby sheep are not called sheep but lambs--it teaches children the wrong word. And secondly, the whole wide world is not asleep. In France, they could be just waking up!
I know, picky little things. But you may as well teach the children the correct things in the first place.
I know, picky little things. But you may as well teach the children the correct things in the first place.
October 25, 2020
This is another favorite in our house. My daughter enjoyed it but my little boy loves it more. It so cute to see him say “moo” and “buzz” at the different parts of the book. I think because of this book, I like to think of my children as “little mouse” or “little pup”. We like to point out the babies and the mamas/dadas. It’s a very tender book and puts me in a snuggly mood for the night.
February 15, 2012
This review consists of two parts: 1. What my son thinks; and 2. What I, his Mom, thinks.
SON SAYS:
I like it when my Mom reads this book to me even today when I'm 5 years old. It reminds me of when I was younger. I like looking for where the baby and the mommy or daddy animals are in the pictures. I can even pick out the words of the animals in the book. My favorite picture is the one of the kitties. I wish there was a picture of a puppy like Zara - my aunt's dog. It makes me happy when my Mom reads this book to me.
MOM SAYS:
This is one of my all-time favorite books for wee little ones. I used to read this book to my kids even as babes in my arms. The story is so lyrical and and the words roll off your tongue like a soft lullaby.
The book is beautifully illustrated with a wide array of baby and adult animals including mice, geese, cats, dogs, deer, snakes, fish and bees. I like the inclusion of animals that little kids may be afraid of upon encountering in the real world. I think it's important for kids to respect and appreciate all life forms so I like that the book includes non-traditional and non-cute and fuzzy animals.
When the children are very little and can't even focus on the book, the poems in the book are beautiful and when they get a bit older, the illustrations really keep their attention.
Overall, I would argue that this is a must-have in every parent's library.
For this and other reviews of children's books, please visit us at www.motherdaughterbookreviews.com
SON SAYS:
I like it when my Mom reads this book to me even today when I'm 5 years old. It reminds me of when I was younger. I like looking for where the baby and the mommy or daddy animals are in the pictures. I can even pick out the words of the animals in the book. My favorite picture is the one of the kitties. I wish there was a picture of a puppy like Zara - my aunt's dog. It makes me happy when my Mom reads this book to me.
MOM SAYS:
This is one of my all-time favorite books for wee little ones. I used to read this book to my kids even as babes in my arms. The story is so lyrical and and the words roll off your tongue like a soft lullaby.
"It's time for bed, little mouse, little mouse,
Darkness is falling all over the house."
The book is beautifully illustrated with a wide array of baby and adult animals including mice, geese, cats, dogs, deer, snakes, fish and bees. I like the inclusion of animals that little kids may be afraid of upon encountering in the real world. I think it's important for kids to respect and appreciate all life forms so I like that the book includes non-traditional and non-cute and fuzzy animals.
When the children are very little and can't even focus on the book, the poems in the book are beautiful and when they get a bit older, the illustrations really keep their attention.
Overall, I would argue that this is a must-have in every parent's library.
For this and other reviews of children's books, please visit us at www.motherdaughterbookreviews.com
September 2, 2025
Children will enjoy seeing each animal get put to bed by their parent. It's sweet!
Ages: 1 - 4
Here’s a few of our bedtime favs: watch my reel!
Content Considerations: "Good gracious me" is used.
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Ages: 1 - 4
Here’s a few of our bedtime favs: watch my reel!
Content Considerations: "Good gracious me" is used.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.
I have an Instagram account that’s pretty bookishly unique too!
April 1, 2019
Perfectly lovely.
Also, the lines are constructed in such a way that substitutions are pretty easy. It's easy to add an endearment of choice into the final couplet, or to slip in the name one's own baby. I swap out "sheep" for "lamb." "It's time for bed, little lamb, little lamb. In the whole wide world, you're my only Sam." He likes that page.
Also, the lines are constructed in such a way that substitutions are pretty easy. It's easy to add an endearment of choice into the final couplet, or to slip in the name one's own baby. I swap out "sheep" for "lamb." "It's time for bed, little lamb, little lamb. In the whole wide world, you're my only Sam." He likes that page.
April 3, 2018
The painted illustrations of the animal parents' gently attempting to get their child to sleep are adorable. The rhyming, repetitive story is soothing, but I think the snake's response is my favorite.... Good gracious me, you're still awake?! We can relate, mama snake!
