ZOO DREAMS

After the people go home and the sun goes down, it's time for animals in the zoo to do a little snoozing. In exploring something children wonder about, but never get to see, Hazelaar (Dogs Everywhere, 1995, not reviewed, etc.) is right on the mark: Snow monkeys snore in comfortable heaps, a polar bear is rolled up like a big rug, and the turtles tuck their heads into their shells. Secrets are also revealed: Fish sleep with their eyes open, and with lights ablaze, bats are tricked into sleeping at night. There's more—after everyone else is tucked in, the zookeeper goes home to sleep, his pet cat curled at his feet, and socks strewn across the floor. The pastel drawings have the comfortable softness of flannel pajamas; endpapers decorated with dark night skies and zoo constellations wrap up the book. For the uncaged young, this is the perfect prelude to sweet dreams. (Picture book. 3-6)