Day 241: Cornelius P. Mud, Are You Ready for Bed?

Navigating the library can sometimes feel overwhelming. I have written before about how we make the most of our library visits, but referring to my list of favorite authors is always one of my most helpful and reliable strategies. As fabulous as they are, let's face it: library visits with young children aren't always conducive to leisurely book browsing! Having a list of go-to authors, then, gives me a place to start (or fall back on) while keeping an eye on kids and looking for great new reads. After recently falling in love with Beautiful Oops, we decided to check out a few other Barney Saltzburg stories at our last library visit. Cornelius P. Mud, Are You Ready for Bed? is my daughter's latest favorite.

If your house is like mine, the half an hour before bedtime can be one of the most hectic and trying times of the entire day. If you can relate (and I'm sure you can), you will certainly get a kick out of this charming little story. Mama Pig is trying to get young Cornelius ready for bed, asking him all of the usual questions:  Have you put your toys away? Have you used the bathroom? Have you brushed your teeth? Have you put on your pajamas? Each time, Cornelius gives a resounding YES!, though his actual antics suggest something different. My daughter loves to read the part of Cornelius, and is always delighted by the illustrations. (We especially enjoy Cornelius' pajamas, complete with a snorkel mask, bat wings, and dragon inner tube! Be sure to check out the clever titles that make up his bedtime story selections, too.) Of course, at the end, he really is ready for bed... but not before he gets a great, big goodnight hug. 

The bright illustrations and large text make the story engaging for little readers, and the relatively short length of the story itself makes it a great book for toddlers or young ones who prefer stories that are paced to keep up with their frequent page turning. (It makes for a great "just one more story?" read, too.) If your child loves this book as much as mine does, you might just find this sweet, silly bedtime tale in your nightly reading pile. 

Day 221: Sleep Like a Tiger

My son likes to tell me that he never sleeps (and sometimes, it certainly feels as though he's right.)  Even if he sees a picture of himself sleeping, he says, "I wasn't really sleeping.  I was just pretending."  He also routinely claims that he is going to stop the earth from spinning so that it will always be daytime.  If only our children could look forward to and appreciate bedtime as much as we do, right?!  When I saw this book at a local bookstore a few months back, I just knew I had to bring it home to my little sleep-averse guy.

Sleep Like a Tiger is a beautiful story that is perfect for snuggling up and reading at bedtime.  When a little girl tries to convince her parents that she is not at all tired and doesn't want to go to bed, a sweet, clever conversation ensues between them.  "Does everything in the world go to sleep?" the little girl asks?  "Yes," her parents told her.  "Our dog is sleeping right now, curled up in a ball on the couch where he's not supposed to be.  And the cat is fast asleep, stretched out in front of the fireplace, the warmest spot in the house."  The girl proceeds to inquire about all kinds of other creatures -- bats, whales, snails, bears -- and whether or not they sleep, too.  Finally, she mentions an animal who sleeps a lot -- the tiger -- and the way he stays strong by finding shade and resting in the jungle when he's not off hunting.  I love the parents' calm, patient manner as they subtly bring their daughter closer to sleep, and author Mary Logue's language throughout is wonderfully vivid and descriptive.  In the end, of course, the little girl drifts off to dreamland, in a delightfully woven sequence of rituals that mimic the very creatures she has just discussed.

The artwork in the story is gorgeous and is what drew me to the book in the first place.  Pamela Zagarenski's illustrations are simply delightful; peaceful and fanciful at the same time.  There are several wonderful literary allusions in the story, as well, and plenty of small details within her artwork that I just love.  I will say, though, that there is something about the illustrations that doesn't really appeal to my 3 year old daughter.  Perhaps they are a bit too abstract for her liking.  My son seems to like them well enough, though even he is not nearly as impressed by the illustrations as I am.  Sometimes art is just like that, I suppose.  Regardless, Sleep Like a Tiger is a wonderful story that is one of my favorite new finds this year, and I'm thrilled to have added it to our home library.

