Critical Issues Books (2)

Back to Bed, Ed!

Braun, S. (2009). Back to bed, Ed! Atlanta, Georgia: Peachtree.

ISBN # 978-1-56145-518-8

“Back to Bed, Ed!” is a book that brings up the issue of anxiety many children are facing when they are left to sleep by themselves. Ed is a little mouse who loves his bedtime routine, but not so much staying in bed. Night after night he disrupts his parent’s sleep by going in their room to sleep with them since he is afraid to sleep by himself. His parents have had enough and they decide to place a “closed” sign on their door. When Ed finds the sign and starts crying, his father comes out and puts him back to bed. Instead of sleeping, Ed gathers all his stuffed animals and places them in bed with him, reassuring them that there is no need for them to be scared since he is there. From this point, Ed can sleep in his own bed without disrupting his parents.

I would read this book to children 3-6, since this is a very common age children go through anxiety when they are left to sleep by themselves in their own room. I was very drawn to the simple, yet expressive illustrations which are bold, bright and with interesting details. They are made in India ink with markers and coloured pencils.

Provocation:
I would put a poster-size picture on the wall of Ed sitting scared in his bed with his stuffed toy beside him. In a basket, I would place some stuffed animals children like to sleep with and have them play with them. I would let children talk about the picture and animals without telling them what they are about.

Ways to present this book:
1) Reading the book, stop and pause when Ed tip toes out of bed and ask “I wonder what Ed is up to/ where he is going?” When he is disturbing his parents at night, stop and wonder “I wonder what his parents must feel like.” When the parents come up with a plan for Ed, stop and say “I wonder what the plan looks like.” At the part where Ed gathers his stuffed animals, ask “I wonder what he is going to do will all his stuffies?”
2) Use felt- make the main characters (Ed, Mom, Dad, baby) - the extra characters are: monsters, stuffed animals like bunny, teddy, frog, duck, squirrel, monkey, and alligator. You can see if they are ready-made at 3D Craftworks.
3) Puppets- have the main characters and the stuffed animals Ed uses to go to bed.
4) Have the children participate in a play. A child can be the mother, another the father, and one can be Ed. When Ed goes to bed, ask the child to pick his favourite stuffed toy from the collection of stuffies.

Extensions:
1) First I would talk to the parents if this is okay with them. I would have children bring in two of their favourite stuffed animals/dolls to have for nap time. Before they go to nap, I would have children share between themselves why they chose that animal.
2) Class Discussion- discuss with the children the different ways to cope with the anxiety of being afraid to sleep by themselves. For instance, some ways to help children not be afraid to sleep alone is to turn on a night light, to sleep with a stuffed animal, to leave the door opened...etc.
3) Art- have children draw/paint their favourite part in bedtime routine. Ex. If a child’s favourite part of bedtime routine is to read a story with his mother, he can draw him and his mom reading a story together. The children can then place these photos in their nap area above their bed, or they may chose to take them home and place them in their own rooms.