What If Bedtime Didn't Exist?
by Francine Cunningham (Author) Mathias Ball (Illustrator)
A whimsical and lyrical celebration of imagination and exploration if we simply asked, "What if . . ."
Follow two siblings through their day as they let their imaginations run wild in this joyful story about all the possibilities a simple "what if" can conjure up: What if the monsters in your closet wanted to be your friend? What if all of the dinosaurs were shrunk to be teeny-tiny when the comet hit the earth? And what if bedtime didn't exist and we could imagine anything we wanted?
What If Bedtime Didn't Exist? places an Urban Indigenous family at the heart of a fun and fantastical celebration of daydreaming, adventure, and play while living in the city. The tenderness and care in this intergenerational home is seen through relationships with all members in the family.
Mathias Ball's vibrant illustrations bring each page of acclaimed author Francine Cunningham's debut picture book to life. What If Bedtime Didn't Exist? opens up new spaces for creativity and endless possibilities into our everyday world.
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Kirkus Reviews
Publishers Weekly
Following on from a refrain of "what if...," Cunningham articulates innumerable possibilities, including the titular phrase. From morning until night, mundane moments become enlivened by imaginary opportunities for two kids: "What if.../ when we're eating breakfast at our/ table and finish before everyone else, we could/ sprout wings in any color or shape and fly out/ of the kitchen window...?" Mini dinosaurs, secret-whispering ladybugs, and "an endless ice cream/ sundae on wheels" parade through the children's minds as they picture themselves becoming supers, sea creatures, or playmates of otherworldly beings. Alongside lengthy meandering text, candy-colored illustrations feature the two dark-haired kids, portrayed with light brown skin, embracing a supernatural world. As bedtime begins, loving wishes provide invincibility for more far-out dreams--encouraging readers to lean into their own what-ifs. Ages 4-7. (Mar.)
Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
FRANCINE CUNNINGHAM is an award-winning writer, artist, and educator who spends her summer days writing on the prairies and her winter months teaching in the north. Francine is a member of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Alberta and lives in Strathmore, Alberta. This is her first picture book.
MATHIAS BALL is an award-winning trans illustrator whose work draws inspiration from animals, emotions, and the unfiltered imagination and creativity of kids. They live in Goderich, Ontario.
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV010000 - Juvenile Fiction | Bedtime & Dreams
JUV030090 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Canada - Native Canadian
