All aboard The Sleepy Train by SHARNA CARTER, the perfect picture book for sleepy kids winding down before bedtime.

Read a Q&A with the author here.

MEET SHARNA CARTER

What sparked the idea for The Sleepy Train?

A few years ago, I was going through our usual bedtime routine with my toddler. He was in a particularly grumpy mood as he was in the stage of giving up his daytime nap (if you know, you know!), and I was trying to make the nightly “jobs” fun. So, I gave him a piggyback, pretending I was a train saying, ‘Choo-choo – it’s the Brushing Station!’ or ‘All aboard for the Pyjama Station!’ That night, I thought this game could become a story, so I wrote the repeated phrase and then built The Sleepy Train from there.

Did you write The Sleepy Train with both children and adults in mind?

I wrote The Sleepy Train for children, as a fun way to imagine their bedtime routine. I think adults will also appreciate this story, as it could be used as a framework for their children’s bedtime routines. It also has rhythm, rhyme and repetition which are all important for language development. But, at its heart, it’s an imaginative and fun story for children.

Why did you choose a train as the main idea for the story?

Trains are so much fun! We have a train track near us, and when a train passes by, we can hear its whistle. Our youngest child used to get quite a fright when he heard it, so we started acknowledging it in a fun way by saying, ‘Hello, choo-choo train!’ to help him be less afraid. So, I’m always mindful of making trains fun. On the night when I was playing The Sleepy Train game with him, it made sense to choose a train as I needed to encourage him to visit the different “stations”. Plus, trains are iconic!

Are any parts of The Sleepy Train journey inspired by your own childhood or experiences with children?

My children have always had a clear bedtime routine, as it helps to keep them calm when they know what to expect. But, having said that, it doesn’t need to be boring! In fact, it has always been one of those special times when we play silly games together – usually between the Pyjama Station and the Brushing Station – so they can wind down before their bedtime story. My husband is particularly good at creating different games for the kids and making bedtime fun, which is why I dedicated The Sleepy Train to him.

Where did you get your love of storytelling?

I have always loved reading, telling stories, and being creative – it’s probably why I became a drama teacher! Once I had children, I rediscovered my love of picture books and writing stories, and I particularly fell in love with writing in rhyme. I feel very lucky to have had my stories published so they can be a part of someone’s childhood. Patrick Corrigan has done such a wonderful job of bringing my words to life in The Sleepy Train with his illustrations – it’s such a gorgeous book!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sharna Carter is a children’s author from the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. Her storytelling journey began in childhood with elaborate games of make-believe and a love of reading. As a drama teacher, she discovered the power of words and performance which ultimately lead her to explore children’s literature. Inspired by her three children, Sharna’s writing is a heartfelt celebration of the magical moments that define childhood. Her stories are infused with love, humour and a delightful splash of quirkiness.

Visit Sharna Carter’s website here.

Follow Sharna Carter on Instagram here.

Visit the Simon & Schuster website.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Illustrator and author Patrick Corrigan grew up in a cloudy town in Cheshire where he brightened up his life with various creative endeavours and activities (his favourite was cross stitch!). He studied ceramics at university before training as an art teacher. He then went on to become the art director of a busy design studio in London. In 2018 he made the decision to try his hand as a freelance illustrator and has never looked back. His work has been commissioned by numerous clients including: Flying Eye, Harper Colllins, Penguin, Hachette, Dorling Kindersly, Usborne, Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press and Magic Cat Publishing. He was longlisted for the 2022 and 2023 World IIlustration Awards.

Visit Patrick Corrigan’s website

Follow Patrick Corrigan on Instagram