Bedtime 123 Read-Along

September 11, 2017
As night falls on a farm, baby animals get ready to sleep. Working up to 10, Walters (An African Alphabet) counts them in soft prose that uses an array of soporific synonyms to get readers in the mood for settling down: “Seven kittens nestle into their basket. Eight chicks cuddle close in their nest.” Bisaillon (The Snow Knows) uses pencils, watercolors, pastels, and other media to create lovely, gently textured collages. The closely clustered animals aren’t always the easiest to count, perhaps, but it hardly matters: the images exude an almost palpable sense of security and comfort. Up to age 3. Author’s agent: Marie Campbell, Transatlantic Literary. Illustrator’s agency: Morgan Gaynin.

July 1, 2017

Baby-Toddler-This gentle, soothing counting book is just the ticket for lulling babies to slumber. As one moon rises, two stars come out, three owlets rest high in the treetops, and four fawns settle in the soft grasses. The count continues and includes fox cubs, puppies, kittens, chicks, bunnies, and ducklings. The last spread depicts a smiling baby tucked snugly in bed, with its eyes shut tight. The lovely mixed-media artwork, done in rich earth tones, is textured and expressive. This is the stuff of sweet dreams!

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2018
Lull them to sleep as you teach them to count.Exquisite artwork and charming baby animals teach children to count from one to 10 while easing them toward sleep. Parents and caregivers may find this a perfect union of engaging, soothing words, images, and numeric instruction. The simple series of beautifully rendered two-page tableaux begins with the transition from day to night: "When the sun goes down, / one moon rises, / two stars come out, / three owlets rest high in the treetops," and so on. After "ten ducklings tuck beneath a warm wing," the enticingly somniferous action concludes with the suggestion that "It's time for all babies to sleep. Good night, babies." The denouement is a scene of a happy, sleeping brown-skinned baby tucked in and sleeping peacefully. In addition to the owlets, the book features fawns, fox cubs, puppies, kittens, chicks, bunnies, and ducklings. Numbers are indicated in numeric form as well as spelled out in the text. There is an elegant flow to author Walters' text that is gracefully complemented in the lovely renderings by artist Bisaillon. The images blend cut paper, pastels, watercolors, pencils, and digital imaging to an effect at once striking and soothing.An exceptional bedtime delight that instruct as it composes restless little ones for slumber. (Board book. 1-3)

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