BEDTIME

A low-key bedtime book for toddlers has a gossamer plot and a simple presentation of familiar objects. “It’s nighttime. Here are your toys. Now it’s time to put them away and close the curtains.” Among the most complex illustrations is a toy box with toys scattered on the floor; among the starkest paintings are close-ups of a potty chair and toilet paper on a roll. The objects are always recognizable, even the lovingly rendered fixtures—an antique sink and a claw-foot tub. The book winds up with “Your pillow waits for you and the night-light is on. It’s bedtime. Good night.” With its whispered text and precise renderings, this is a gentle addition to the bedtime-book shelf, sure to lead children off to sleep. (Picture book. 1-3)