I CAN'T SLEEP!

Poor Mole can’t sleep in spite of all his patient friend Mouse’s attempts to help.

The anthropomorphic animal friends are onboard a boat called the Leaping Salmon, and Mole cannot fall asleep. He ventures over to Mouse’s cabin and asks to cozy up with him. Mouse is welcoming, but Mole simply can’t settle down even after they read several bedtime books. He complains that it’s too dark, then too bright. Then he’s too cold, and then too hot. At every turn, Mouse comes up with solutions and ways to comfort his friend. Finally, with a paper lampshade affixed on a lamp to provide just the right amount of light and having moved their bed under an open window with an extra cozy blanket, Mole falls asleep. Alas, however, now Mouse can’t sleep. Why? A closing spread shows Mole snoring away, oblivious to his friend’s wakefulness. This conclusion ends up underscoring how very patient Mouse has been throughout the book, making one wonder what he gets out of the friendship with Mole. The illustrations are largely redundant of the text and don’t offer deeper characterization to answer this question or to otherwise expand upon the story.

Never mind poor, sleepless Mole; take pity on poor, beleaguered Mouse.