Enjoy cosy bedtimes with Smriti Halls' Bedtime for Little Digger

About Author

Bedtime for Little Digger is the start of a cosy new bedtime series of picture books for young children. We speak with its superstar picture book creators, Smriti Halls and Sue Hendra.

Smriti Halls is a bestselling children's author whose stories include Rain Before Rainbows and I'm Sticking With You. Smriti is South Indian by birth, British by nationality and a Londoner at heart. She lives with her family near Richmond Park.

Sue Hendra grew up in Wimbledon and studied illustration at Brighton University. She has been creating picture books ever since, co-creating the Supertato series, Barry the Fish with Fingers and Norman the Slug with the Silly Shell. Sue loves swimming and can swim up and down for a very long time.

Interview

January 2026

Enjoy cosy bedtimes with Smriti Halls' Bedtime for Little Digger

Sharing stories is a perfect way to wind down after a busy day - but what if your child still doesn't want to go to sleep? We've discovered a gentle, soothing story that is perfect for reminding little ones that everyone needs their rest - even busy little diggers!

Bedtime Little Digger is the first in a new series of picture books by bestselling picture book creators Smriti Hall and Sue Hendra. ReadingZone spoke with author Smriti Halls to find out more about it.

Review: "The soothing rhythmic, rhyming text of Bedtime for Little Digger is just perfect for calming little ones down and snuggling up ready to sleep." - Sue, ReadingZone

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself, and how you started writing picture books for children?

Hello, I'm Smriti. I've always loved working with words and stories, and I've been lucky enough to make a career out of that passion, first as a writer and commissioning editor and now as a full time author.

I write all sorts of books and create them so they can be shared and enjoyed by readers of all ages - from nought to ninety-nine! Everything from poetry and picture books that are funny and fast paced to those that are emotive and tender, all the way to lyrical non-fiction and enticing novelty for tiny tots. I love taking big ideas and making them accessible for the very youngest audience - and in everything I write I aim to make every reader feel included.

Some of my stand-out picture books so far include Rain Before Rainbows, which looks at hope in difficult times; I'm Sticking With You, a celebration of steadfast friendship, and I Love You Night and Day, a US number one bestseller. I feel incredibly lucky to create stories that are shared, enjoyed and woven into the everyday lives of children and families.

2. What inspired Bedtime for Little Digger, a bedtime story featuring 'things that go' - which usually appear in stories about adventure, and being active?

Well, even the busiest of vehicles - just like the busiest of children - has to get some rest… and I'm hoping this book will help them all do just that. It can be tricky to switch off and get ready to go to sleep (I still struggle with that myself as a grown-up) and children often find it even harder - they want to carry on playing or have just one more story or stay up for just a bit longer!

This book is intended to be that perfect “last” bedtime story - the one parents and carers can reach for with confidence to help their little ones snuggle down and finally go to sleep. It's full of gentle repetition and soothing, sleepy words of reassurance to get little ones ready to drift off to a sleep full of happy dreams of diggers, bunnies and flying sheep!

3. What makes bedtime such an appealing time to write about? Do you think parents see bedtime as a chore or a pleasure?

It's so lovely to write books that are intended for bedtime - you know that you are sharing in such a special time of day for so many families - and that's a real privilege; it's an honour to contribute something to those special moments of closeness and togetherness.

I do think it's true to say that bedtime can sometimes feel a bit mixed for most parents, though. It's absolutely a treasured time… but it's also a time when parents might be feeling a bit frazzled or low on energy after a busy day. As picture book creators, we hope to provide words and pictures that speak into that space and provide moments of pure delight.

4. Is Bedtime for Little Digger just a bedtime story, or can it be used to encourage other kinds of activities?

Yes absolutely! In the story, the reader wishes each of the vehicles good night one by one, by saying: "Bedtime for tired train tracks, bedtime for tired trains, bedtime for whirring helicopters, bedtime for tired planes . . . " and so on. This could easily be integrated into tidy up time and used as a helpful way to pick up each toy and put it away at the end of the day, helping little ones wind down and get ready for bedtime to begin.

5. Picture books are often an opportunity to learn something new. What will young children discover in the pages of Bedtime for Little Digger?

I hope little ones take away from the story that it really is important for us all to get our sleep so we can be as active and busy as we want to be tomorrow - and that it's just as true for busy buses, tractors, train and diggers as it is for little people! Being sleep deprived can often make for a grouchy, grumpy day ahead - so it's really important for children to be able to learn to switch off and enjoy a good night's sleep . . . hopefully this story delivers that message in a fun, dreamy way!

6. Sue Hendra's illustrations really bring the characters to life. What do you think young children will enjoy in her pictures?

I shrieked with delight when I saw Sue's illustrations for the book. Every single spread is full of inventive, imaginative play - and there a lot of bunnies too . . . bunnies on skateboards, bunnies in the paddling pool and my favourite, bunnies dancing on a disco bus!

I think the zaniness and fun so much reflects the land of dreams - full of familiar things we love in unexpected places and zinging with colour, humour and the slightly bizarre! They are wonderful. There's so much for little ones to point at and pick out and they will love poring over the pictures.

7. Do you have more Little Digger stories planned?

Sue and I are right now working on the next book in the series, which is another bedtime romp - this time we're in the world of DINOSAURS - but, can you believe it, the cheeky baby dinosaurs are all out of their beds (this might sound very familiar to parents!) Wherever can they have bounced off to?

8. What are you working on currently?

As well as working on the bedtime books with Sue, I'm also writing more funny stories in the TINY TIGER series with Steve Small - our unstoppable little tiger is navigating more frustrating challenges known to small children, such as what to do when you're being told to put on your shoes . . . and hat . . . and coat . . . and being taken to a party . . . when you know perfectly well that you definitely DON'T WANT TO! I'm also enjoying writing lots of nature filled non-fiction, too.

9. For children who enjoy Bedtime for Little Digger, what other picture books have you written that would make a good bedtime read?

In terms of snuggly bedtime reads I've written, I'd recommend any of my picture books with Alison Brown, such as THE VERY BEST HUG or YOU MAKE ME HAPPY (Bloomsbury) full of animal antics - and hugs! HOME IS WHERE MY HEART IS illustrated by Alice Courtly (Andersen Press) is also a lovely bedtime read, all about treasuring home and a sense of belonging. And for a real feelgood read about friendship, I'd suggest any of the books in the I'M STICKING WITH YOU series, illustrated by Steve Small (S&S).

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