A quiet depiction of self-reliant slumber.
An evening routine provides stability for two smiling siblings.
The pair bathe together in the tub. Drying off with towels, they put on pajamas and share a nighttime story with their favorite stuffed animals before they pull the covers up over their noses. The tale highlights the interactions between sister and brother, exuding coziness as they finally relax. There's no adult physically depicted in the pictures, even when the two splash puddles of water on the floor. An adult presence is indicated in the lulling narration, though: “Snuggle the covers / and off with the light, // Dream little dreams, // I love you, good night.” The youngsters demonstrate tremendous independence; they scrub themselves clean and open wide to brush their teeth. The clean layout provides, appropriately, few details; stitched hearts float in the background near their beds in a symbolic departure from the realism otherwise portrayed. The padded cover adds extra softness.
A quiet depiction of self-reliant slumber. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-545-39215-0
Page Count: 20
Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: June 12, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Simple and lovely, this interactive offering would make a delightful addition to any board-book collection for infants and...
Infants and toddlers are invited to engage in a game of peekaboo with an assortment of cuddly critters.
Though no words appear until the final pages, children will know just what to do here. Each right-hand page features an animal covering its eyes with its paws or wings. Instinctively, little ones will move these paws and wings, which are large, sturdy flaps, to find themselves playing peekaboo with a bear, fox, pig, dog, cat, porcupine, and owl. The animals are beautifully rendered in watercolor with fastidious attention to detail. Ferri has skillfully bestowed each character with a distinctive expression, though they all appear gentle and a little amused to be playing this game. The stark white backgrounds work well, as they keep the focus on the animals and the peekaboo action. The final pages provide a small surprise and an additional interactive opportunity; Caucasian hands cover a mirror, and accompanying text reads: “Peekaboo! Is it YOU?”
Simple and lovely, this interactive offering would make a delightful addition to any board-book collection for infants and toddlers. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: April 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-988-8240-93-7
Page Count: 16
Publisher: minedition
Review Posted Online: May 5, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015
Add this playful purchase to the ever expanding going-to-sleep bookcase.
In a nice twist, instead of a book putting readers to sleep, here it is readers who put the book to sleep.
In this gentle board book, originally written in French, children are encouraged to go over the routines that many may well recognize as their own bedtime routines. On the left-hand page of each double-page spread, a pink, mouselike character guides children in the questions and actions that will help “the book” go to sleep. The latter character occupies the entire right-hand page with a blue cloth-binding background on which two eyes, a nose, and a mouth are superimposed. “Did you brush your teeth?” and “Did you go pee-pee?” both get a “yes” from the book—though its eyes do look to the side, slightly abashed by the latter question. Practical matters taken care of, it is now time to read it a little story, make sure it is warm, has its blankie, and of course, give it a big hug and a little kiss. As the book’s eyes begin to close and its mouth opens to a big yawn, it’s time to turn off the light. On the last spread readers see the book with eyes closed, and children are instructed to close the book very gently.
Add this playful purchase to the ever expanding going-to-sleep bookcase. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Jan. 12, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-553-53875-5
Page Count: 20
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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