MIMI'S STRATEGY What to do when you can't fall asleep

By Linda Goudsmit

What can a tired child do when bedtime arrives but sleep still refuses to come?

Hildy is tired at bedtime, yet no matter how hard she tries, she cannot relax and go to sleep. Mimi explains how she and Zeze relax by walking on the beach in Florida and teaches Hildy to use the same peaceful mental picture. The next night, when Hildy's eyes pop open after a bedtime story, she imagines walking on the beach with Mimi and Zeze, relaxes, and falls asleep.

Mimi's Strategy: "The next time you feel yourself falling asleep and your eyes pop open and you are wide awake, I want you to imagine yourself walking on the beach in Florida with your Mimi and your Zeze."

What children will learn:
- Use a familiar mental image to encourage quiet and calm.
- Understand the difference between being tired and being relaxed.
- Practice a simple bedtime strategy independently.
- Connect a loving family memory with a peaceful nighttime routine.
Perfect for:
- Homeschool and public-school families establishing calm bedtime routines.
- Homeschool and public-school educators discussing relaxation and imagination.
- Parents whose children have difficulty going to sleep at night.
- Grandparents who want to share a gentle family-centered bedtime story.

Part of the growing Mimi's Strategy series, an expanding collection of illustrated books by Linda Goudsmit that turn everyday childhood problems into opportunities to stop, think, and choose a successful strategy to solve each problem. Designed for ages 3-8, the series gives families and educators a warm, repeatable way to talk about responsibility, independence, competence, self-control, critical thinking, and family life.

"Learning to think strategically rather than react emotionally is a valuable skill that will empower any child throughout his or her life. Plus, I have yet to meet the child who would prefer a reprimand to a kiss." - Linda Goudsmit

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1953255361
• ISBN13: 9781953255365
• Release Date: July 2025
• Publisher: Contrapoint Publishing
• Length: 44 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.0" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 3 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3