Will Mabbitt

Fred Blunt

this-is-not-a-bedtime-story

For the latest books, recommendations, author interviews and more

source_10558

By signing up, I confirm that I'm over 16. To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, please visit our <a href="/company/about-us/notices/privacy-policy/">Privacy Policy</a>

Keep an eye out for a confirmation in your inbox

Stories, ideas and giveaways to help you spark young imaginations

source_10972

The latest books, activities and tips to help you grow little readers

source_10975

About us

About Us (Header 4)

john-le-carre-a-legacy-of-spies-960-2.jpg

Margaret Atwood

Richard Osman

Malorie Blackman

George Orwell

marian_keyes_mobile_320x200px.png

Elif Shafak

shonfaye

Authors (Header 3)

Books (Header 2)

Company

Features (Header 1)

Penguin Shop (Header 5)

Useful links

This Is Not A Fairy Tale

Mabel Jones and the Doomsday Book

I Can Only Draw Worms

Captain Falsebeard in a Wild Goose Chase

Mabel Jones and the Forbidden City

Captain Falsebeard in A Very Fishy Tale

The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones

This Is Not A Bedtime Story

It's here! Browse the 2024 Penguin Christmas gift guide

Clever, funny and heart-racingly exciting, this is a book to inspire and delight every little girl and boy. And one thing's for sure. Perfect for every child who ever wished their bedtime stories were more EXCITING. Bedtime will never be the same again.

Sophie is bored hearing about fluffy Pink Kitten's perfect birthday picnic with her friends Lulu, Barney Hedgehog and Squeaker Mouse. So when dad starts to read it again, Sophie's imagination takes over... 
 
In Sophie's version, Barney has been kidnapped by a robot dinosaur, so instead of a birthday teddy, Lulu gives Pink Kitten a lightsabre. Then Lulu, Squeaker and Pink Kitten roar off to rescue Barney in Pink Kitten's new car, which magically morphs into a rocket-launching helicopter. But the monster robot dinosaur swallows them all, even the helicopter. 
 
Clever Pink Kitten removes the dinosaur's batteries and saves the day. And Barney of course At the end of the story, Pink Kitten is exhausted. As is dad! 
 
Bedtime stories go bonkers in this inventive, subversive version of a traditionally restful night-time tale. Funny illustrations accompany the witty text, packed with humour and adventure, to amuse children and parents alike.

This is NOT a bedtime story follows Sophie, a little girl who wants 'one last story' before bed. Sophie's Dad obliges and starts to read a story about Pink Kitten, a cute pink kitten. Sophie isn't impressed. Taking it upon herself to add a to the story, Pink Kitten soon becomes a light sabre wielding kitten. A car driving, helicopter flying, robot dinosaur fighting kitten! This is more like it. 
 
The short story Sophie's Dad had intended on has become a completely different story. Sophie and Dad are now inside the story with Pink Kitten and a real life Lion! 
Following one epic adventure Sophie is finally ready for bed. Fighting robot dinosaurs is tiring work after all. 
 
Taylor was in awe as we animatedly read the book aloud and started to point at the pictures letting out a cute 'oooh' as the story progressed. His love for stories is growing and at 14 months old he has started to sit quietly and engage more whilst we read to him. 
 
We both enjoyed this book and I particularly liked how it wasn't aimed at one gender. It shows that Girls don't always want to hear stories about pink kittens and fluffy clouds, they love action and adventure just as much as boys. Encouraging boys and girls to use their imagination and be spontaneous! 
 
Accompanied by a series of beautiful and funny illustrations, which I loved the unique style of, we'll certainly be looking to read more picture books from Will Mabbitt and Fred Blunt. 
This is NOT a Bedtime Story is a fast paced tale of imagination and adventure. Not the sort of book you might want to wind down with before bed but the title did warn you!

A brilliant new picture book from rising stars Will Mabbitt and Fred Blunt. 
 
Sophie doesn't want a story time filled with cute kittens and birthday parties, she wants rocket-launching helicopters and a giant robot dinosaur! Clever, funny and heart-racingly exciting, this is a book to inspire and delight every little girl and boy. 
 
Bedtime will never be the same again.

Will Mabbitt (Author) 
 Will Mabbitt likes to write. He writes on the train, in the corner of cafés, and sometimes, when his laptop runs out of power, he writes in his head. Will has a background in children's media, producing digital content for Disney, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. He lives with his family, cats and a woodlouse infestation in Lewes on the south coast of England. 
 
Fred Blunt (Illustrator) 
 Fred never wanted to be an astronaut or drive a train when he grew up. Right from the beginning he knew he wanted to draw silly pictures of a living . . . And some decades later he's living the dream! Interrupted only by tea breaks and toddlers, Fred works from his home studio in Swindon, Wiltshire, UK where he lives with his wife and two young children. 
 
Captain Falsebeard is his first picture book.

This Is Not A Bedtime Story

Select a format:

Retailers:

Summary

Reviews

About the authors

Will Mabbitt

Fred Blunt (Illustrator)

More from this Author

Sign up to the Puffin newsletter