GOOD KNIGHT

A child knight delays bedtime as the rest of the castle winds down for sleep.

Each page finds the little knight seeking a way to postpone sleep. “Five more minutes!” shouts the youngster, and when the parent knight offers to read the little one a story, the child asks for two bedtime reads. The parent chases the youngster around the castle, past sleeping hounds, a dozing dragon, and slumbering Sir Horse-a-Lot. Adults will chuckle in sympathy as this caregiver attempts to ready the child for sleep, while kids will love the little knight’s evasive moves. Making use of rich vocabulary (apothecaries, soot), the text hits just the right note, capturing the flavor of a medieval castle (“Troubadours stop strumming lutes. / Nobles end their dance”) while also setting an appropriately soothing tone. The tale flows well when read aloud, with smooth rhymes; adults and kids alike will be eager to make this a bedtime staple. Depicting a vibrant castle full of action, the illustrations imaginatively blend Middle Ages hallmarks with more modern elements. The knights are tan-skinned, with red hair mostly concealed beneath their helmets, while the castle’s other inhabitants vary in skin tone. When the knights finally remove their helmets at book’s end, both are revealed to have long hair; the younger knight’s tresses are adorned with pink bows.

A fantastic bedtime read, both lyrical and playful.