Green Bean Books

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Just one more thing…and then bedtime

  • 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

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    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 

    ‘With a vibe reminiscent of the cartoon Bluey, a simple bedtime turns into a philosophical flight of fancy. Dad tries to put Naomi and the baby to bed, while patiently responding to his daughter’s many gratitudes: that we only have two legs so we don’t have to find three socks, that Shabbat comes every seven days so we don’t get exhausted, and so on. Cleverly humorous illustrations show the kids perking up as the dad succumbs to sleep, where they finally join him for a cuddle. Dad’s tshirt is emblazoned with a hamsa and the word “MAZAL” – luck, subtly reinforcing the theme of everyday miracles. Translated from Hebrew, the frontispiece retains a Hebrew and English prayer thanking God for making things just as they are, a perfect fit for this uniquely charming story.’ — My Completely Unofficial 2024 Sydney Taylor Book Award Shortlist, The Book of Life podcast

    ‘With all the won­ders of the uni­verse to expe­ri­ence each day, why would any child wel­come bed­time? Author and illus­tra­tor Mena­hem Hal­ber­stadt acknowl­edges this wrin­kle in his warm, humor­ous pic­ture book, which opens with the Hebrew bless­ing that thanks God for the won­ders of cre­ation… . Hal­ber­stadt cap­tures the bless­ing of the nat­ur­al world’s gifts, as expe­ri­enced by one for­tu­nate family.’ — Emily Schneider, Jewish Book Council