GOODNIGHT, SLEEPYVILLE

In Sleepyville, getting ready for sleep is anything but sleepy.

So much to do….The families of the woodland community known as Sleepyville—bears, bunnies, porcupines, foxes, birds, insects, and others—clean up, shutter businesses, and proceed to their various homes. There, they perform cozy nightly rituals: eating dinner, washing dishes, sharing a snack, choosing PJ’s, brushing teeth, snuggling, and listening to lullabies and/or stories before bed. In the meantime, the sun sets, the moon rises, and the stars twinkle. Then all lights are out—except one, the source of which is revealed on a most charming, wordless final page. This endearing bedtime tale strikes a refreshing note in a crowded field with its sweet simplicity. Ditto for the adorable, gently humorous illustrations replete with cuddly scenes of Sleepyville residents comfortably settled in for the evening in their own idiosyncratic ways. Reassuring glimpses of warm, loving families will charm young children, as will the scenes depicting nighttime preparations familiar to them. Minimal text per page, lots of white space, and simple backgrounds permit focus on characters and activities.

Children will want to make this tender story a goodnight habit.