EVERYONE IS ASLEEP BUT ME

A restless bear cub determines that he can return to his own bed in this debut picture book.

When Sleepy Bear wakes in the middle of the night, he notices that all his toys are still snoozing. Curious to see if his parents are asleep, he pads down the hallway. In a humorous, wordless two-page spread that should delight young readers, the cub sees one of his parents facedown on the bed, arm drooped over the side, quilt tucked up over the shoulders. Glimpsing his other slumbering parent, Sleepy Bear wishes he could join the peaceful pair. But with two huge, furry animals taking up all the space in their own bed, there’s nowhere for him to fit. Back in his room, the sad-looking cub scans his surroundings: All the toys and the sun continue to rest. He reluctantly climbs back into bed but discovers, “Oh, it’s warm and cozy.” A winking toy train watches the cub fall asleep. During daytime, Sleepy Bear has plenty of energy and feels proud he slept through the night on his own. With such comforting, snuggly images by debut illustrator Wohlrab in a nighttime palette, the engaging book evokes a sleepy atmosphere sure to inspire toddlers to cuddle into their blankets. And the tone of this captivating story with a potent theme by the mother-daughter team Yacobi and Safrani should assure parents that sleepless nights shall pass.

An approachable vocabulary, strong theme, and adorable, almost huggable illustrations make this soothing animal tale a bedtime winner.