STAY AWAKE, SALLY
by Mitra Modarressi & illustrated by Mitra Modarressi
When little Sally is sleepy, Mom and Dad turn the tables on her. A cute raccoon in an orange dress, Sally tells her own story in bouncy first-person verse. It’s bedtime but, surprisingly, her parents exclaim, “The night is still young!” They tempt her with sweet snacks, toys, music and a stack of bedtime stories. Sally stays firmly on task, however, brushing her teeth, taking a bath and limiting bedtime reading to a single book. “One story? Choose four!” the parents reply. “Stay awake, Sally. Just a few minutes more.” Sally cries “ENOUGH!” and Mom and Dad quickly tuck her in. Modarressi’s soft and simple watercolors should be inviting to the very young, who will be amused by the role reversal but likely oblivious to the story as a play of parental psychology. A slight treat for both generations. (Picture book. 2-6)