Big new titles perfect for the littles.
Cool autumn nights. Time to pull the blankets close and snooze...but wait. Not every pair of young eyelids is heavy when parents declare, “Bedtime!”
You can bridge the gap between wide awake and drowsy with these recent picture books, perfect for snuggly nighttime reads:
Young minds produce an endless stream of questions — and why shouldn’t adults get a little creative with their answers, especially at bedtime? In Just Because (Candlewick), Mac Barnett serves up some brilliant back-and-forth between a dad and his curious daughter, already tucked in for the night. What is rain? The tears of flying fish, in case you weren’t aware. Captivating illustrations by Isabelle Arsenault are the perfect complement to Barnett’s cleverness.
Have You Seen My Blankie? (Candlewick) by Lucy Rowland, illustrated by Paula Metcalf, takes us to a palace with a problem: Princess Alice can’t find her blankie. And sleep is not happening until the lost is found. Alice soon discovers that her blankie has had quite the journey, from brother to witch to giant to cranky dragon (who also needs a little help falling asleep). Together, they find the perfect solution.
Lucy Rowland delivers another royally charming tale with The Knight Who Said “No!” (Nosy Crow), illustrated by Kate Hindley. Knight Ned, the only child in the village, has always done what he’s been asked — until he gets mad inside, and “No!” suddenly becomes his only response. When he refuses to hide from the dragon — and discovers that she, too, is lonely — Ned finds a way to feel a little less “prickly.”
In Sleep: How Nature Gets Its Rest (Candlewick), Kate Prendergast explores in simple text and colorful art how and where a variety of wildlife sleeps. Seeing tigers, bears, sloths, and other animals with their eyes closed may induce sleepiness in youngsters — but, if not, there are four pages of fascinating wildlife facts in the back of the book for additional learning.
Marlene England owns Curious Iguana bookstore and benefit corporation in downtown Frederick, Maryland, with her husband, Tom. The pair also own Frederick’s destination for fun and games, Dancing Bear Toys and Gifts.
