Once upon a bedtime

Once upon a time, there was a monkey child who jumped from tree to tree… and had no intention of going to sleep.​

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So begins a wildly imaginative bedtime story, where a little child pretends to be all kinds of noisy, energetic animals – a roaring tiger, a heavy elephant, a hissing snake, and a hooting owl – to avoid going to bed. But just as the “owl child” appears, Mom steps in to redirect the tale: “Oh no, there was no owl child. Let me tell this story! ​

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A sweet, humorous picture book built on an endearing parent-child dialogue. With its circular structure, fun sound effects, and cozy atmosphere, it is the ideal bedtime read-aloud to soothe active minds and turn going to sleep into a shared, magical ritual.​

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Key highlights: 

◊ A playful bedtime ritual: a clever story-within-a-story that transforms bedtime resistance into a fun, interactive game between parent and child.

​◊ Relatable childhood dynamics: perfect for all toddlers who try every trick in the book to delay sleep, turning bedtime into a moment of affection and imagination.

​◊ A meta-narrative twist: a humorous shift in perspective where the child starts telling the story, the mother gently intervenes, and the narrative loops back in a cozy, satisfying ending.

Author & Illustrator

ANDREA FAROTTO​

Born in Zambia to Italian parents, he spent years travelling the world as a petroleum engineer before settling in London with his family. His picture books are published across Italy, Canada, the United States, France, Switzerland, Belgium and Korea.​

VALERIA VALENZA​

An illustrator since age four, she also designs games, clothing, and institutional projects. A three-time finalist at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, her work is published worldwide by Penguin Books, Feltrinelli Kids, and Emme Edizioni. She lives in Bologna, where she co-founded the cultural space Naso di Bruco.​