Sleepy Time Books

Winter is here and so are longer nights. I’ve gathered some wonderful books perfect to settle youngsters, ages two through five, down for the night. These books are all board books made for little toddler hands unless otherwise indicated.

You’re Not Sleepy!, by Mark Teague, features a cute pig that needs to go to sleep but seems to have continual interruptions. He feels it’s too bright, so he makes the room darker. Then the room is too dark and he opens the window, but this attracts annoying moths. He finally comes up with a simple and fun solution that youngsters will enjoy. The wonderful illustrations, by a favorite artist of mine, were painted with acrylics.

Good Night, Zodiac Animals, by Jiemei Lin, is a nice introduction to the lunar new year. There are twelve zodiac animals along with a pictogram on each open-page colorful spread. The tiny mouse and the strong lion both showcase their unique pictographic prowess along with a simple text of beauty and rhyme. The bright illustrations were done digitally. More lunar new year information can be found at the end.

Silly Lullaby, by Sandra Boynton, is a reissue that was first published in 1997. This rhyming tale shows some very funny ways to say goodnight. A daddy bear has his small cub sitting on his lap as he entices him to go to sleep. He sings “Go to sleep, my zoodle, my fibblety-fitsy foo. Go to sleep, sweet noodle. It’s time to say, Ah-choo.” This colorful read may not settle them down, as they will most probably be giggling.

Eli and the Uncles, by Jehan Madhani and brightly illustrated with watercolor, acrylic and colored pencils by Rashin Kheiriyeh, is actually a clever and hilarious bedtime story. Eli has eight fun, adoring uncles who are unique in every way whom he gets to spend the day with. Every one of them sports a very distinctive and humorous beard that is intrinsic to their characteristics. But when it gets to be bedtime, the countdown as each uncle bids good night is equal, (if not better), to counting sheep. This book is a delight!

Bedtime Blitz, by Matthew Van Fleet, is a clever rhyming book with tabs along the way to enjoy the process of getting ready for bed. A group of animals are alerted that it’s time to get ready for bedtime. They brush their teeth, take a bath and put on their pajamas. The colorful illustrations show how happy and energetic these animals are as they approach bedtime. This book is a great way to encourage bedtime.

The Night Whale, by Bryher Mackenzie and gorgeously illustrated using mixed media by Gillian Eilidh O’Mara, is a story of the magic of nighttime and the relationship of grandparent and child. In this picture book, good for all ages, Nana tells her granddaughter of the wonders of the sky. She tells of a majestic story of the Night Whale swimming among the stars. The beautiful story matches the glorious pictures on every full-page spread. We were stargazers for so long. Now we are explorers. Painters of the night sky. The ending assures young readers that goodnight doesn’t mean forever.

More 5-Minute Peppa Stories (Peppa Pig), published by Scholastic, has six stories that are short making this book perfect for a quick read at end the day. Some of the stories include: Peppa Loves to Bake, Peppa Goes to the Library and Peppa is Kind. The cover is padded and many of the brightly colored illustrations are a full open-page spread.

Alphonse, You’re Ruining the Show!, by Daisy Hurst, is a picture book for youngsters ages three to six. Two siblings and little monsters, Natalie and Alphonse, are going to sleep over at Granny’s house where they decide to put on a play. Things start to fall apart when Alphonse wants to go home. But Granny knows how to makes everything better so that their sleepover is successful. The colors on every page are vibrant and made by screen-printing.

Wake Up, Moon!, by Lita Judge, is another picture book with elaborate and beautiful full-spread illustrations made with watercolor and pencil. A small squirrel desires to go play in the newly fallen snow even though it’s now night. As he glides and slides on the snow, he encourages his friends Bear, Owl and Fox to join him. The rhyming text throughout as well as Squirrel asking animals and more to repeatedly Wake up. However, the night becomes longer than Squirrel and friends can manage, and yawns start to form and eventually turn to sleep.

Wise Books for the Graduate

It’s graduation time and that equates to books rich in advice for the future. The following are all picture books, (except for the third book), and would be perfect gifts for ages three through eight, unless otherwise indicated.

