If I had a unicorn

by Gabby Dawnay

Published 20 August 2020
GOLD award winner, MadeForMums Awards 2021

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to have a unicorn for a pet? Besides being much less angry than a troll and far more conveniently sized than a giant, unicorns only ever eat ice-cream for breakfast AND... every time you get upset they feed you candyfloss!

In this humorous, energetically rhyming tale, a little girl experiences exactly what life would be like with a magical creature for a pet – from sprinkling stardust on grumpy parents to sliding into football practice on a rainbow. This book, the latest in the bestselling 'If I Had…' series, celebrates the magic of unicorns in a way that will appeal to children who are allergic to pink.

If I had a sleepy sloth

by Gabby Dawnay

Published 27 February 2020
As read on Cbeebies bedtime stories

In this charming trip of the imagination, a little girl delights in experiencing life at a slower pace as she shares her day with a sleepy sloth who moves so slowly, moss grows in his fur!

This sloth may be sleepy but it’s a champion on the jungle gym, thanks to its super gripping skills. And climbing trees has never been so easy! But the little girl’s hairdresser is less than impressed to find not just moss but also moths in its fur – and by the time our sleepy sloth has finished its morning walk, the day is almost done.

Through rollicking rhymes and bold, graphic illustrations, If I had a sleepy sloth imagines the positives and negatives of having a sloth for a pet and provides a welcome alternative to the fast pace of modern life by creating the time for readers to simply
b-r-e-a-t-h-e.

If I had a dinosaur

by Gabby Dawnay

Published 9 February 2017
As read by Eddie Redmayne for CBeebies Christmas Day Bedtime Story

WINNER of the 'Best Preschool Book' - Made For Mums Awards 2018

A little girl dreams of having her very own pet. But what kind of animal would make the best companion? A mouse is too small; a cat is too ordinary; and a fish is too… wet! As she plays with her toy dinosaur, inspiration strikes. What about a real, live dinosaur? She could ride it to school. It would need lots of food to eat, a swimming pool to drink from, and a dino flap so it could come and go. At the end of a day spent busily imagining, the girl trudges up to bed with her little plastic dinosaur. As she falls asleep, the dinosaur from her daydreams stands in the garden with its head poking through the bedroom window, making her dreams come true.

If I had an octopus

by Alex Barrow and Gabby Dawnay

Published 8 April 2021
I really want a clever pet, a pet with many charms.
The sort of pet with talents, and a large amount of arms

Have you ever thought about what the best aquatic pet would be? It's an octopus, of course! Playing different ball games simultaneously and staying camouflaged when it’s bedtime is eight times the fun – just watch out for the ink... With vibrant illustrations and playful rhymes, If I Had an Octopus is a charming and imaginative tale about bedtime story that follows a little girl's flight of fancy as she imagines the advantages and disadvantages of having an octopus for a pet.

If I had a kangaroo

by Gabby Dawnay

Published 12 May 2022
The latest instalment in the bestselling If I had... series imagines life with a kangaroo as a pet.

With rollicking rhymes and bold illustrations, this charming bedtime story follows a little girl's flight of fancy as she imagines the advantages and disadvantages of having a kangaroo as a pet. Being an ace on the basketball court is a breeze, but hold on to your stomach during the school run - it's pretty bumpy being bounced around in a pouch!

If I had a vampire bat

by Gabby Dawnay

Published 20 October 2022
A laugh-out-loud bedtime story in which a little girl imagines what it would be like to have a vampire bat for a pet.

I really want a spooky pet
that flaps around and hangs.
A toothy type of swoopy pet
with shiny pointed fangs...
Imagine if I had a... vampire bat!

This charming addition to the popular If I had a... series is timed perfectly for Halloween, and features a sharp-toothed but adorable vampire bat as its main star. Taking inspiration from the Addams Family, it imagines what it would be like to live a nocturnal lifestyle and the funny scenarios one might encounter trick-or-treating or at the funfair with a vampire bat as your pal. Facts about vampire bats combine with seasonal spookiness and positive messages about dental hygiene in this brilliant book for bedtime.

If I had a crocodile

by Gabby Dawnay

Published 18 May 2023
A charming and imaginative story in the bestselling 'If I had a...' series, which imagines life with a crocodile as a pet.

There’s more to a crocodile than its scaly skin and scary teeth – they stay cool under pressure (in part because they can’t sweat) and on a rainy day, they love nothing more than a fast game of Snap!

This latest addition to the 'If I Had a...' series is packed with humour and rollicking rhymes that young children readily catch on to. Its bold, graphic illustrations are stylish and packed with quirky details for children to spot. The book winds down to a satisfying end where the little girl drifts off to sleep, making it perfect for bedtime routines.

If I had a polar bear

by Gabby Dawnay

Published 5 October 2023
The latest addition to the wildly popular series of bedtime stories imagines what it would be like to have a polar bear for a pet.

What would it be like to have a polar bear as a pet? It might be an unconventional choice, but it would be sure to give the best bear hugs...

Polar bears are cuddly but they're also very strong. As marine mammals, they can swim for days at a time – that's serious perseverance! So if Santa ever needed help delivering his presents, guess who he would call? Join our funny female protagonist as she wonders 'what would life be like... if I had a polar bear?'

If I had a dragon

by Gabby Dawnay

Published 3 October 2024
The fiery new title in the best-selling If I had a... series imagines life with a dragon as a pet.

Imagine what it would be like to have a dragon as a pet. Join our funny female protagonist on her latest flight of fancy, but watch out for that burning bad breath!

Dragons are mighty mythical beasts... and perfect pets. Getting to school is a breeze when you can fly, and you would never have to worry about lighting the barbecue. But what exactly do dragons eat? Perhaps a trip to the museum will help, just beware of knights in shining armour!

Gabby and Alex's If I had a... series goes from strength to strength. The latest in the fantastically funny series is full of fantasy fun, wrapping up an exciting day of dragon adventures with a warm and cosy night-time scene, the perfect book for bedtime.