  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 10/01/2016 Any child alerted of bedtime has one stubborn thought in his or her head: It is not time for sleeping. Graff’s young protagonist has the same problem. When Dad says, “it’s getting dark,” the boy retorts, “It could be darker.” Graff’s rhythmic, cumulative prose takes each nighttime routine to build on the previous completed task. “When dinner is over and the dishes are scrubbed and I’m squeaky-squeak clean and zipped up to my chin and my teeth are shiny and I’ve said good night to Jasper . . . I climb into bed.” Castillo, a Caldecott Honor winner for Nana in the City (2014), displays her trademark black outlines and dense color to bring her ink-and-watercolor artwork to life, creating a realistic snapshot of trying to get a reluctant child to bed via a carrot dropped to the floor next to the dinner table, a pile of clothes next to the tub, coaxing parents whose eyes look both weary and loving, and so on. Graff and Castillo beautifully capture the customary rituals (and challenges) of bedtime. - Copyright 2016 Booklist. School Library Journal - 10/01/2016 PreS—Bedtime routines are a staple in most young children's lives and can be a source of comfort as well as conflict. This charming and endearing picture book centers on one little boy who is very conscious that every task he completes brings him closer to bedtime. When he is taking his bath and is told to get out soon, he stalls for more time because "it is not time for sleeping." When his parents remark that he looks cozy after putting on his pajamas he responds, "Not too cozy," because, after all, it is not time for sleeping. Readers follow the child and his ever-faithful dog through each bedtime task, all of which end in the now-familiar refrain. With excellent use of shading and shadows, the artwork shows the darkening sky through the windows, and a cozy atmosphere permeates the pages. Ultimately, the boy can't fight his fatigue any longer, and after a hug from his parents, he declares that it is indeed now time for sleeping. Castillo's evocative illustrations are warm and comforting and set exactly the right tone. Best known for her middle grade novels, Graff proves that she can deliver the goods to picture book audiences. VERDICT An excellent candidate for bedtime sharing or to put together with Jane Yolen's How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight and Greg Pizzoli's Good Night Owl for a sleepy storytime theme.—Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, MI - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
 |