Something, Someday, by Amanda Gorman and wonderfully illustrated using paint, collage and digital manipulation by Christian Robinson, is an uplifting book rich in simple text with inspiring words of advice. You are told this is too big for you. But you’ve seen the tiniest things make a huge difference. This stunning book showcases how even the smallest gesture can make a big difference. The colorful end-pages give a glimpse of this important message.

Mazie’s Amazing Machines, by Sheryl Haft and ingeniously illustrated with graphite pencil drawings layered atop hand-printed stamps by Jeremy Holmes, is sure to spark the imagination. Meet Mazie, a budding engineer who tackles problems head-on to improve her home life. Faced with the messy task of feeding her dog, she ingeniously devises an automatic dog food dispenser using everyday household items. Each challenge Mazie encounters is met with her innovative solutions, making this book an ideal catalyst for young minds aged four through eight to explore, invent, and stay motivated.

Eyes that Weave the World’s Wonders, by Joanna Ho and Liz Kleinrock and with digital illustrations by Dung Ho, delves into the theme of adoption from an Asian country. However, at its core, the story resonates with the universal journey of self-discovery and acceptance. It emphasizes the importance of embracing one’s roots and identity, even when they differ from those around you—whether within your family, classroom, or community. Ultimately, it beautifully portrays the enduring love within families, demonstrating that true bonds transcend external differences.

365 Cool Ways to Remember Stuff, by Lauren Holowaty and illustrated with black and white etchings by Martin Motzo, is packed with techniques and subject matter to help retain items important to you. It has been proven that with the help of rhyming, songs and numbers, your recall can be triggered almost perfectly. This smallish paperback is invaluable and full of categories that include spelling, geography and the human body. The ages best for this is ages ten through adult.

24 Positive Affirmation Card Set for Kids, by callieklinglerstudio.Etsy.com, includes brightly illustrated positive thoughts on cardstock to confirm who you are and what you can become. Some of these sayings include: I am thankful for all the blessings I have, It’s okay to make mistakes. I can learn from them and I can find Happiness anywhere. Even though the title states that it’s for kids, this box of cards Is excellent for all ages through adult!

Viking Strong, by Doug Cenko, demonstrates the importance of kindness. Ingrid harbors aspirations of winning the esteemed “Strongest Viking Contest.” Confident in her strength for the first two rounds, she hesitates when faced with the ocean challenge in the third round, being unable to swim. Despite her fears, she courageously joins the competition. When her fellow contestants encounter danger at sea, Ingrid demonstrates remarkable selflessness, forsaking her own ambitions to rescue them. This endearing narrative, brought to life with vivid open-page spreads, brims with humor, integrity, and even kittens. Be sure to explore the delightful surprises awaiting within the playful end-pages!

How to be Brave, by Karl Newson and brightly illustrated using pencil and watercolor and colored digitally by Clara Anganuzzi, helps empower kids when they are about to engage in a new experience. Every page combines a young boy and a different animal attempting new things. The combinations are a brilliant adaptation to showcase that the best thing you can do is give it your all.

Mabel and the Mountain: A Story About Believing in Yourself, by Km Hillyard, is a cute story about Mabel, a small fly, and her big goals. She writes down three goals and begins immediately to accomplish them. Beginning with climbing a mountain seems too daunting for a small fly. Other flies throw out negative comments which includes Flies do not climb. They fly! However, Mabel doesn’t not give up. The story, with bright Illustrations, is all about perseverance and overcoming doubt.

Moving Up! A Graduation Celebration, by Rosemary Wells, is the perfect book for kindergarten or preschool graduation. The book features five graduates showcasing how their interests can become their livelihoods. The colorful illustrations were done in watercolor and ink.

The Big Cheese, was written by Jory John and brought to life by Pete Oswald’s innovative blend of scanned watercolor textures and digital paint, delivers a timeless lesson in humility and empathy. This tale follows a large, self-important cheese round who learns a valuable lesson when he encounters a humble piece of Brie content to stay out of the spotlight. Through clever text and whimsical illustrations, the story imparts a powerful message about the importance of modesty and consideration for others. John and Oswald’s collaboration extends beyond this book, offering a series of entertaining and educational reads that are sure to captivate young readers, prompting both laughter and reflection.