This month is the release of the wonderful new picture book, It Simply Can't Be Bedtime -written by Pamela Paul (2nd picture book by the former New York Times Opinion columnist and editor) & illustrated by Steven Salerno (that’s me!), my 38th illustrated picture book. It’s published by G.P. Putnam & Sons (an imprint of Random House).
It Simply Can't Be Bedtime is a unique, entertaining story of a little girl who becomes defiant when her charming and well meaning Dad suddenly announces it’s time for her to get ready for bedtime. She just does not want to stop with any of her engaging, fun activities. So Dad cleverly gets his daughter’s favorite stuffed animal, the very British Lady Pigsworth, to help convince the girl to get ready for bed. (But in the end even Lady Pigsworth needs a tucking-in, too.)
Below are a handful of the illustrations I created for this wonderful picture book story… rendered mostly in tints and shades of blue, lavender, and yellow.
You can view other illustrations from all of my 38 picture books previously published by visiting my web site, stevensalerno.com
^ above -a detail from the endpapers artof the new picture book, It Simply Can’t Be Bedtime, a fun and charming new bedtime story, released in May 2025 published by G.P Putnam & Sons, an imprint of Random House. Written by Pamela Paul & illustrated by Steven Salerno
^ above -the Title Page of the new picture book, It Simply Can’t Be Bedtime, introducing the very British character, Lady Pigsworth… wearing her garden hat, ascot, and holding her Union Jack handbag. The title was released in May 2025 published by G.P Putnam & Sons, an imprint of Random House. Written by Pamela Paul & illustrated by Steven Salerno
^ above -the opening sceneof the new picture book, It Simply Can’t Be Bedtime, released in May 2025 published by G.P Putnam & Sons, an imprint of Random House. Written by Pamela Paul & illustrated by Steven Salerno. Here we see the girl fully engaged with all her bedroom activities -when suddenly her Dad calls from the other room announcing that it’s time for her to get ready for bedtime.
^ above -a detail of an illustrationfrom the new picture book, It Simply Can’t Be Bedtime, released in May 2025 published by G.P Putnam & Sons, an imprint of Random House. Written by Pamela Paul & illustrated by Steven Salerno. Here we see the girl character in a defiant pose in response to her Dad suddenly announcing it’s time to get ready for bedtime.
^ above -detail of an illustration fromof the new picture book, It Simply Can’t Be Bedtime, introducing the very British character, Lady Pigsworth… released in May 2025 published by G.P Putnam & Sons, an imprint of Random House. Written by Pamela Paul & illustrated by Steven Salerno. Here we see the Dad when he first seeks the assistance of the stuffed animal Lady Pigsworth to help him convince his daughter to get ready for bedtime.
^ above -an illustration fromthe new picture book, It Simply Can’t Be Bedtime, introducing the very British character, Lady Pigsworth… released in May 2025 published by G.P Putnam & Sons, an imprint of Random House. Written by Pamela Paul & illustrated by Steven Salerno. In this scene the girl and Lady Pigsworth, both with drooping eyelids, are finally tucked into bed and ready for sleep!
It Simply Can't Be Bedtime is a unique, entertaining story of a little girl who becomes defiant when her charming and well meaning Dad suddenly announces it’s time for her to get ready for bedtime. She just does not want to stop with any of her engaging, fun activities. So Dad cleverly gets his daughter’s favorite stuffed animal, the very British Lady Pigsworth, to help convince the girl to get ready for bed. (But in the end even Lady Pigsworth needs a tucking-in, too.)
This new picture book is released in May 2025 by publisher G.P. Putman & Sons (and imprint of Random House) written by Pamela Paul & illustrated by Steven Salerno.
You can view other illustrations from all of my 38 picture books previously published by visiting my web site, stevensalerno.com
