Green Bean Books

Just one more thing and then bedtime

Written by Menahem Halberstadt
Translated by Romy Ronen

Price: £9.99/$10.99
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781784389475

Book available from October 2023

Highlights

  • Teaches children gratitude and acceptance for the little things in life
  • Portrays a heart-warming relationship between a dad and his daughter
  • Written and illustrated by the award-winning Israeli author and illustrator Menahem Halberstadt
  • Beautifully illustrated throughout

Description

Every night, Dora’s dad puts her to bed, but tonight Dora doesn’t want to go to sleep yet, so instead she decides to ask her dad a question. “Just one more thing . . . and then bedtime!”

What Dora and her dad didn’t know is that once you start wondering about the universe and the reasons why things are the way they are in the world, you will find yourself asking one question after the other.

Dora’s dad answers every question she has, but as the clock ticks and time goes by, will Dora continue asking questions or will sleep finally allow them both to continue dreaming?

A heart-warming tale about how children will do anything to delay their bedtime and how we will never run out of things to be curious and grateful for.

Author Details

Menahem Halberstadt began to draw when he was at school, scribbling in notebooks and creating funny creatures and characters. Later, he studied painting and drawing under the instruction of the famous Israeli artists Leonid Balaklav and Aram Gershuni. Following this, he studied animation at the Bezalel Academy and graphic design at Hadassah Academic College, Jerusalem. He works as an illustrator with a number of publishing houses and lives in Israel with his wife and four children. His books for Green Bean Books include A Basket Full of Figs, The Donkey and the Garden and But Perhaps, Just Maybe.

Reviews

‘Originally published in Hebrew, the author based this story on his experience as a parent trying unsuccessfully to put his children to sleep. As is true with many children, Dora tries to put off the inevitable bedtime by asking her father one question after another about a variety of topics. As both author and illustrator, the reader can sense Halberstadt’s personal connection to his daughter and this dilemma. The pictures portray a realistic family life where there’s a mess on the floor after a child’s shower, the father’s facial expressions show weariness and love, and the family is consumed with Dora’s very vivid and active imagination. There are questions about the universe, Dora’s smaller world, and numerous other important issues. The charming interaction between father and daughter highlights patience, understanding, curiosity, and love. 
There are numerous Jewish references throughout the book such as Shabbat and other terms. The pictures offer much flexibility for interpretation of the father’s reactions and feelings for his family. This story will easily resonate with parents everywhere as they try to work through their bedtime frustration with patience, ingenuity, and love as well as some amusement.’ – Rachel Glasser, Retired Librarian Yavneh Academy, Paramus, NJ