Customer Reviews

Bedtime for Frances (Trophy Picture Books)

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

This is a great book, and brilliantly illustrated. The others in the series (like Bread and Jam for Frances) did not use the same artist and have an inferior look. The picture of Frances and her Father brushing their fangs before bed is incredibly cute, and my children think the picture of the father half awake in bed is hilarious. The original black and white illustrations are actually better and more scary-looking. Get an older copy if you can find it.
To the more hysterical people in this forum who think their children are irreparably harmed by the spanking reference: I think what you really don't like is that the father threatens a spanking without being portrayed as some horrible monster. Aren't books supposed to be about learning? Just tell your children that back when this book was written (1960) smacking kids on the butt was a fairly common form of discipline. Tell them that you think this is wrong, although some parents today disagree. If your children are still traumatized, then you better home school them, because they are simply too emotionally fragile to go out in the real world.

Ah, the first of the wonderful Frances series. Yes folks, this was the first of what is now a very well known, often read and beloved series about the adventures and misadventures of a little girl...oops, I mean badger! Frances has sort of become a classic for the wee ones.

Now you will note my five stars rating on this work. Please, before you start mindlessly hammering the negative vote button like someone apparently has done to each and every positive review of this one, read on for a bit. If you disagree with the review be so kind as to leave comments as to the reason why...that is what these reviews are for; first to inform, second so we can all discuss and learn from each other.

This is most certainly one of those books that allow the parent, grandparent or other adult responsible for a child to earn their keep. There are most certainly aspects of this book that are bound to offend some readers in this day and age and those making reading selections for their child should most certainly be aware of those issues before they make that decision as to weather or not to read this work to their charge.

This is the story of a very human like little badger girl who is fighting the good fight as to going to sleep as she should, something not at all uncommon with children. She uses many ploys such as request for milk, more kisses before sleep time and such, and then after she actually gets into bed her overly active imagination (another common trait among kids...thank goodness) takes over keeping her awake even longer. Eventually exhaustion from her silly antics our little badger girl drifts off into sleep.

Note that the book plays, through use of words and rhythm to lull a child. They play on language, along with the art work, are the strongest aspects of this book and are worth noting. It starts with a crisp staccato rhythm which has a rather hypnotic in nature and sound sort of like a beginning reader. The language, the rhythm then changes in to longer soothing sentences as Frances's imagination gets the better of her when she is alone. There are of course if first rate and grabs the attention of not only the adult reader but also that of the child.

That is what the book is about. Now for the controversial issues:

First of course is the spanking issue. While no spanking is administered in the book, it is certainly threatened and certainly implied and is certainly one of the fears Frances faces. Some people believe in and do indeed spank their children and some people are extremely anti-spanking. Now I received my share of spankings as a kid and it did not damage me as far as I can tell. Neither my wife nor I were into spanking our own children when they were growing up and we most certainly were not into spanking our grandsons. They all seemed to grow up fine. I do think there is a difference in spanking, corporal punishment and child abuse and the three should not be confused...it is far too important an issue.

As to the objection that the book shows daddy badger smoking a pipe, and both mom and dad actually watching T.V., well, I hardly know what to say. I suppose if a parent feels that strongly about either issue, i.e. pipe smoking or T.V., then they certainly have that right to do so. Who am I to cast stones? I personally think that this objection is just a bit silly and hysterical...but then again, who am I to judge others? I know I am a pipe smoker...my wife will not allow it to be smoked in the house and I am banished to the back porch and woods behind the barn, but as I hate T.V. with a passion and watch very little of it, I suppose I would have some redeeming qualities to these folks.

As to the objection that our little badger girl imagines scary things like spiders, tigers and bears in her room and that the book will "give my kid tips on how to avoid bedtime, ergo increasing the hassle he or she gives me," is again, almost out there on the fringe. If a kid does not imagine scary things that go bump in the night, then he or she is a very rare sort of human being I should think. A kid that does not fight going to bed at a certain time each night is also a rare little critter too. Hey, these are all a part of growing up. I really don't know what to say about this objection.

All in all I feel this is a good children's book and did not hesitate one bit in reading it to our children and grandchildren. There again I will say that I took the time to review this book (as I have and do all such books) before I read them to the little ones and made an adult decision after due consideration.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

Francis was my favorite as a kid - and I love her still. I think it is sad that something as completely wonderful as a Francis book has to spark controversy - but then nowadays what doesn't? Thank God I grew up in the seventies when we were still allowed to have fun, be kids and yes, occassionally, get our little badger bottoms beat if we got cheeky.
VIVA LA FRANCIS!!!

Frances was a classic when I was little. Now I read the same stories to my son. Whenever he keeps stalling, not wanting to go to bed I pull out Bedtime For Frances and read it to him. He smiles because so many of Frances' attempts to stay up late are so similar to his own. We don't spank, but he gets the idea that going to bed is serious business. When the story is over I ask him, "Now, what is your job?" and he closes his eyes with a sweet smile on his face. We both feel better and I can turn out the light.

Like many others I was read and read Bedtime For Frances as a child. My book was lost some years ago and I was thrilled to be able to get another copy. I think that this book is great to read to all children. You can even use it to show that sooner or later they will have to go to sleep and you can help them make it sooner.

I bought the cassette tape of the Frances stories for the car. My 3 year old son loves and I mean LOVES the stories. We bought the books after listening to the tape 200 times. The Frances stories are hilarious. Frances loves but sometimes is annoyed with her baby sister Gloria. Frances insists on eating only bread and jam, only to become utterly bored with this delicacy. Frances' friend Albert is a too the point, absolutely honest child, as most children this age are. Frances loves chompo bars which we now buy for our son. We call the Nestle Crunch bar a chompo and he is quite happy eating it. Frances does not like to go to bed and while it is no longer appropriate to spank a child, which is mentioned in this book, my son, who have never been spanked, does not dwell on this issue that book. Frances also makes up little songs in all of her books which are hilarious. My son whom I thought only loves trucks, cars and trains loves these books and adores the tape. Accordingly, this book comes highly highly recommended by one very satisfied 3 (almost 4) year old boy.

I must have read Bedtime for Frances over a hundred times as a child. All of the stalling mechanisms Frances created to avoid bedtime will be intimately familiar to any child -- as will the transformation of innocent bedroom items into fierce creatures under the cloak of darkness. I love this book.

Do you ever want to stay up late? Find out what happens in Frances' Bedtime. Frances keeps asking her mom and dad for something like a glass of milk so she can stay up past her bedtime. I think this book is fun and enjoyable because Frances is a lot like me. I like to stay up late too. I learned in this book that you should do what you are told because mom and dad usually know what is best for their kids. See if Frances gets her way.

Every night a little four year old girl pulls out this story to be read. The pictures are gorgeous. We have this story in a "book of classic bedtime stories", but bought it separately as well because she loved it so much!

Frances is like many young children who don't like to go to bed and be separated from their parents, and try to put it off as long as possible. We have two boys who remind us a lot of Frances. We have never spanked our children as a way to get them to go to bed, so I don't think it has traumatized them in any way to hear a reference to "spanking". We love all of the Frances books!