NIGHTY NIGHT, DINOS

Twee versions of some awesome extinct monsters hunt nothing but sweet dreams.

Adorably soft-edged, smiling reptiles, some clad in boots, romp together; some play hide and seek, while others splash through the swamp, swim, and fly. At last, a big “YAWN” makes it clear everyone needs their shut-eye. Subsequent pages see them snoozing or nodding off; bedtime routines involving bathing, tooth-brushing, or reading are forgone here. The small dinos tuck themselves into a variety of antique and bespoke bedsteads or blanket nests, wrapped in cozy quilts. “Brontosaurus hugs his bear,” while Archaeopteryx holds a dolly and a sippy cup, her feet in purple mouse slippers. Defying their outsize scale, they emit “tiny snores.” While the dinosaurs are generally accurate in design, there’s no attempt at scale; young readers won’t mind a bit. Predictable rhymes (rest/nest, snug/rug) and steady four-beat lines will smoothly lull a sleepy audience. Hearing that “dinos sleep the whole night long, / Staying healthy, big, and strong,” youngsters will be persuaded to imitate them. Bright colors, especially vibrant violet and tropical teal, alternate with pale pastels in this soothing tale brimming with bedtime charm.

Cute and cuddly.