Like most moms, Kellie Reading struggled with bedtime when her kids were younger. Her daughter was hyperactive and her son frequently had nightmares.
Reading, an anesthesiologist in Ann Arbor who is also known as Dr. Zzzzs, knows the benefits of sleep. That’s why she nipped her family’s problem in the bud when she made up a story about Snory Snoraton, a magical creature to help them sleep.
By repeating Snory’s magic spell, Reading’s children began to go to bed without trouble, and a few years later, Snory is the star of Reading’s new book, 1,2,3, Zzzzs For Me: Magic For Bedtime.
This fun and magical bedtime book helps aid children and parents through the bedtime process — creating a new and fun nighttime routine along the way.
The book tells the story of a Snory, a magical creature from Zoomfar who decides to come to Earth to help children. He teaches them calming techniques, shares his bedtime spell and helps children get the Zzzzzs they need.
Snory’s relaxing powers help calm children via a process called cutaneous stimulation. This soothing bedtime practice facilitates the production of calming neurohormones from the brain, which can help children overcome fears.
“My own kids believed in the magic, and I saw that Snory worked for them, physically and mentally,” says Reading. “Then it dawned on me — this could work for other kids, too.”
In addition to alleviating fear and providing a calm, relaxing atmosphere conducive for a good night’s sleep, Reading’s goal in writing the book was to introduce the importance of sleep to children in a fun and magical way.
The importance of sleep for kids
Working as a physician, Reading sees the devastation of poor sleep. She says the fundamentals of healthy sleep habits start when we are young.
“Sleep is a critical aspect to our overall health,” she says. “Symptoms of sleep deprivation in children may include behaviors like the inability to focus and hyperactivity.
Numerous research studies have shown that chronically sleep-deprived children are more likely to have trouble in school, behavioral problems and mood disorders.”
1,2,3, Zzzzs For Me: Magic For Bedtime isn’t just a standard picture book. It includes messages for kids to solve, a bedtime spell and glow-in-the-dark art on the back of the book. The book is also designed to be a security object for children struggling with nighttime fears.
“I hope my book will bring restful joy to the bedtime routine, and help parents be sure their child is getting the restful sleep they need,” says Reading.
Find the book on Reading’s website. Every website order comes with a free LED light (while supplies last) that activates the glow-in-the-dark function on the back. 1,2,3, Zzzzs For Me: Magic For Bedtime can also be found at Nicola’s Books in Ann Arbor and Coreander’s Children’s Bookshoppe in Gross Pointe.
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