Valerie Renhard spent twenty years as a mother before she wrote a single word of her debut picture book. She raised her own children, fostered others, and accumulated two decades of bedtime battles. Something shifted — her son Clayton needed a better evening routine, and she built one that worked.
Then she wrote it down.
“Well, it’s not like these kids came with a manual,” Renhard acknowledged. The observation sits at the heart of her approach. Rather than prescribe or lecture, she built a book that shows children what a calm bedtime looks like. The perspective stays a child’s throughout — a farm at sunset, three plush companions keeping watch.
Clayton Gets A Bedtime Routine published on 8 January 2026. It follows five-year-old Clayton through an evening checklist he works through with his parents. The farm setting gives the story warmth and visual grounding. Clayton moves through each step not under duress but with genuine enthusiasm. He wants to do “big boy” things, and the routine frames each task as exactly that.
The checklist runs in sequence. Clayton pauses to name one thing he feels thankful for. Then he brushes his teeth, picks his pyjamas and climbs into a bubble bath that turns into a sing-along. After drying off, he works through the remaining steps with Mum and Dad. Those are hugs and kisses, a short prayer and a favourite book. Snuggle time closes the evening. Each element builds on the last. By the final page, Clayton — and the child reading alongside him — arrives at sleep feeling settled rather than resistant.
Beyond the routine itself, three comfort characters travel through each step with him. Big Bubbas the bear provides courage through the trickier moments. Uni Doggie stays close as the checklist progresses. Jellybean curls up when the lights go down. The trio reflects something Renhard understood from years of experience. Children often need a physical anchor to feel safe at night. Familiar companions serve that role more reliably than instructions alone.
The book targets ages two to six. That covers the window when bedtime resistance tends to peak. Consistent routines carry the most developmental weight at this stage. Parents, grandparents, caregivers and early childhood teachers working on sleep transitions will find it practical as a read-aloud. The tone stays warm throughout — the routine never feels like a punishment. It feels, by design, like something worth looking forward to.
Valerie Renhard lives in Lincoln City, Oregon. Clayton Gets A Bedtime Routine is available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Clayton-Bedtime-Routine-Valerie-Renhard/dp/180721057X
