Author’s tearful page turner
Natalie Mooney’s first baby was a dream sleeper. But her second was irritable at bedtime, inspiring her new book, Please Don’t Cry.
NATALIE Mooney’s first baby was a dream sleeper. But her second was irritable at bedtime, inspiring her new book, Please Don’t Cry.
“The disrupted sleep was a shock. I struggled to keep my sanity. I tried to allow her to self-settle. We tried music, patting, swaying.”
The one thing that worked was singing – nursery rhymes, children’s songs and lullabies.
Hush Little Baby was a favourite, but the lyrics didn’t suit, so Natalie made up her own.
Now they live in a picture book she hopes to share with children everywhere.
Illustrated by Danish illustrator Jelena Jordanovic-Lewis and co-published with Little Steps Publishing, Hush Little Baby is dedicated to her children, “little dreamers” everywhere and her mother, Rita, who lost her battle with pancreatic cancer in 2008.
“My mum never got the chance to hold her grandchildren in her arms, hear the magical sound of their giggles or read bedtime stories to them,” she said.
“My kids have never heard the sound of her voice, tasted her amazing cooking or been spoiled by her.
“Hardest of all, I never got to talk to her about how deep a mother’s love truly is and it wasn’t until I became a mum that I understood this. I am a better mum because of her.”
Born to Maltese parents in Adelaide, Natalie travelled widely and did a variety of jobs before settling in Cairns, where she is a primary school teacher and studies psychology.
“I have always wanted to become an author.”
She now writes a blog about reading to babies and the joys and challenges of parenthood.
Natalie says it is never too early to start reading to children. “My hope is that this book encourages families to read to their babies from birth.
“It is such a valuable and simple thing to do and the benefits can last a lifetime.
“In the first months, reading aloud to babies helps to develop attachment bonds, familiarity and security.”
Natalie says her book has embraced families with multiple births, single parents, same-sex parents and a variety of cultures. “Hopefully, Please Don’t Cry becomes a treasured part of bedtime routines around the world,” she says.
Please Don’t Cry is available at Kookie Corner, Smithfield Shopping Centre; The Greenhouse Environment Shop; Makin’ Whoopee; Cairns Books; Tableland Books and online at www.pleasedontcry.com.au or websites like Angus & Robertson and QBD.