One Ted Falls Out of Bed

Julia Donaldson is one of the UK's most successful picture book authors, whose titles regularly appear at the top of the bestseller lists. Julia's other titles for Macmillan include ROOM ON THE BROOM, THE SMARTEST GIANT IN TOWN, THE SNAIL AND THE WHALE and many more. Julia is also much in demand for her brilliant events for children. Anna Currey has illustrated many successful picture books including ROSIE'S HAT by Julia Donaldson and I FORGOT TO SAY I LOVE YOU by Miriam Moss. Her classic watercolour style is perfect for the gentle humour of Julia's story.

PreS-Gr. 2. In a young child's room one night, a collection of toys cavort. After a teddy bear drops from the child's bed to the floor, the other toys invite him to join in their fun. Written in rhyming couplets ("They roar around in four fast cars, / Then sit and gaze at five bright stars"), Donaldson's story frames the concept of counting up to 10 and back down to 1. Currey's watercolor illustrations extend the cozy drama, starting with a quiet double-page spread of the nighttime room. Then the energy picks up in scenes that zoom in on different parts of the room filled with activities. Soon enough, the teddy bear misses bed, so all the toys pitch in to build a tower of blocks that he can climb. The tower crashes and wakes the child, who grabs her teddy bear. Of course, children will enjoy counting along with the text, but this title will also make them wonder what might be happening in their rooms after they fall asleep. Kathy Broderick
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