 

Day 156: The Quiet Book

Deborah Underwood's The Quiet Book is a fabulous bedtime (or anytime) read.  This lovely picture book creatively explores the many types of quiet that can be had in a day.  There's "first one awake quiet" (though I have to say, the first ones awake in my house are typically quite the opposite!), "Don't scare the robin quiet," and "Swimming underwater quiet."  My other personal favorites are, "First snowfall quiet," "Best friends don't need to talk quiet," and of course, "Story time quiet."  The examples are ones to which both children and parents can easily relate, which is what makes the book so sweet and fun to read.      Renata Liwska's pencil illustrations of adorable woodland animals are the perfect complement to the story, as well, with soft tones and subtle colors that make the book even more soothing.  We borrowed The Quiet Book and its sequel, The Loud Book, from the library at the same time, and my children just love both (though guess which one they request more often?  You got it -- The Loud Book.  No surprise there!)    Both stories are equally delightful, so please consider this a recommendation for both!

For even more fun, try making your own list after you've finished reading the story.  What types of quiet and loud do you experience, know, or love?   Here are some examples my son and I came up with.  Can you tell how much he loves animals and dinosaurs?  Feel free to share yours in the comments below!

Firefly quiet
Listening for Santa quiet
About to pounce like a tiger quiet
Prowling jaguar quiet
Don't go near a T Rex quiet
Sleeping sister quiet
Getting into trouble quiet
Lapping waves quiet

Fire truck siren loud
T Rex loud
Leopard roaring loud
Velociraptors loud
The Pigeon loud ("Let me drive the bus!!")
Dump truck loud
Train loud
Silly sister loud
Tickles loud

Day 115: Big Red Barn

This was one of the first books my mom gave to my son after he was born.  The way I saw it, any book picked out by someone who had raised three kids over twenty years and read hundreds of children's stories along the way just had to be good.  It took a while for this story to become one of my son's favorites, but as he neared his first birthday, he fell in love with it!  Thank goodness it comes in board book form, as it wouldn't have lasted two days otherwise.  This is definitely my favorite of Margaret Wise Brown's books, and I only recently made the connection that illustrator Felicia Bond is the same artist for the "If You Give a Mouse" series. Big Red Barn is a perfect story for toddlers, telling the story of the animals' day on the farm in gentle, rolling verse with cute, charming illustrations.  "By the big red barn in the great green field, there was a pink pig who was learning to squeal.  There was a great big horse and a very little horse.  And on every barn is a weathervane, of course... a golden flying horse."  My son used to ask me to read it to him over and over in the car as he turned the pages, and he just loved all the sounds the animals made on the farm.  I think there must have been at least a two-month period in which he wanted to read this several times a day.  (My daughter is just now starting to love this book, as well.)  My two favorite pages show the animals playing together in the field, then later seeking the warm shelter of their barn to settle in and sleep for the night.  It's a wonderful bedtime story, and although I think the meter could be a little better at times, it is soothing and perfect for lulling little ones to sleep. 

Day 99: Starlight Sailor

"Star light, star bright, First star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight.  I wish I had a little boat!  Far away I'd drift and float, Where the great blue whales leap, And pirate ships lie sunken deep."  So begins the incredibly beautiful Starlight Sailor, a magical bedtime story of imagination and adventure.  Join a little boy and his dog as they set sail across the ocean blue to a distant dreamland, where unicorns prance, dragons fly, and mermaids swim.   James Mayhew's gentle lyrics are complemented by the gorgeous artwork of Jackie Morris, whose soothing illustrations are perfectly described as ethereal.  I feel calmer and sleepier just looking at the pictures alone.  I also loved Morris's dedication to her daughter (I presume), who happens to share the same birthday as my own little girl.  (Not that I needed another reason to love or want this book!)  Starlight Sailor is simply beautiful:  a lovely bedtime read that has quickly become one of my recent favorites.  It would also make a perfect baby or birthday gift.  Older children will love the instructions at the back of the book for how to make their own paper boat, as well.  "Star light, star bright, First star I see tonight, I follow you across the night, through my dreams 'til morning light."  Wishing you all sweet dreams tonight!

