20 Bunnies at Bedtime

• Written by Mark Sperring
• Illustrated by Tim Budgen
• Published on 4th January 2024 in Board Book by Scholastic, also available in paperback.

This is the perfect book choice for Easter break to share with younger children and with it recently being released in Board Book format it would make the perfect gift for babies and toddlers at Easter too. I have family members who do not allow their children chocolate so Easter eggs aren’t the go to option for them at Easter so I try to gift books or clothing, and 20 Bunnies at Bedtime is at the top of my gifting list. It is also available in Paperback format, making it perfect for 3-6 year olds.

The main theme of this book is of course bunnies, and they are all individually depicted inside the book’s end papers, with names for each of them, 18 of which begin with the letter B, which is a super cute detail, and then there is also Mummy Bunny and The Easter Bunny to make up the 20 bunnies as per the title, and in the back of the book little ones can see the bunnies individually number 1-20, and this time they are all sound asleep, looking so adorable and cosy. This story consists of short rhyming sentences, with ‘here’s a bunny’ frequently used as we are introduced to each bunny that forms part of Britney following her Grandma’s suggestion of counting in order to fall asleep. Grandma suggests counting sheep, which we are all familiar with (I know I use that and similar a lot as I battle insomnia), and yet Britney doesn’t find sheep cute and funny and so decides to count ‘flop-eared bunnies!’.

The number for each bunny is clearly displayed on each page alongside each adorable bunny, and each of them has their own individual actions referred to, as well having different looks to them too. I love that the bunnies are interacting with the environment around them, which is beautifully detailed and depicted in each scene, and you are drawn into each scene on the pages of what is such an adorable, heart warming, and cosy book that is absolutely perfect for sharing with little ones at bedtime. I can definitely see how little ones would drift off to sleep with visions of bunnies included in their peaceful dreams.

When Britney counts bunnies it is noted within the book that she makes it to 12, breaking up the book from the 1-20 counting, and then explains she continues from 13-20 in her dreams, and there is a clear difference between those Britney counts to get to sleep, as they are all illustrated in daytime scenes, and those she dreams about (13-20) are illustrated in dusky/night time scenes, with the colour palette used for the night time scenes evoking a dreamy feel, and appearing darker with each of the bunnies you count. Bunnies 16-19 also feature actions and/or items little ones associate with bedtime

Here’s a bunny with a blankie Britney found.

Here’s a bunny who is sleeping safe and sound.

As if all of these beautiful details weren’t enough we find out that the final bunny in the book is The Easter Bunny, and he has been busy hiding 20 eggs for Britney to find, and her doing so concludes the book, tying Easter in to this bunny themed book, a perfect combination, and making this the perfect choice for this time of year. I know little ones will get super excited hearing this story ahead of Easter, and beyond when they can then recall doing their own egg hunts or receiving eggs that they will see depicted with The Easter Bunny toward the end of this book. There is nothing little ones like more about books then being able to recognise and relate to the content inside.

This book, 20 Bunnies at Bedtime, is just one in an incredible series by the incredible team that is Mark Sperring and Tim Budgen, with titles in the series :

• 20 Dinosaurs at Bedtime
• 20 Unicorns at Bedtime
• 20 Pumpkins at Bedtime
• 20 Elves at Bedtime

I look forward to seeing if any other titles are published in this series, and sharing those from the series I do have with little ones too.