Irish award-winning children’s author, Benji Bennett, will be visiting Dunnes Stores locations this season as he embarks on a regional book tour with memorable family favourite and bestselling series of Adam’s Adventure books. The book tour coincides with 15 years of Adam’s Cloud and the launch of the ‘Before you Sleep Bear’.
Benji is the creator of the highly acclaimed moving and emotive book series, including the beloved story, ‘Before You Sleep’. From October until December, Benji will be touring Dunnes Stores locations across the nation in an effort to remind parents of the importance of reading to children from birth and to encourage them to spend 10 minutes reading to their children at the end of each day alongside telling them they are loved before they go to sleep. Those who attend the greeting opportunities are invited to chat with Benji, take photos with their children and pick up a signed copy of their favourite read from the beautiful collection of memorable Adam’s Cloud children’s stories.
Author Benji has three kids – Harry, Robbie and Molly – with his wife, Jackie. But it was the loss of their four-year-old son Adam in 2007 that inspired him to write the Adam’s series of books, the message of which is ‘bringing families closer’. Grateful to have packed a lifetime of love and happy memories into his four short years, Benji immediately felt an overwhelming need to remind parents of the importance of spending time with their children and telling them they love them every day. The book series inspires parents to spend 10 minutes reading to their children each night and to tell them that they are loved.
Celebrating 15 years lovingly inspired by the award-winning series of books, Benji has also launched the ‘Before you Sleep Bear’ just in time for Christmas 2023, hoping it will help reassure and inspire confidence hope, happiness, resilience, and love for children and their loved ones. The bear is a 30cm high-quality soft plush fur bear with a snuggly feel, with beads in feet and bum to add sensory appeal and a quality soft, huggable inner stuffing.
Speaking about the regional book tour and new launch of this year’s ‘must have’ bear, Benji says “When I first started on this journey, I was enlightened by the knowledge that time spent together creates something within a family that can never be explained, broken or taken away. Now we have nine books that I know many parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and loved ones have had beautiful bonding moments reading with a child, and that’s what I want to encourage more of. I love getting the opportunity to meet with people across the country and help them discover the Adam’s Cloud books, and I’m very excited to be able to launch the ‘Before You Sleep’ bear, which was born out of this meaningful book collection.”
”Having recently met a fan of the book who is now 22, he told me the books “Made my Childhood. I know Adam’s message and the work I am doing is making a massive difference on the long-term happiness of a new generation. I thank Dunnes Stores for giving me the opportunity to travel the country to meet people nationwide.”
Benji values the importance of family time, shared reading and the positive influence nature has on family happiness – which is the essence of Adam’s message of Read, Walk, Love. It is this philosophy that inspires Benji’s books and has helped him rebuild happiness both for himself and his family to help overcome their loss. Benji’s hope is to connect with new parents of babies and young children to help them develop positive habits in the early years. To help instil happiness and resilience in their children and build a powerful, emotional and unbreakable bond with them for life.
Whether you’re a dedicated book fan or just curious about the series, the book tour promises to be an enriching experience for all to meet and connect with the creative mind behind the series, have your questions answered, get your books signed and discover the magic of words.
A special promotion will be available in Dunnes Store throughout the tour where 4 books can be purchased for €30 and 9 books for €55. The Adam’s Cloud collection and Before You Sleep Bear can be purchased online and in selected stores. The Adam’s Adventure series is five times nominated and two time winner of the highly prestigious Irish book awards. Over 1 million books have been sold worldwide, with ‘Before You Sleep’ being a bestseller in Ireland. The series was solely created and published by Benji Bennett.
