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Willems, Mo

I Want to Sleep Under the Stars!

96 pp. | Hyperion | October, 2020 | Trade ISBN 978-1-368-05335-8 $12.99
(2) K-3 Unlimited Squirrels series. This installment of the early-reader series (I Lost My Tooth!, rev. 11/18; Who Is the Mystery Reader?) follows the format of silly main story, some informational follow-up, and three "A-corny" joke interludes. The "BIG Story!" concerns the Squirrel friends' attempts to make Zoom Squirrel's dream of sleeping "under the stars" come true. The gang is full of good if misguided intentions: enthusiastic cheering ("GO, ZOOMY! GO, ZOOMY! GO, ZOOMY!") and rival teams "PEACE!" and "Quiet!" keep Zoom awake until "THE STARS ARE GONE!" In one of two (mostly) nonfiction sections, shades-wearing "Squirrel to the Stars" Nutshell reveals that the stars aren't really gone and a few other astral facts. Quiz Squirrel's "Fur Real" provides information about sleep habits of squirrels, armadillos, and house plants. Color-coded speech balloons and Willems's reliably expressive cartoon characters aid comprehension; "Emote-acorns" show up "when the Squirrels have BIG feelings" to reinforce the mood. This genre mash-up has what it takes to encourage newly independent readers: "'En-cour-aged'? What does that mean?' 'Being told you can do it by a friend.'"
Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2021

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