Click, Clack, Good Night

August 1, 2020
Will Duck ever get some shut-eye? "It is nighttime on the farm. / Everyone is tired. / It is time to relax, / unwind, and unplug." Farmer Brown turns out the "cow light," and the cows nestle down to sleep in the dark. He gives the sheep a brush, turns out the "sheep light," and they start snoozing. The chickens need a night light, but they are ready to sleep too. Ever the contrarian, Duck, of course, needs some coaxing. Farmer Brown sings to him, reads to him, does yoga with him, even reads and discusses the top news stories of the day...but when Duck's light goes out, Duck can't sleep. (Farmer Brown is zonked in his rocker.) Duck tries sleeping with each of the other groups of farm animals, but no situation is exactly right. Duck finds a nice place under a tree--but "Chit, chat, chitter": The bats keep him awake. By the pond, the frogs keep him up. Duck knows a good place to sleep...so when the elderly White farmer finally makes his way to bed, he finds he has a bunkmate. Some may be surprised this duo hasn't done a good-night book before now; this will satisfy fans and work as a bedtime story for anyone who doesn't know the series (if such exists). (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-15.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 71.3% of actual size.) Bucolic bedtime done right. (Picture book. 2-6)

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