There’s something particularly endearing about farm animals that lend themselves well to starring in children’s books — although, I suppose a big part of it is stems from the fact that they are mostly non-threatening herbivores who have no desire to eat people!
In Where’s Tim’s Ted? It’s Time for Bed!, the eponymous young protagonist’s bedtime routine hits a snag when neither he nor his grandparents can find his teddy bear, Ted, anywhere in the house. As a result, Tim — like most children who are reliant on a comfort object during bedtime — is unable to fall asleep.
Instead he decides to sneak out to the family farm to look for Ted in his pyjamas. Thus, armed with a practical flashlight, Tim embarks on a rollicking night-time adventure — along the way picking up a hilarious motley band of talking farm friends who accompany him on his search.
Perfectly complemented by the lively illustrations — which are the perfect mix of funny, sweet and wacky (the farm animals are a hoot!) — the book’s irreverent rhyming prose is great fun to read aloud or even dramatise.
All in all, this book is the perfect bedtime pick for little farm fans who have grown out of Big Red Barn. After all, there’s nothing like a good dose of silliness to end the day on a high note.