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I FORGOT HOW TO SLEEP

Name: I FORGOT HOW TO SLEEP
Author: Bruno Zocca
ISBN: 9781592704835

by Bruno Zocca ; illustrated by Bruno Zocca ; translated by Debbie Bibo ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 19, 2026

Well worth staying awake for.

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A resourceful child struggles to fall asleep.

“I must have forgotten how to sleep. No matter how hard I try, I’m still awake.” But red-haired, pink-skinned Lucy isn’t going to just lie there and take it. The young narrator decides to repeat the nighttime wind-down routine—“Maybe I skipped a step when I was getting ready for bed?” Lucy sheds pajamas, (re?)brushes teeth, puts the jammies back on, and (again?) says good night to Dad (who seems to be a single parent), but it’s no use: Lucy just isn’t sleepy. The child decides to take a walk to “clear my head” and indirectly finds a solution. (A bear and a book are involved.) This is an original and dryly witty take on the can’t-get-to-sleep tale, and Zocca’s art, which has cartoon-clean lines and a punchy green-and-purple–heavy palette, does some of the storytelling. A wordless gag involves the family dog, who makes off with a pillow but doesn’t even need it to fall asleep in an armchair; meanwhile, poor wide-awake Lucy, who’s lying on the back of the chair in perfect, purposeful imitation of the pooch, can’t catch a break. Part of Lucy’s charm is the youngster’s less-than-cute look: Zocca tops Lucy’s head with a scraggly bun and gives the child a noticeably weak chin that hardly hinders Lucy’s determination.

Well worth staying awake for. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: May 19, 2026

ISBN: 9781592704835

Page Count: 48

Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books

Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2026

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2026

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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THERE'S A ROCK CONCERT IN MY BEDROOM

by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 29, 2022

Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.

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Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.

Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)

Pub Date: March 29, 2022

ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin

Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

- BOOK REVIEW
THERE'S A BEACH IN MY BEDROOM
by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson

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I GOT YOU

by Derrick Barnes ; illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 15, 2025

Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind.

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When Mom and Dad bring baby Rasheed home for the first time, it’s love at first sight for big brother Anthony.

As the boys grow, Anthony teaches his little sibling how to build a tower with blocks (and how to knock it down with a loud “WHOP!!!”), how to ride a bike, and even how to fly (through a well-timed leap from the swings). When thunder and lightning wake them both one night, Anthony assuages Rasheed’s fears with the book’s titular refrain: “I got you.” But one day Anthony goes for a bike ride with his friends, leaving Rasheed alone and hurt. That night, Anthony explains that while he may spend time with his peers, his bond with Rasheed is unbreakable. And as the book comes to a close, with Mom and Dad introducing the boys to their new little sibling, Anthony leaves Rasheed with perhaps the greatest lesson of all: how to be a supportive big brother himself. Narrated by Rasheed, Barnes’ text is elegant in its simplicity, loving yet never saccharine, and always emotionally honest. Using varied perspectives, Knight-Justice’s richly hued, collagelike digital illustrations combine a patchwork of textures and patterns, immersing readers in this affectionate Black family’s world. Greens and blues dominate the pages, bringing to life an idyllic suburban setting.

Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind. (Picture book. 4-8)