Shhh! This Book Is Sleeping

Starred review from November 30, 2015
Baby’s first metafiction! “Shhh! This book is getting sleepy,” explains a pink mouse in this charming board book from a French team. Bourgeau uses dashes of black and white to give the blue book a childlike face that fills the right-hand pages—and looks sleepier with every page turn. The mouse invites readers to assist in the book’s bedtime routine, from making sure it has used the bathroom to providing a story, blanket, “a big hug... and a little kiss.” It’s a smart way to make children feel like more than passive participants in the bedtime process, and the book’s adorably tiny yawns and sinking eyelids make it irresistible. Up to age 3.

In a nice twist, instead of a book putting readers to sleep, here it is readers who put the book to sleep. In this gentle board book, originally written in French, children are encouraged to go over the routines that many may well recognize as their own bedtime routines. On the left-hand page of each double-page spread, a pink, mouselike character guides children in the questions and actions that will help "the book" go to sleep. The latter character occupies the entire right-hand page with a blue cloth-binding background on which two eyes, a nose, and a mouth are superimposed. "Did you brush your teeth?" and "Did you go pee-pee?" both get a "yes" from the book--though its eyes do look to the side, slightly abashed by the latter question. Practical matters taken care of, it is now time to read it a little story, make sure it is warm, has its blankie, and of course, give it a big hug and a little kiss. As the book's eyes begin to close and its mouth opens to a big yawn, it's time to turn off the light. On the last spread readers see the book with eyes closed, and children are instructed to close the book very gently. Add this playful purchase to the ever expanding going-to-sleep bookcase. (Board book. 1-3) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2016

Toddler-PreS-Youngsters familiar with the bedtime routine will enjoy turning the tables in this gentle, interactive French import. A pink mouse encourages readers to assume the parental role by getting the book (depicted on the recto as a pair of eyes, a nose, and a mouth on a soothing blue background) ready to go to sleep ("Ask it, 'Are you warm enough?' Tell it, 'Here's your blankie.'"). The design is simple yet elegant-with plenty of white space on the verso and bold, primary colors throughout-and toddlers and their grown-ups will love seeing the sweetly expressive book fall asleep. A delightful addition to the bevy of bedtime tales.

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