Moment of the week- Marion Rose

I’m on a school visit for Book Week – obviously I’m here to excite kids about reading, writers, writing and books. We’ve talked about dragons and now I’m reading the picture book “Cassie and the Kiss Soldier” with Year 1s. I’m nearing the end of the story. Cassie has befriended the fluff dragon and overcome her bedtime fears: “She began to feel wonderfully warm and woozy, soft and safe, snuggly and snoozy; deliciously dreamy and drifty and dozy…” I read, softly. There’s a stillness in the room that’s very gratifying. I glance down at the bright attentive faces on the carpet. Oh dear. A small child in the front row has fallen fast asleep – and is being propped up on three sides by his still-listening mates!

Coincidentally, I see that ‘Supernanny’ Jo Frost is about to do a piece on children not getting enough sleep, on the ‘Extreme Parenting’ programme next week. I do hope that sharing a book with a child as part of their bedtime routine is given a big thumbs up .