By Emma Farrarons (author) , Emma Farrarons (illustrator)
"Two brothers discover how to talk themselves to sleep."
Hardback In Stock £12.99 £11.69
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May 2026 Debut of the Month
In her debut authored picturebook, the 2025 Klaus Flugge prize winning illustrator has created a delightful story of two brothers at bedtime.
Young Magnus shares a room with his big brother Kaspar, but he cannot get to sleep and has to rouse his long-suffering brother to tell him so. Magnus does not like his bed: it’s too lumpy, too cold and too big! Each reason is strikingly illustrated in little vignettes, which make his points very clear.
He asks if he can share Kaspar’s bed and is allowed to climb in, ‘ But NO talking’. There is little chance of that! Magnus has all the characteristic inquisitiveness of young children, and he wants to know why we sleep in beds and so begins a wonderfully imaginative conversation between the boys, as they take turns to suggest a sleeping place and then to point out the problems.
Each increasingly outrageous suggestion, such as their father’s pyjama pockets, is comically illustrated in great detail, with a lovely use of scale and perspective, as well as gorgeous nighttime tones. This will, I am sure, spark lots of discussion with young readers pointing out the pros and cons of each proposal and perhaps suggesting where they would like to sleep.
Actually, compared to a dark cave filled with unknown monsters creeping up on them, perhaps the warm and cosy bed seems just right after all!
Before you know it, Magnus is asleep and finally poor Kaspar can sleep in peace! The warm, evocative and amusing illustrations are very engaging, and I have no doubt that this highly relatable story with its wonderfully realistic portrayal of a sibling relationship, will prove to be a very popular bedtime read.
In Emma’s enchanting world, bedtime can be cosy, but it can also present challenges!
Read the full description
Two brothers share a room. One is asleep, but the other is WIDE awake.
When Magnus can’t get to sleep, he begs older brother Kasper to let him get into his bed. Kasper’s only rule? No talking. But Magnus has a burning question: why do we sleep in beds? Discover all the strange and unusual places the brothers imagine falling asleep in this hilarious tale of discovery.
A unique and charming read, ideal for sharing at bedtime, sparking imaginations for a night of wonderful, whimsical dreams with glorious pen and ink artwork.
“This book started as a single picture of thumb-sized boys nestled in a bird’s nest. My own boys share a room and after lights-out I hear them whispering and giggling in the dark. As I shut the door, I wonder what they talk about and how they finally settle themselves to sleep. The story sprang from there – I love thinking about how many bedtimes it will visit now.” Emma Farrarons
“Emma pours everything into her stories (her hard work only matched by her talent) and I am over the moon she has trusted Rocket Bird Books with her first author- illustrator picture book. I fell in love with these two boys as soon as I met them in her sketchbook and I can’t wait to share their story with readers around the world.” Libby Hamilton, Publisher, Rocket Bird Books
Born in the Philippines, Emma Farrarons moved to Paris as a baby. She studied at Edinburgh College of Art and Paris’s École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs. A designer for many years, during the pandemic Emma took the plunge and now focuses on making her own incredible books. She now lives in London, UK.
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In Emma’s enchanting world, bedtime can be cosy, but it can also present challenges! Two brothers share a room.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed I Can't Sleep and determined it is suitable for children aged 3-6 years old
I Can't Sleep features in the following genres: Featured Books for 3+ readers, Featured Books for 5+ readers, Debuts of the Month, Recommendations, Stories about Family and Friends, Bedtime Stories for Children, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Picture storybooks, Children’s picture books, Children’s: picture books, activity books, early learning concepts
Hardback. £11.69, down from the £12.99 cover price. In Stock.
I Can't Sleep was written by Emma Farrarons and published by Rocket Bird Books an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
I Can't Sleep has 32 pages
£11.69, reduced from £12.99. In Stock.
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