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Bedtime Reading Guide

Tips for making Poppy stories part of a calm bedtime routine, which books suit which age, and gentle goodnight questions for every book.

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Sparkle TreePRESS
Bedtime Reading Guide
For grown-ups

Bedtime Reading Guide

Simple ways to make a Poppy story part of your bedtime routine, and gentle questions to talk about afterwards.

A calm story routine

  1. Same time, same place. A story at the same point in the routine each night (after teeth, in bed) helps children know sleep is coming.
  2. Let them choose, from two. Offer a choice of two books. It gives a sense of control without a long debate.
  3. Dim the lights and slow down. Read a little slower and quieter than in the daytime. Pause on the pictures.
  4. Re-reading is good. Asking for the same story again is normal and helpful: children enjoy knowing what comes next and join in with the words.
  5. Keep the talk soft. One or two questions is plenty. If they're sleepy, skip the questions and just say goodnight to the characters.
  6. End the same way. A closing line ("Goodnight Poppy, goodnight stars") makes a cosy full stop.
Reading on a screen? In the Dream Machine, the warm-light button (🌙) softens the page for bedtime, and Read to me lets a sleepy child listen with the lights low.

Which books suit bedtime?

AgeTry
0–3Count along with Poppy (it ends at bedtime), Count to 10, Colours of the Rainbow
3–7Enchanted Adventures of Poppy, Poppy the Dragon Who Sneezed Glitter, Glowberry and the Moon Seed
5–9The Sparkle Tree and the First Star, The Rainbow Bridge, The Brave Little Pixel

The five storybooks are free to read in the Dream Machine at sparkletreepress.com. The four Poppy the Dragon books are on Amazon, and each has a free sneak peek in the Dream Machine.

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Bedtime Reading Guide

Goodnight questions, book by book

Pick one. There are no wrong answers, and "I don't know" is a fine answer at bedtime.

Enchanted Adventures of Poppy

  • Poppy wasn’t the fastest flyer. What was she good at instead?
  • How do you think the baby star felt when Poppy found it?
  • What’s something you’re good at that isn’t about being fastest?

Glowberry and the Moon Seed

  • Why do you think Glowberry kept watering the seed when nothing happened?
  • Have you ever waited a long time for something? What was it?
  • What would you like to grow, if you had a moon seed?

The Sparkle Tree and the First Star

  • The owl said "keep it". Why did the tree let the light go?
  • What is something you could share with someone tomorrow?
  • When you look at a star tonight, what will you think about?

The Rainbow Bridge

  • How did Mira and the other girl talk without words?
  • What colour would you have painted next?
  • Who would you like to build a bridge to?

The Brave Little Pixel

  • Why did Pip leave her place in the sky?
  • Pip looked like a mistake up close. What did the picture show from far away?
  • Have you ever helped without anyone knowing? How did it feel?
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Bedtime Reading Guide

Goodnight questions (continued)

Poppy the Dragon Who Sneezed Glitter

  • What makes you different, in a good way?
  • Is there something about you that you used to want to hide?
  • If you sneezed something magic, what would it be?

Colours of the Rainbow

  • Can you find something red in your room? Something blue?
  • Which colour feels the sleepiest?
  • What colour are your dreams going to be tonight?

Count to 10

  • Can we count to 10 together, really slowly and quietly?
  • Which number was your favourite page?
  • How many cuddly toys are in your bed?

Count along with Poppy

  • What did Poppy count before bedtime?
  • Can you count your yawns? One… two…
  • What three things made you smile today?

When a story brings up a big feeling

Stories about being different or waiting can stir up a real worry. If that happens, name the feeling ("it sounds like that made you feel left out"), keep it short, and offer to talk more in the morning. A cuddle and a familiar goodnight line usually do more than a long chat at bedtime.

Make it theirs

  • Let your child "read" a page they know by heart.
  • Count the stars on a page together, quietly.
  • Ask them to say goodnight to Poppy for you.
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