February 9, 2016
When I glanced over this on my own it seemed boring, but read aloud it has a very soothing rhythm. Recommended bed time reading! Not that it got my niece to sleep any faster...
February 2, 2017
I think this may replace our going to bed book once A one day gets down bed-time todos. Gorgeous illustrations and I love the prose and repetition.
March 27, 2019
This is one of those times when sentimentality is coloring my ratings. Before I had a kid and received this tiny board book as a hand-me-down, if you'd shown is to me, I might have called some of the illustrations a little...dated, and written it off because the fact that the only human child in the book happens to be a blond-haired, white cherub. (I probably still wouldn't buy it as a gift for others for that reason.)
That said, at some point I did pick up this book and realized what a calm, soothing rhyme scheme it had. Now we read it along with two other books before every nap. There are sweet, cuddly depictions of lots of animals beyond the usual suspects (it's not every day you see a realistic-looking baby snake or fish being tucked in to sleep), and while it's a bit long, my kid is still little (read: oblivious) enough that I can skip pages here and there when I really need to get her into the crib faster.
That said, at some point I did pick up this book and realized what a calm, soothing rhyme scheme it had. Now we read it along with two other books before every nap. There are sweet, cuddly depictions of lots of animals beyond the usual suspects (it's not every day you see a realistic-looking baby snake or fish being tucked in to sleep), and while it's a bit long, my kid is still little (read: oblivious) enough that I can skip pages here and there when I really need to get her into the crib faster.
December 1, 2018
Our favorite night-night book. White text makes it semi-visible in a room with a night light, although this isn't really necessary because it's not a story. It's a series of big animals lovingly telling little ones it's time for sleep. We have books for play but this soothes a 2 year old off to dreamland. I don't like the line towards the end "The very last kiss is almost here", and always change it on the fly, but so he still knows it's almost night-night kiss time.
Pictures: mouse, goose, cat, calf, foal, fish, sheep, bird, bee, snake, pup, deer, human (very blue-eyed blond). Also, stars, moons, underwater bubbles, polar bear, and my random interjections of kiss, baby, mama, daddy, and so on.
Pictures: mouse, goose, cat, calf, foal, fish, sheep, bird, bee, snake, pup, deer, human (very blue-eyed blond). Also, stars, moons, underwater bubbles, polar bear, and my random interjections of kiss, baby, mama, daddy, and so on.
April 16, 2017
This story is very sweet. This would be a perfect book to read to children before bedtime or naptime. I like how it went through different animals and their families getting ready for bed. This book has great illustrations and rhymes. A very sweet story!
October 9, 2020
Adorable bedtime book. The illustrations are cute - different animals and their babies. My husband and I love the different animals getting ready for sleep. My favorite is the snake one! Gets my little guy to giggle now when we get to that part. Great addition to any bedtime routine. **I put when I finished the book to today since we read it every night to my son.
August 3, 2017
Aprobado por la pequeña de la casa. Los dibujos son lindos, con muchos animales dando amor a sus pequeños antes de dormirles. No hay una historia en si.
March 14, 2018
Not much to say. Mostly unmemorable. Neither bad nor great.
September 14, 2020
An awesome book with a pattern and beautiful illustration.
December 31, 2020
“Cheating” and adding all of our favourite baby books to complete my 2020 challenge. I have read these enough to equal 100 books 😆
May 7, 2021
Beautiful text and lovely, detailed illustrations.
July 22, 2021
What a wonderful book for emergent readers! Love the illustrations, they're beautiful.
October 17, 2021
Me: I have a soft spot as I often read it to you as infants
Alex: the baby animals are so cute!
Owen: No! Don't wanna go sleep!!! NOOOOO!!!
Alex: the baby animals are so cute!
Owen: No! Don't wanna go sleep!!! NOOOOO!!!
March 4, 2023
Not yet having a baby to read this to, yet, I can only assume this is a good story to help a child fall asleep.
A story about going to sleep. Each page/line starts off the same with a different animal, which is probably very soothing and helpful trying to coax a baby to sleep. Some of the lines/pages rhymed better than others.
A story about going to sleep. Each page/line starts off the same with a different animal, which is probably very soothing and helpful trying to coax a baby to sleep. Some of the lines/pages rhymed better than others.
January 28, 2020
A beautiful bedtime story that says goodnight to many different animals and then to a child on the last page.
July 28, 2018
I like it and more importantly, my granddaughter really likes it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 529 reviews