All on a Sleepy Night

PreSchool-Grade 2-"In a little log house, On a great green hill, Under a shimmering sky" a young boy is lulled to sleep by all the noises of the night. Snuggled into his grandparents' bed, he is joined by two cats and a dog at the foot of the bed with a "Purr, thump, purr, thump, All on a sleepy night. Purr, thump, purr, thump, Under a northern sky." Grandma and Grandpa join in the musical refrain with a snore and a whistling "whiss." The house itself sings "its sleepy song" with gurgling pipes, creaky floors, and dripping faucets. The outside world of nature is also preparing for sleep: "Up on the ridge, a fox and her kits Yip happily at the moon. Down on the water, languid and long, Echoes the cry of the loon." Daigneault's dreamy colored-pencil and crayon illustrations are awash in blues, greens, and purples, successfully capturing the beauty of the night. The text is appropriately rhythmic and the gentle treatment of the often-strange night sounds will soothe and reassure children afraid of the dark. Young listeners will also enjoy repeating the onomatopoetic sounds. Reminiscent of the familial warmth and lyrical quality of Audrey Wood's The Napping House (Harcourt, 1984), this is a lovely addition to bedtime storytimes.

Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

"...dreamy colored-pencil and crayon illustrations...and the gentle treatment of the often-strange night sounds will soothe and reassure..." -- School Library Journal, May 2002

"Crum's story is cozy and comforting...a good one with which to end the day." -- London Free Press, 12/15/2001

"Strange noises are transformed into a soothing lullaby...an excellent addition to a new family's permanent collection." -- Forward Magazine, 2002, Number 3