Sleepyheads
Sandra J. Howatt
illustrated by Joyce Wan
3 stars

This is one of those soft, sweet books that you can enjoy while having a snuggle/reading time (especially if it is just before bedtime or naptime). With rhyming text and a calming rhythm readers find out where all sorts of little ones “lay their sleepy heads.” Such as bears, otters, or puppy dogs. But where is the missing sleepyhead that is missing from the bed with the teddy bear? Potentially where the young readers will be as well–“Asleep in Mama’s arms!”

Even though the text and the rhymes are great, the illustrations are as sweet and calming as a warm blanket. The colors on the animals aren’t just one solid color. For example the white bunny has dark brown/black bits shaded in to show which part of the bunny is in shadows and to help enforce the idea of it being nighttime. Also, there are dark lines going out from the moon to help show the light halo that is around light sources at night. Plus all the little animals just look hugable and like something that little ones would love to look at and cuddle. I seriously need to add this to my bedtime story time. Such fun.

What to do after reading this book:
Take a nap.
Go to bed.
Name the different animals in the book. Make their animal sounds.
Talk about what you do before you go to sleep.
Snuggle with your favorite grownup.

Beach Lane Books, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2266-7
FORMAT: Picture Book
AGES: Babies, Toddlers, Preschool