Not Tired at All! by Heather Croghan (Moreland) was published in 2019 and is described as a witty, verse-based bedtime story about Shirley, a little girl who insists she is not tired and keeps finding reasons to stay awake. (Goodreads)

 

Review of Not Tired at All!

Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — 5/5

Not Tired at All! is a charming, relatable bedtime story that captures one of the most familiar struggles between children and parents: the child who absolutely, positively, is not tired!

One of the story's greatest strengths is its humour and rhythm. Shirley's endless list of things she needs to do before she can possibly go to sleep is something both children and parents will immediately recognize. The verse-based writing gives the story a playful, read-aloud quality that makes it particularly well suited to bedtime.

What makes the story more than simply a funny bedtime battle is the way it introduces children to the real consequences of not getting enough sleep. Shirley is given the freedom to discover for herself what happens when she stays awake all night. This creates an opportunity for parents to talk about sleep without turning the story into a lecture.

I also think the story works particularly well because Shirley is not presented as a "bad" child. She is curious, energetic, imaginative and determined to keep going. Her resistance to bedtime feels authentic rather than defiant for the sake of the story. Parents can see themselves in the exhausted adults, while children can see themselves in Shirley.

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Story Particulars

• Highly relatable: Almost every parent has heard, "I'm not tired!"

• Humorous: The bedtime excuses are playful rather than preachy.

• Good read-aloud potential: The verse and repetition lend themselves well to reading aloud.

• A meaningful lesson: Children experience the importance of sleep through Shirley's experience.

• Parent-child connection: It gives families something to laugh about together.

• Age appropriate: The premise is accessible to young children while giving parents an opening to discuss healthy sleep habits.

Why this storybook works: 

The story doesn't simply tell children, "You need to go to sleep because adults say so." Instead, Shirley's experience allows the lesson to unfold naturally. That makes the message more engaging and gives parents an opportunity to ask questions such as:

"How do you think Shirley feels today?"
"What happens to our bodies when we don't sleep?"
"Have you ever felt like Shirley?"

That makes the book useful not only as a bedtime story, but also as a conversation starter about sleep, routines, self-regulation and listening to our bodies.

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Overall

Not Tired at All! succeeds because it meets children where they are. It doesn't shame them for resisting bedtime. Instead, it takes a very ordinary childhood struggle and turns it into something funny, memorable and meaningful.

The story was recognized locally by the Eastern Townships School Board.

In one sentence:
Not Tired at All! is a playful, funny and relatable bedtime story that turns the classic "I'm not tired!" battle into an enjoyable lesson about why our bodies—and our brains—need sleep.

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