BLANCHE HATES THE NIGHT
by Sibylle Delacroix ; illustrated by Sibylle Delacroix ; translated by Christelle Morelli
What to do when you aren’t ready for sleep?
Blanche’s favorite time of day is definitely not the night, and who can blame her? It’s dark, and it’s spooky. You’re not supposed to play. And the moon? It’s “only good for hanging up your pajamas,” Blanche feels. Every day may end in night, but Blanche has some ideas about how to improve the situation. An effective, minimalist palette changes from mustard yellow to blue-gray when the light is turned off, and Blanche’s mother’s soothing but firm voice drifts in, reminding her to settle down. Delacroix’s simple yet evocative drawings are clean and appealing and have just the right amount of detail to keep young listeners focused without overstimulating them. Children will giggle as Blanche comes up with a variety of ways to avoid sleep; she plays her drum, sings a tune or two, jumps and tumbles on her bed. Eventually, even her partners in crime—the pet cat and stuffed owl that share her bed—begin to look tired, and Blanche, a little white girl with a blonde pageboy, allows her vivid imagination to lift her up and carry her away, this time to sleep.
Sparkling with clarity and replete with gentle humor, this straightforward selection is an excellent choice for lulling active toddlers off to sleep. (Picture book. 2-4)