Far different, Bethany Roberts's and Maryjane Begin's A Mouse Told His Mother. And, similarly, too, child departs on his own fantasy trip. The illustrations tell us mouse-child knows he's parachuting out of starry night skies. And good night. Here, child and mother live in parallel universes, each with its own integrity.
Child is neither denigrated nor outwitted.
Different from either of the above bedtime books is Miriam Schlein and Peter Sis's Sleep Safe, Little Whale, not a book at all, strictly speaking, but rather, a bedtime artifact begging to become part of a ritual. Nine page-like illustrated cardboard panels fold out, lulling baby penguins, elephants and all babies every where to sleep safe with their mamas, daddys, herds. The simple grace of Schlein's text, and the endless magic and wonders of Peter Sis's illustrations, playing their melodies in every margin, in every corner, promise inexhaustible delight for every bedtime. That, of course, presents its own problem, for this happy book, neither exploiting nor inveigling the child, may be explored and explored and explored till late late into the night.