Bedtime for Frances

My 6 year old absolutely loves this book! We have read it every night since it arrived. Highly recommend!!

"Bedtime for Francis" is the first of the enchanting Francis series. Despite angst expressed in some comments, I (a reading teacher) have never found a kid yet who has been disturbed by anything in the book. Au contraire, they find Francis's evasion techniques hilarious and the consequences just seem like part of the plot. In fact, I don't recall a kid ever even pointing out the exchange about the spanking--much less the pipe, TV, cake, or other anomalies. Francis's badger Mom & Dad show terrific parenting skills throughout all the books. Francis is jealous, greedy, contrary, and dramatic like any small child is, especially with her younger sister. But her parents are wise enough to understand that her responses are not motivated by badness, but by her youth and a lack of experience in governing her responses to her feelings. Her mother's conversation with Francis on pp. 12-13 of "A Birthday for Francis" is a perfect example, but there are many more. Those who have their knocks in a twist about the spanking reference in "Bedtime" could use a reality check. Francis has 15 bedtime interactions with her parents. Only with the last--when her parents have fallen asleep--does her father show his ace...but he is careful to delineate his reasons: the wind has a job, he has a job, Francis has a job, and the consequences, which he lets her discover. Francis's dad does NOT threaten to spank her. Francis herself draws her own conclusion, and he confirms it. Say what you like about printing the heinous word "spanking"--the Badger parents are still doing a fine job, and no badgelets harmed.

This is a sweet story that my children loved and I have since gifted to several others. Nice quality, hard cover book with removeable sleeve. Arrived promptly in good condition.

The Frances series stories are hilarious, any normal kid will love these.

really adorable bed time book for kids

I first purchased Bedtime for Frances in 1975. It was for my oldest child. Subsequently we read it to all 5 of our children and it became their favorite bedtime book. Some reviewers are cautious to a fault about the give and take that goes on between Frances and the parent, her not going to bed, the threat of a spanking and the gloomy characters in her bedroom. Well apparently they have never had the real life process of raising a child and sharing the experiences. Frances became a way of talking to them about the things that aren't there in the dark, behaving themselves and even sounds that go on during the night. The book also shows the comfort of Mother and Father sharing a snack and with enough authority to enforce the rules, even on the monsters of Frances imagination. Three years ago I bought a new copy of Frances for each of my children to share with their children(the new one is in color.) My original is still here for use with Grandchildren when they sleep over. This is an extremely innocuous story about a little Badger's struggle with settling down for a good sleep...perhaps the worry worts ought to buy a copy and let it settle them down too.

I regularly buy this book as part of a set of favorite young children's books that I give as a gift for new parents. My kids enjoyed the entire France series and this one about bedtime delaying tactics is one that every young child and their parents can relate to.

This a a classic book I remembered from my childhood and I wanted it for my 21 month old daughter who had outgrown/gotten bored with her current set of books. I was surprised there was a reference to a "spanking" so I just took a black sharpie and blacked out two lines on two separate pages. Simple fix! The story is adorable and my daughter loves it especially the page where Frances gets a piggy back ride- it makes her crack up. For those deeply offended by the spanking reference; it is an old book just use a sharpie and all is good. Happy reading!

Frances is a great character, cheeky, resourceful and cute. In this book she procrastinates about bedtime, asking for all the usual diversions - drink, cuddle, food etc to avoid going to sleep. That's where the similarity with most bedtime books ends. Once in bed, Frances imagines all sorts of scary things in her room or coming through the window, but Daddy raccoon puts a stop to that with his wise, imaginative, sensible replies. Finally, in a touchingly loving way, after she wakes him up from his own sleep, he gently mentions a spanking if she can't stay in bed. Throughout the story he is portrayed as an endlessly kind, patient, comforting and loving father, and even the spanking mention is not made in a nasty or threatening way at all, but as part of loving boundaries to help his child learn to depend on her own inner resources to stay in bed. It works, and Frances conquers her demons. Reminds me of my cousin when her 3 year old wouldn't stay in bed; her husband took the boy gently by the hand and put him to bed in the basement room, gently telling him "that's where little boys sleep when they can't stay in their own bed". He never got up at night again.

Thank you! Love Frances books.

VERY HAPPY WITH MY PURCHASE.

Lovely story to read to my grandaughter...brings back memories of the first book Bread and Jam For Francis Thankyou SO much for the speed at which you posted.

Still an all time gave even if not for the pc