I'm Not Tired Yet!

April 30, 2012
Ralphie Mix isn't ready for bed, and he knows how to pull out all the stops. Richmond's (I Believe in You) sometimes uneven verse describes Ralphie's bedtime procrastination, which includes telling his mother that there's a bug scuttling across floor, claiming there's a monster hiding in the closet, and asking for a glass of milk. His understanding mother addresses each concern with a playful allusion to a particular animal, followed by a loving embrace. Smudgy, earth-toned canvas paintings depict mother and son as goldfish, cuddling polar bears, and caterpillars (" âScared and achy?' said his mom./ âYou're being mighty fickle./ Could it be that what you need/ is a caterpillar tickle?' ") in intervening spreads. Kids may admire Ralphie's tenacity when he pulls a final trick from up his sleeveâjoking that he's gotten in big trouble at school (at this point, Ralphie's doting mother seems on the verge of a meltdown)âbefore finally falling asleep. The repetition and multiple hugs and kisses lend a soothing quality, though there's little doubt that young readers will walk away with a new arsenal of delay tactics. Ages 4âup.

December 1, 2012

PreS-Gr 2-Six-year-old Ralphie does not want to go to sleep, and he pushes his bedtime back by telling his mother that he sees monsters in closets and bugs crawling across rugs, and that there is an annoying mosquito buzzing near his ear. Each time Mom knows just what he needs, whether it is a polar-bear cuddle, an enormous ape hug, or a goldfish kiss. This is clearly an enjoyable nightly routine for mother and son. Ralphie finally turns the table on Mom when he alludes to some transgressions at school, and she stops short. He quickly admits he is joking and the two of them share a "gotcha" moment. The story is written in a rhyme scheme that at times does not scan satisfactorily, especially toward the end. Cheery polka dots on the endpapers mirror those on Ralphie's bed linens. Nevertheless, the pictures are unpolished, and scenes that feature perspective result in awkward illustrations. Sherri Duskey Rinker's Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site (Chronicle, 2011), Bob Shea's Dinosaur vs. Bedtime (Hyperion, 2008), and Jane Yolen's How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Goodnight? (Blue Sky, 2000) are stronger bedtime selections.-Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2012
Preschool-G At bedtime, Ralphie Mix, age six, manages to keep his mother in his room for a prolonged period by pointing out various reasons why she shouldn't leave. There's a bug crawling across the carpet, a monster behind the closet shelves, a mosquito buzzing in his ear, and so forth. Mrs. Mix counters with offers of a fishy goldfish kiss, one big gorilla hug, a cozy polar bear cuddle, a caterpillar tickle, and a rock lobster pinch. When Ralphie acquiesces to each offer, illustrations depict each show of affection as done by the animals mentioned rather than the mother and son. The rhyming text, though adding to the playful concept, feels forced at times. Meanwhile, the illustrations, though they adequately convey the impish nature of the repartee, are inconsistent, with the drawings of the animals coming off as far more appealing than the oversimplified human faces. Nevertheless, this is a fine supplemental purchase for one-on-one sharing where bedtime stories are in high demand.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)