by Francine Cunningham, Illustrated by Mathias Ball
Annick Press
3/24/2024, hardcover
SKU: 9781773218687
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.
Target age: 4 to 7
Reviews:
"A tenderly written, beautifully illustrated story that taps into our creative selves. I can already hear the oohs and awes and giggles, and see little fingers circling around the drawings discovering each "what if" and imagining the imaginings. A wonderful story that's going to kick off so many conversations between readers about all of the "what ifs!". So much fun!" -- Julie Flett, author of We All Play and Birdsong
"As bedtime begins, loving wishes provide invincibility for more far-out dreams--encouraging readers to lean into their own what-ifs." -- Publishers Weekly
About the Contributors:
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.