Day 98: Bedtime for Mommy

I think it's safe to say that we've all had those days where bedtime finally rolls around and we would give anything to switch places with our little one.  If only we could be the ones taking a nice bath, getting tucked in, and snuggling up to have a bedtime story read to us!  In Bedtime for Mommy, Amy Krouse Rosenthal does just that, telling the adorable story of the little girl who struggles to get her mommy into bed and asleep. Children and parents, alike, will be amused by this cute role reversal, complete with the classic requests for five more minutes to play (work in her office) before going upstairs and one more bedtime story.  I love LeUyen Pham's charming illustrations, as well, especially the look of amusement on the mommy's face as she takes her bath.  The daughter makes sure her mommy has her bath toys (a bottle of bubble bath, bath salts, and a razor), helps her pick out the perfect outfit for the next day (after several attempts), and finally snuggles up to read Mommy's bedtime book of choice, Anna Karenina.  Finally, after lights-out requests for a drink of water and leaving the door open a little more, Mommy is down for the night.  "Phew!" the tired girl sighs.  "One down, one to go." Now it's Daddy's turn!  My son can't help but giggle at the thought of putting me to bed when we read this story.  Now if only we could really switch places sometime.  If bedtime seems like a run-around in your house like it so often does in ours, this story will be sure to make you and your child smile. 

Day 96: Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site

I always love getting great book recommendations from friends.  Our good friend Melinda (who, in addition to being generally fabulous, is also a children's librarian) emailed me the other week to tell me about a great new book she thought my son would love:  Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site.  Sounding right up his alley, I made a mental note to look for it the next time we visited our library.  Lo and behold, the next time we went, there it was on the new books shelf, right in front.  My son immediately picked up the book and excitedly ran to the couch to read it with me.  If you know a child who is as obsessed with construction trucks as mine is, this book is a must read!  "Down in the big construction site, the tough trucks work with all their might.  To build a building, make a road, To get the job done -- load by load!"  Follow along as a truck crane, cement mixer, dump truck, bulldozer, and excavator work the day away, then finally settle down to rest after a hard day's work.  The cute, rhyming verses are fun to read, and I love that we are able to say goodnight to each vehicle along the way, slowly winding down a bit more with each turn of the page. My son might display the horsepower and destructive capabilities of a bulldozer some days, but even he will settle down a bit more when reading this before bed.  It's really a perfect bedtime story in our house:  my little guy always loves a good trucks book, and I'm always looking for a great bedtime read.  So snuggle up with your little one and give this book a go. "Turn off your engines, stop your tracks, Relax your wheels, your stacks, and backs.  No more huffing and puffing, team: It's time to rest your heads and dream.  Construction site, all tucked in tight.  The day is done, turn off the light.  Great work today!  Now... shhh... goodnight." 

Day 85: How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?

If your house is anything like ours, bedtime sometimes manages to be the most hectic time of the day.   I don't know where my son gets his energy bursts right before bed, but I would pay a lot of money to be able to harness even a fraction of that energy into myself at the end of a long day.  Perhaps in some households, children go calmly from bath, into pajamas and then bed to read stories.  But not here!  Baths are usually followed by raucous silliness, jumping on the bed, twirling around the room, and finally settling down with a few good bedtime books.  One of our favorites is How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by the fabulous Jane Yolen.  If you haven't seen this book yet (or any others in the How Do Dinosaurs series), I highly recommend it!  Mark Teague's pictures are sure to delight both you and your child, and the story is bedtime reading perfection.  It's funny, cute, and conveniently on the shorter side -- excellent for when your little one is requesting just one more story before you turn out the light.  Your child will certainly be able to relate to the dinosaurs' desire to stay up and play a little longer, and you'll love the expressions of parents as they try to cajole their beloved creatures into bed.  The names and pictures of the different dinosaur species appear on the inside covers of the book, and each creatively appears somewhere in the illustrations, as well.  I also love that it features some less well-known species, such as the Corythosaurus, Trachodon, and Apatosaurus.  Of course, there is also the wonderful message of how to get ready for bed without a fuss.  After all, if dinosaurs can do it, so can our rowdy little monsters, right?  So how does a dinosaur say goodnight?  Does he "slam his tail and pout?  Does he throw his teddy bear all about?... No, dinosaurs don't.   They don't even try. They give a big kiss.  They turn out the light.  They tuck in their tails.  They whisper, 'Good night!'"  In my opinion, this book is a must for any preschooler.  But be warned: it might result in lots of giggles, hugs, and bedtime kisses from your own little dinosaur! 

