BEEP! BEEP! GO TO SLEEP!

A tricksy and playful rhyming robot bedtime story that will power down the little ones.

As nighttime approaches, a little boy gathers his three little robots to take them to bed. He guides them through his pre-bedtime routine of tooth-brushing, toilet use, and bathing, and then they stroll toward the bedroom. Once they are tucked into bed, the room is finally silent and the text reads, “Quiet at last, not a peep. Three little robots are...”—but then the page turns, and “BEEP! BEEP!” Throughout the night those words are constantly repeated as the boy tries mightily to find new ways to make his three little robots fall asleep. Tarpley’s rhymes and wordplay will drive children to join in. The watercolors and digital painting used by Rocco bring life to the characters and help convey both the energy of the unruly robots and the boy’s frustration while he struggles to get his robots to sleep. It’s interesting to note that here the protagonist works out his sleeplessness through his robots instead of stuffed toys, as in many other picture books, showcasing the influence of technology on today’s bedtime routines.

The short and rhyming text, along with its colorful illustrations, makes this book a great read-aloud for robot or pajama storytimes as well as bedtime lap reading. (Picture book. 3-5)