The yawning, brown-skinned child on the book jacket sets the tone for yet another bedtime book with a variation on the “Look-how-sleepy-you are!” theme. What makes this one stand out is that the text doesn’t try for subliminal: it’s up-front with its ulterior motive. The lulling narrative points to various baby animals who are “sleepy, oh so sleepy,” only breaking the pattern every few pages to ask “Where’s my sleepy baby?” (With luck, he will not be sprinting across the room.) Somehow, Fleming is able to make her signature illustration style work in this context, even with her bold outlines and bright colors. Each double-page spread features a close-up of a particular baby animal, curled up with its eyes closed. If seeing the droopy eyelids on the baby ostrich doesn’t make a child sleepy, nothing will. (Ages 1–3)

Baby animals are going to sleep one by one, but the tiny human baby is the most special of all. Denise Fleming's knack for understanding the preschool set shines through in this gentle good-night story, illustrated with her signature pulp paintings.

Take a colorful look at all the tired babies who are closing their eyes, and start a new bedtime ritual with your own sleepy little one.