GOOD NIGHT, SISTER

Sisters face fears on their first night in separate bedrooms.

Kat is excited to have her own room, but her younger sister, Tina, feels uncertain. “What if I get scared?” asks Tina. “I may be in my new room, but I am leaving you with all of my stuffies!” Kat tells Tina. Imaginative scenes ensue as Kat explains how the various toys—from courageous Leo the Lion to creative Ollie the Octopus to magical Uni the Unicorn—will support her. Before leaving Tina, Kat gives her a calming rhyme to repeat. The toys are helpful, but as the night turns stormy, both Tina and Kat realize that there’s nothing quite as reassuring as a cuddle with a sibling. Bright, gentle illustrations in a cozy cotton-candy palette give off the feeling of a slumber party, with toys and knickknacks filling both girls’ rooms. Any child who has felt nervous about sleeping alone will be absorbed. While caregivers are not part of this tale, an adult sharing this story with a child can find practical tools, like using a comforting stuffed animal or soothing phrase. Though there’s nothing groundbreaking here, the book is an effective conversation starter about evolving sibling relationships and the struggles of learning to sleep alone. Both sisters present White. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A sweet—and bolstering—bedtime story.