Day 36: I Took the Moon for a Walk

We first heard of this wonderful book from a follower of the blog, Jennifer Braga.  Thanks for the great recommendation, Jennifer!  As we do when friends suggest a good book, we added this story to our library list and brought it home the other week.  It has been a favorite bedtime story for the past few days in particular, as we've been watching the moon get fuller and brighter out my son's window each night.  (We just love a brilliant full moon!)  Alison Jay's illustrations match Carolyn Curtis' soft, gentle rhymes well, and the whole story has a very relaxing and soothing feel to it, making it perfect bedtime reading.  "I took the moon for a walk last night.  It followed behind like a still summer kite.  Though there wasn't a string or a tail in sight when I took the moon for a walk."  The moon follows the boy throughout his evening walk, "just like Harold and the Purple Crayon," as my son likes to point out.  Of course, every time we get to the end of the story and read the last line, my son also says, "he didn't really take the moon for a walk."  Despite taking it a bit too literally and needing me to explain the metaphor, he loves this book anyway!  We especially love reading the bonus pages at the end, "The Mysterious Moon" and "The World at Night," that tell about the moon's phases and cultural significance, nocturnal plants and animals, and even dreams.  I just love books that are informative in that way!  My son always asks to read those parts, and was trying to memorize the phases of the moon last night as he pointed at the pictures:  "new moon, crescent moon, half moon, gibbous moon, and full moon!"  If you can, take a few minutes to gaze at the moon with your little one tonight before snuggling up under the covers.  The next full moon will be on May 17th -- hopefully you can track down a copy of this delightful story by then.  Sweet dreams, everyone!

Day 32: Just Go to Bed

Back in the fall, I asked friends to suggest some good books for my son, who was nearly three.  I was in a book funk, and needed to find something new.  Several people recommended the Little Critter series by Mercer Mayer, saying they are perfect for preschoolers.  They were so right!  As described on the back of the books, Mayer's Little Critter stories "address all the major issues of growing up," and they are wonderfully fun to read.  I don't know how I had managed to miss these before!  We have since acquired several Little Critter titles, mostly from our library book sales, but this one has to be one of our favorites.  My husband actually got this for our son for Christmas, and I love listening to them read it together.  It's time for bed, but of course Little Critter has too many other important things to do and be:  a cowboy rounding up cows, a space cadet zooming to the moon, a train engineer escaping from bandits... His dad, meanwhile, tries every trick in the book to get Little Critter in his pajamas and off to bed.  I think it's safe to say we've all been there!  My son just laughs and laughs when my husband hugs him and says in his most exasperated Daddy voice, "Just go to bed!!" As with so many of Mayer's books in this series, parents and children, alike, can't help but relate to the story and read it with a smile.  I especially love the expressions the mother Critter has on her face throughout the books, as well.  The illustrations are cute (my son loves finding the mouse in each picture, too), and the stories are creative and entertaining.  There are still many Little Critter titles we have not yet read, but this is definitely a favorite.

Day 26: Time For Bed

I had never heard of Mem Fox until my friend Julie recommended this book, and apparently I've been missing out!  We found Time for Bed at our library in a lap-sized board book edition, which is perfect for reading to my two little ones at once.  It's a soothing, adorable, lullabye-of-a-story that is perfect for reading just before turning out the lights.  On each beautifully illustrated page, a different animal is getting its own little one ready for bed:  "It's time for bed, little sheep, little sheep.  The whole wide world is going to sleep."  The soft watercolor illustrations do a wonderful job of depicting the love animal parents feel for their babies, and I also love how it features animals we don't necessarily think of as sleeping (like fish, snakes, and bees.)  My son loves reciting the book along with me, and the rhythmic, gentle verses can't help but make you feel a little sleepy.  (Of course, reading stories makes me sleepy at just about any time of day!)  Although my 8-month old daughter would rather chew on the pages when we read it together at the moment, I have no doubt she will soon love reading this lovely book, too.