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32 pp.
| Eerdmans
| February, 2021
|
Trade
ISBN 978-0-8028-5566-4
$17.99
(
2)
PS
In this cozy and imagistic story, a sleepless boy goes for a walk and speaks with pajama-clad creatures, learning about and attempting to imitate the way that each of them rests. There is steady pacing for the sequence of encounters, with effectively patterned dialogue showcasing each animal's recommendation to the boy and the boy's unsuccessful attempt to catch some Zs. After failing to fall asleep like giraffes ("Just rest your head on your back, and then you'll nod off. That's how I go to sleep"), birds, sloths, otters, sperm whales, horses, and more, the boy is tired from his efforts. The final spread shows the child now sound asleep (in a bed). Though the story is surreal and dreamlike, the information about how animals typically sleep is firmly rooted in reality. The illustrations appear to be rendered with acrylics and watercolors, with texture (especially in the boy's dark-brown skin) and elements of collage. Horizontal lines and grid patterns repeat on pajamas, on bedsheets, and in the background, while striking angles emphasize the different animals' movements and sleep positions. Pastel hues temper drowsy blues and reds, offering a just-right palette and balance of energy for this bedtime book.
Reviewer:
Elisa Gall
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
May, 2021