BEEP BEEP TO SLEEP

Inside, families get ready for bed, but outside, the city is bustling.

Pillows are fluffed, nightlights glow, and books are closed. It’s time for youngsters to snuggle down and drift off to sleep. Outside the window? Sirens blare, cars honk, and crowds chatter and laugh. The clamor isn’t going to quiet anytime soon. But each sound melts into a familiar rhythm, lulling city dwellers as they close their eyes. Rigaud and Duchess pop in and out of many cities—Baltimore, Brooklyn, Chicago, and more—as they peer into various bedroom scenes. Some families co-sleep; some have bunk beds; one youngster slips on a bonnet before bedding down. Regardless of the nighttime routines, one thing remains constant: All these children feel safe and loved. Naturally, onomatopoeic sounds abound, but Rigaud also includes some reassuring lessons: “Subways that clickety-clack remind us life’s on track.” Dim lights, comfy blankets, and warm squeezes of stuffed animals contrast with the buzz of outdoor conversations, joyous street corner singing, and barking pups on their nighttime walk. Duchess depicts people who vary in size, skin tone, and ability. The urban landscape and indoor coziness end up melding together. “Busy streets at volume high. Their sounds are a lullaby.”

A sweet melody of urban life.