Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as the other Frances books
Review: I am a big fan of Frances and I grew up reading many of the Frances books. I received a copy of this book as a gift recently and I was very disappointed. The story starts our wonderfully and Frances, her fears, and her interactions with her parents ring true, but I was very disappointed with the end... when her father makes her go to bed by threatening to spank her. What is the moral of the story? For the parent it seems to be that even if your child is frightened and having a hard time sleeping you should force him/her to go to bed and stop bothering you. For the child it seems to be that your fears are not valid and you shouldn't bother your parents with them. I would recommend skipping this book in favor of "A Bargain for Frances," "Bread and Jam for Frances," or "Best Friends for Frances."
Rating: 
Summary: Classic.
Review: I bought the cassette tape of the Frances stories for the car. My 3 year old son loves and I mean LOVES the stories. We bought the books after listening to the tape 200 times. The Frances stories are hilarious. Frances loves but sometimes is annoyed with her baby sister Gloria. Frances insists on eating only bread and jam, only to become utterly bored with this delicacy. Frances' friend Albert is a too the point, absolutely honest child, as most children this age are. Frances loves chompo bars which we now buy for our son. We call the Nestle Crunch bar a chompo and he is quite happy eating it. Frances does not like to go to bed and while it is no longer appropriate to spank a child, which is mentioned in this book, my son, who have never been spanked, does not dwell on this issue that book. Frances also makes up little songs in all of her books which are hilarious. My son whom I thought only loves trucks, cars and trains loves these books and adores the tape. Accordingly, this book comes highly highly recommended by one very satisfied 3 (almost 4) year old boy.
Rating:
Summary: Adorable!
Review: I bought this book because I have a little 'Frances' of my very own (complete with own set of bedtime dramas!) I figured it would be a fun, quirky read that both my daugher and I would enjoy - and I was right! Now, admittedly, I had no idea about the "spanking" issue, and of course I was quite surprised when I came to it, but certainly not horrified -- Especially when you take into consideration how old this story is.
Besides, it's NOT told in any threatening way - pretty comical actually! I guess it all comes down to your own personal views. If you or your child are easily disturbed by any kind of reference to spankings, then don't buy this book. But I honestly believe it can be taken with a pinch of salt. Just read the story like it was supposed to be read ... with heart! And believe me, Frances' daddy is a big teddy bear that any child could love.
Rating:
Summary: This is the ONE Frances book to avoid
Review: I have found most books in this series to be very appealing to little children, and gentle and humorous into the bargain. However, this one could be all too easily misinterpreted! The story is based on the assumption that a child who cannot sleep is deliberately inventing excuses not to do so, and that genuine terror (which is a fact of life for many) that might cause such sleeplessness is imaginary and manipulative on the child's part, and can be dispelled by a fear of punishment.This would be devastating for a child to believe - but all the more dangerous were such a viewpoint held by a parent who may have a child who has genuine insomnia or night terrors. The rest of the Frances series is worthwhile, but this one is a nightmare.
Rating: 
Summary: smoking, spanking and watching TV?
Review: I loved the Frances books as a child, so I bought this one for my niece without even opening it. When we sat down to read it, I was horrified. "Father" smokes a pipe, both parents watch television, and Frances is threatened with a spanking if she doesn't go to sleep even though she's afraid of monsters in the dark. The book is supposed to help children conquer their fears of the night and sleeping alone but there must be better ways to achieve this. Try the other Frances books, they're great.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite childhood book!
Review: I must have read Bedtime for Frances over a hundred times as a child. All of the stalling mechanisms Frances created to avoid bedtime will be intimately familiar to any child -- as will the transformation of innocent bedroom items into fierce creatures under the cloak of darkness. I love this book.
Rating:
Summary: I read lots of not "politically correct" stories to my kids
Review: I read *lots* of not "politically correct" books to my child but not this one, b/c of the "spanking issue". It is not at all obvious to me - as an adult - that the father would not really spank her as one reviewer suggests.
For some kids these may be ploys to stay up but for many night-fears are very real. I would not want to introduce more fears (spiders, etc.) for a child sensitive on this issue. I don't think it wd/ help a child over-come them either. (I don't read any of Rosemary Well's "unready" books as I don't want to introduce issues but I think they cd/ help someone overcome them.)
It's not just that this book was written years ago, it is that it seems to have been written without kids in mind. My daughter would not laugh at the mention of spanking!
Rating:
Summary: WHAT A MIND JOB!!!!
Review: I read this book to my four year old daughter this evening and was completely disgusted by the time it ended, and she was frightened and confused. In short the story is about a sweet little girl who is having trouble falling asleep because she's scared so she goes to her parents a few times in an effort to get their reassurance and attention - like all children do. Her father's response was go to bed or get a spanking. I couldn't believe the word "spanking" was actually used in the book. Needless to say poor Frances got over her fears of the dark as they were replaced by those of corporal punishment from her father. Additionally, the story was awful, tedious and insulting to the intelligence of the reader. The only good thing about the book was Garth Williams' illustrations. He's a genious but the author is a sorry example of the values embraced by much of Western culture - if you don't like what someone is doing, especially a small, defenseless child - smack 'em. Is there any wonder our country is such a mess?
Rating:
Summary: Outdated pro-spanking theme
Review: I remembered the Frances books from my childhood and regret that I bought this one in the series for my 4 year old without reading it again first. Frances is inspired to stay in her bed at night because her father threatens a spanking, and hearing a moth tap against her window reminds her of the spanking she'll get if she gets up and disturbs her parents again. Ugh. If you think spanking is a barbaric and stupid method of discipline, don't even consider buying this one!
I'll look around for a book that teaches children that sleep is a good thing, that it will give them energy for their adventures the next day, rather than one that threatens violence if they "bother" mom and dad.
Rating:
Summary: Threat of spanking forces Frances to sleep...
Review: I too remember Bedtime for Frances as a child (I'm in my 30's) but was shocked when I read it recently. Wish I never bought it! It's definitely NOT a comforting bedtime story. It's the threat of being spanked (...or is it beaten? described in the book as "whacked and smacked) that forces Frances to sleep. In the book Frances' father says it's Frances job to go to sleep. And if he doesn't, "I will get a spanking?" "Right!" said Father. Frances then hears the sound of a moth at her window. "Whack and smack! Whack and smack made Frances think of a spanking. All of a sudden she was tired."
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