Shhhhh! Everybody's Sleeping
PreSchool-K - Although this well-conceived book is based on a simple premise, its execution is wonderfully expansive and enticing. On each spread, rhythmic verses introduce a community helper who is sound asleep, followed by a phrase reassuring readers that this person's responsibilities have been taken care of for the day. "The doctor is sleeping. Everyone feels well./The grocer is sleeping./Food's ready to sell." At story's end, a mother tucks in her baby. While the text is clear and purposeful, it's the art that allows the book to soar. There's a largess to the bright, dynamic paintings that's comforting. Peaceful smiles grace everyone's faces as they nestle deep within their plush beds. The individuals are seen snoozing in the midst of their workplace; the librarian's bed is set up among shelves of books and the fireman dozes in the back of his truck. This is a fun idea, in perfect sync with a child's perspective. Plus, each person cuddles with a special stuffed animal, the teacher with her spectacled owl and the policeman with a raccoon dressed in striped jail fatigues. This book will get youngsters thinking, not just about the inevitability of bedtime but also about how we are all so intimately connected to our communities.- Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MICopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.