Scientist develops book to send children to sleep in minutes [And it outsells Harper Lee’s Go Set A Watchman]

In a bid to encourage bedtime reading for children, 'The Rabbit Who Wants To Fall Asleep', has been created by Swedish behavioural psychologist and linguist Carl-Johan Forssen Ehrlin and is currently outselling Harper Lee’s Go Set A Watchman and Paula Hawkins The Girl on The Train.

The 26 page paperback, which is the first self-published work to ever top the Amazon charts, uses psychological and positive reinforcement techniques to help children relax, focus and eventually drift off.

Parents are instructed to yawn frequently, emphasise certain words and speak in a slow and calm voice when reading words in italic. Although it has pictures, children are asked to just listen rather than read.

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Forssen Ehrlin said it was ‘the verbal equivalent of rocking a baby to sleep’ and hundreds of online reviews from parents claim it has revolutionised bedtimes.

“I had written books before about leadership and personal development using these techniques but I got the idea for a children’s book while I was driving on a long journey with my mother and she fell asleep and I got the idea of how I could use my methods to help children relax” he said.

“When we stopped I wrote it all down on a napkin but it took another three and a half years to come up with the perfect story so that all the techniques were used in the correct order.

“It helps the child to focus and makes them a part of the story so that they fall asleep along with the rabbit. They meet characters like Uncle Yawn and the Heavy-Eyed Owl.”

The book has already been translated into seven langauges and Forssen Ehrlin is now planning a follow up which helps children learn how to use the toilet.

“I am amazed how successful it has been,” he added. “My inbox is full of parents who say it has really helped their children to relax and fall asleep.”