Sleepy Bird

May 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 2-Tankard's moody blue bird character is back for another adventure. It is bedtime, but Bird is not tired and he wanders around interrupting his lovable friends just as they are all trying to fall asleep. Bird gets angry because none of his friends will play with him-even nocturnal Raccoon who prefers to rest quietly and will not play. In true Grumpy Bird style, the protagonist storms off and cries until his loyal friends come to his rescue and read him a story. They also share their stuffed toys, sing him a song, tuck him in, and count sleep until the drowsy bird finally falls asleep. In a fun twist of an ending, just when the group settles down for a big rest, their friend Bird is up wanting to play again. This book continues Tankard's bold ink drawings and vivid digital coloring, with images of the past Bird books incorporated into the design. VERDICT A great bedtime story and fun read-aloud.-Christina Pesiri, Michael F. Stokes Elementary School Library, Island Trees-Levittown NY

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2018
Bird is anything but ready for bed in his latest adventure.Bird's wide-open eyes on the title page set up the story's arc. It is bedtime, but "Bird was not ready to go to sleep." His friends offer familiar comforts: a "blankie," a book (previous titles about Bird), a stuffed animal (a cat!), and a lullaby. Sheep even offers to be counted. Bird is not at all receptive, but all his walking about does make him tired and weepy. His friends come running to his side with all their bedtime rituals that were previously rejected out of hand. And they do the job--albeit with a fun twist to end the tale. In past titles, Bird was grumpy (Grumpy Bird, 2007), injured (Boo Hoo Bird, 2009), and hungry (Hungry Bird, 2016). The familiar palette, rendered in ink and digital media, presents Bird in an intense shade of blue outlined in thick black strokes. His animal friends are similarly depicted in oranges, yellows, and reds. All stand out against a busy blue nighttime background.Caregivers faced with little ones who just won't settle down for the night may find that this title offers some pointers--and some hope. (Picture book. 2-6)

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May 14, 2018
In this fourth outing, it’s bedtime, and Bird—blue and bean-shaped, with a cockatoo-like crest—isn’t ready to say goodnight yet. As Bird attempts to find friends to join him in staying gloriously and defiantly wide-awake, he’s disappointed: “Fox was too sleepy to play. So Bird went to find Beaver. ‘It’s bedtime, Bird,’ said Beaver.” Tankard’s raucous digital artwork provides visual depth through thick, black outlines and backgrounds filled with bright, smoky textures and scraggly lines. A meta element comes in the form of the bedtime stories the animal friends are reading: the very book they are currently in, as well as previous books in the series. Bird eventually sleeps, but not for long—much to the chagrin of his weary friends, who come to serve as stand-ins for sleep-deprived parents. Ages 3–5.