Everybody Sleeps (But Not Fred)

Starred review from February 16, 2015
A boy named Fred is too busy to fall asleep in this bedtime-book send-up from the always hilarious Schneider (Princess Sparkle-Heart Gets a Makeover). In ironic lilting verse, Schneider describes one somnolent scene after another as birds and beasts call it a night (“In the jungle, toucans snooze./ Also sloths and cockatoos./ Ignoring snoring striped hyenas,/ monkeys dream they’re ballerinas”). “But not Fred. Fred had important jumping to do,” he continues as the boy sails over the heads of grimacing, tutu-clad monkeys. Fred disrupts slumbering barnyard animals by “breaking the world shouting record” (he’s seen performing on a speakers-laden stage fit for a Kiss concert), and sea creatures get a rude awakening when Fred arrives on the S.S. Insomnia to test his tubas and alpenhorns. From visual gags like jellyfish in sleep masks (Do they even have eyes?) to verse mocking soporific picture-book rhymes (“Sleepy bunnies blah blah blah/ Fluffy tummies blah blah blah”), it’s a pitch-perfect parody. Sorry, parents: kids will be too busy laughing to get sleepy reading this one. Ages 4–8. Agent: Paul Rodeen, Rodeen Literary Management.

Starred review from January 15, 2015
Master staller Fred meets his match (poetry!) in this hilarious not-yet-ready-for-bed tale. Fred greets readers on the title page, utterly benign in appearance as he bathes and brushes teeth, seemingly earnest about the bedtime routine. But these innocuous scenes are a perfect juxtaposition for what's in store, for this egg-shaped boy upends the rhyming animal lullaby with a creative exuberance sure to leave readers in stitches. Schneider's deadpan delivery, combined with his ability to populate a world of realistically rendered animals in fanciful settings or situations, is a comedic win. Fred's journey from home across spreads that become more and more fantastical as they incorporate elements from previous scenes is reminiscent of "Little Nemo in Slumberland." Ultimately, a book of poetry lulls Fred to sleep, as the narrator implores readers not to "make a peep." An additional "WARNING" at the end to not wake Fred lest he start up again cleverly begs the opposite-promoting repeat visits, during which readers will surely find more silliness in store. Ingenious. (Picture book. 3-7)

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December 1, 2014

K-Gr 2-It's bedtime. All the animals-snoozing toucans, dozing chickens, heaps of wooly sheep, and even whales lulled by rocking currents-are beginning their cozy slumber. Rambunctious Fred has too many plans to even think of bed, however. First he has to break the world record for shouting, then his horn collection needs testing. He even needs to practice his karate chops. After multiple zany spreads depict the pajama-clad troublemaker doing his best to stay up, he's suddenly missing. Readers find him collapsed, thumb in mouth, using one of the hapless sheep as a pillow. While children will enjoy Fred's antics and identify with his reluctance to hit the hay, parents should be ready to explain some of the elements in the book. Sasquatch and breaking records, for example, are not concepts that are generally familiar to the target audience, but explaining them offers a jumping-off point for examining the scads of details in Schneider's colorful cartoons. A fun addition to the bedtime canon.-Etta Verma, Library Journal

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.