Bedslime Blues - Perfect Picture Book Friday #PPBF + GIVEAWAY

Maria Marshall
2 minutes ago
3 min read

l adored this dynamic duo's original, humorous collaboration, Be My Valenslime. Especially the adorably cute monster Snoodle and was excited to see them all back again in a monster-ously "slime-tastic" adventure - bedtime. That dreaded part of the day for many kids and parents when the fear of missing out, of being in bed alone, or just an aversion to bedtime causes strife in households. Turns out even monsters don't like bedtime.

Book cover - four monsters getting ready for bed, yawning, brushing teeth, washing, and snuggling a stuffed friend.

Bedslime Blues

Author: Kris Tarantino

Illustrator: Cori Doerrfeld

Publisher: Waterbrook Kids/Penguin Random House (February 3, 2026)

Ages: 3-7

Fiction:

Themes:

Bedtime, monsters, humor, and friends.

Synopsis:

Bedtime routines get a jolt of silliness and some sweetness as four monster friends try to resist bedtime in this wonderful bedtime tale.

It's time for bed... except monsters DON'T DO bedtime!

Iggy doesn’t want to take a bath. Zee-Zee’s jammies are icky. Fleck whines and stomps when it’s story time. The bedslime blues are impossible to escape—even for the usually cheerful and enthusiastic Snoodle!

With all their stomping and clomping, how on earth will these gruffy, grumpy monsters lie down for a peaceful night of ZZZ’s?

Author Kris Tarantino and New York Times bestselling illustrator Cori Doerrfeld partner once again with this fun and funny bedtime read-aloud for any "little monster" that won't go to sleep!

Opening Lines:

MEET THE MONSTERS!

A tad gruffy. A bit grumpy.

And definitely not ready for . . .

BEDTIME!

What I Loved about this book:

This is such a fun opening with our four monster friends, a small tag-a-long monster, and a cat romping about as the sky presents a gorgeous sunset. Observant readers will spot Snoodle's precious stuffie, Loppie, tumbling behind a bush, as she jumps out to surprise a very unperturbed cat.

Internal spread - on the left, a small monster drobs a stuffed doll as it jumps from behind a bus at a cat and another big monster tags another monster's tail. On the right, a young sea serpent startles a medium-sized monster holding a rock. A faded unicorn, bear in a tutu, and a kitten wave in the background.

Text © Kris Tarantino, 2026. Image © Cori Doerrfeld, 2026.

Humorously channeling typical 'human' complaints, the four slowly shuffle toward the cave, where a giant monster hand holds a grumpily frowning alarm clock. And it's announced that "These monsters have the bedslime blues!" Where upon they immediately try ways to postpone bedtime - such as, "You can't find me!" and "I'm thirsty!" - which will sound very familiar to many caregivers.

But a lively bathtime, with seven little monsters and a pirate ship, makes Iggy's "bedslime blues walk the plank."

Internal spread - a monster in a bathtub playing with a pirate ship, monster toys, and other little monsters. Cups, rings, balls, and fish skeletons float about in the water.

Text © Kris Tarantino, 2026. Image © Cori Doerrfeld, 2026.

A pair of favorite, "comfy-cozy" PJs soothe Zee-Zee and a special snuggle with dad creates wonder and peace for Fleck. It seems the monsters will all actually wind down for sleep. Until . . .

Internal spread - on the left, Daddy monster stands in the doorway of little monster's bedroom as she discovers her favorite stuffie is gone. Moss and mushroom covered bed, magnifying glass on the floor near books, pictures on the wall and crats hanging on a wire. On the right, the little monster is breaking down in tears over losing her stuffie.

Text © Kris Tarantino, 2026. Image © Cori Doerrfeld, 2026.

Uh-oh, Snoodle's favorite stuffed friend is missing. That one dreaded moment for all caregivers when a special blanket, stuffie, or toy is missing, causing a flood of tears and a big case of "bedslime blues." How can you not melt when looking at Snoodle's face?

I love Cori Doerrfeld's colorful, yet calming pallet and all her ingenious details - from the familiar, yet monsterly bedrooms - Snoodle's moss & mushroom bed and, Zee-Zee's lichen covered curtains hanging from a bone - to her creative solution for "fitting" the larger monster parents into the book. I also adore the dash of both internal and end rhyme woven through the humorous, yet gentle, text and Kris Tarantino's delightfully inventive words - "slime-tastic" and "monster-ific."

The alternation of angst and contentment for each of the four little monsters beautifully mirrors many a bedtime and offers kids (and caregivers) a humorous way to create a snuggly moment in their own bedtime battle with "blues." This charming, silly, whimsical book is a wonderful addition to bedtime books.

Resources:

what do you do to help wind down and relax before bed?

do you have a stuffie or toy that you sleep with? If it's ever gotten "lost," where did you find it?

Activity Pack cover - four monsters getting ready for bed, yawning, brushing teeth, washing, and snuggling a stuffed friend.

check out the book's moster-ific activity pack.

🎈🎉 GIVEWAY for BedSlime Blues 🎉🎈

Kris Tarantino is offering one lucky reader a book!

- Simply comment below or on Monday's interview with Kris and Cori (here) to be entered in the random drawing on February 13th.

- Be sure to say where (if) you shared the post (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Bluesky), and I'll add additional entries for you.

- Sorry US residents only.

If you missed my interview with Kris Tarantino or Cori Doerrfeld on Monday, find it (here).

This post is part of a series of blog posts by authors and KidLit bloggers called Perfect Picture Book Fridays. For more picture book suggestions and resources see Susanna Leonard Hill's Perfect Picture Books.