Tag: bedtime

Posted in Early Reader, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Intermediate, Middle Grade

Graphic Novels for all ages and stages!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Sorry, all! I spent a few days getting this roundup together – I am back and posting regularly again!

 

Maker Girl and Professor Smarts, by Jasmine Florentine, (Aug. 2025, MIT Kids Press), $12.99, ISBN: 9781536239584

Ages 7-10

Add a dash of Science Comics with a splash of Maker Comics, and you’ve got Maker Girl and Professor Smarts, a fun new series that uses tinkering powers for good. Set in New Bork City, main characters Chuy Reyes and Yael (Yaya) Levy are 12-year-old best friends who *didn’t* get superpowers when a comet hit their area of the planet a few years ago. It’s okay, though, because Chuy’s brains meets Yaya’s tinkering genius when a villain threatens the town by turning ice cream into slime! The bantering between the two buddies is witty and funny; it’s quick-paced and has enough action to keep kids turning pages. Illustration is cartoony with bold outlines and bold, bright colors. Chuy presents as a brown-skinned Latino boy and Yael and her brother, Yoel, are white-skinned and Jewish. There are two maker project for kids to try (with grownup help): a grappling hook and sorbet! Each project is illustrated and laid out for ease of construction. The story ends on a cliffhanger (naturally!), promising a good second entry to the series. Back matter includes a wealth of resources for anyone interested in “making stuff or knowing stuff”. Fun for STEAM, fun for anytime, this is a good series to add to your collections.

Need display ideas or readalikes? In addition to Science and Maker Comics, Quirk Books’ Nick and Tesla series by “Science Bob” Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith is a fun middle grade series that includes STEAM adventure and projects.

 

 

Night Light, by Michael Emberley, (April 2025, Holiday House), $14.99, ISBN: 9780823458165

Ages 4-8

Part of the I Like to Read series of comics, this is a great introductory graphic novel for emerging readers. A parent and child are reading before bed when a blackout strikes. “Too dark!’ the child says, as the flashlight’s batteries die. The parent has an idea: climbing up to the roof with a sack, they pull the stars from the sky to bring to the child’s room, but what will happen to the poor Moon, left in the dark all by themselves? A sparely worded graphic novel with panels and a breathtaking spread, Emberley creates a heartwarming story for emerging readers that’s as perfect for a bedtime read as it is for reading on one’s own. Emberley’s playful characters have appeared in other stories, including I Did It! and Let’s Go! and sport colorful pink-and-green striped pajamas and ear coverings, with colorful red noses. Sharp-eyed readers will notice the book of choice is Emberley’s father’s book, Go Away, Big Green Monster! (another storytime favorite). An excellent addition to beginner-level graphic novels, Night Light has starred reviews from Horn Book and Kirkus.

 

 

Sky & Ty 2: Dinomite!, by Steve Breen, (April 2025, Pixel Ink), $14.99, ISBN: 9781645952176

Ages 6-9

Sky and Ty are back in their second volume of adventures. The cowgirl and T. Rex duo run a delivery service, do a couple of good deeds, learn that money isn’t everything, and Ty discovers a new branch on his family tree. Adorable fun that readers who love Pea, Bee & Jay and Narwhal and Jelly will enjoy. Great for more newly independent readers, the two-color illustrations are bright and boldly outlined and have more text than early graphic novels. Bold fonts make the text easy to read and themes of kindness and friendship will resonate with kids. There are fun facts about cowgirls in the back matter along with some chuckle-worthy riddles. Pulitzer Prize Winner Breen has a winning series with this one.

There’s a free, downloadable Sky & Ty activity kit from Howdy, Partner!, the first book in the series (2024), for you to print out and have ready for readers.

 

 

Casey’s Cases: The Mysterious New Girl, by Kay Healy, (Feb. 2025, Neal Porter Books), $16.99, ISBN: 9780823456505

Ages 7-10

Casey is a quirky kid who sees is mystery in just about anything. No, really: ANYTHING. The 11-year-old is undeterred by Dina, the resident mean girl, and befriends the mysterious new girl, Jan (a case into and of herself). Jan ends up as Casey’s sidekick as Casey embarks on such adventures as the Case of the Missing Hairband, the Case of the Wrapped Presents, the Case of the Lost Fifty Bucks, and many, many more. She bumbles through a crush on classmate AJ and attempts to find (but not really) the family of a missing cat while solving her mini-mysteries with often-silly moments. She’s more Frank Drebin than Nancy Drew and readers will love her for it. Uncomplicated illustrations,  colorful and boldly outlined, make for easy reading for more confident readers.

Author Kay Healy has printable Casey resources for you to share with your readers! 

 

 

 

Posted in Toddler Reads

A Pair of Board Books for Sleepy Readers

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Don’t let a stuffed animal sleepover program go by without some cute books on hand! Here are a couple I’ve been enjoying.

Oh So Sleepy  Head to Toe, Illustrated by Maria Gabriela Gama, (Jan. 2025, Cartwheel Books), $8.99, ISBN: 9781546139409

Ages Birth-3

A group of sleepy animals are tucked in and ready for bed. Readers can smooth Little Pup’s blanket; pat Little Bunny’s velvety ears, and give Little Chick a kiss goodnight as they prepare fto go to sleep. Each spread features a young animal getting ready to sleep, with a patch of textile that lets readers touch and soothe themselves as part of a bedtime routine. Each spread lets readers join in wishing the animals good night: “Goodnight, Bunny! Goodnight, Pup!” Colorful illustrations show drowsy animals comfortable in cozy bedding. Short and sweet, with easy-to-read text, this is a heartwarming way to bring the day to a close. The soft textures help soothe young readers as they head off to sleep. A very cute addition to board book collections; you may want a Storytime Reference copy for yourself.

 

Can I Sleep Here? Baby Monkey, by Ella Bailey, (Jan. 2025, Flying Eye Books), $9.99, ISBN: 9781838742218

Ages Birth-3

The sun is setting and it’s time for Baby Monkey to go to sleep. Where to go, though? Baby Monkey stops at a bushy branch, a leafy plant, and a nesting hole, but there’s always another family sleeping there. Will Baby Monkey find a place to bed down for the night? Flaps reveal different animals in the potential sleeping areas; the story follows a question-and-answer pattern on each spread, with Baby Monkey’s repeated question, “Can I sleep here?” acting as the nudge for readers to lift the flap and discover who’s sleeping in the spot. The latest in a new board book series, Can I Sleep Here? Baby Monkey is the companion to Can I Sleep Here? Baby Dolphin (2024). Animals have expressive faces and the flaps are sturdy and will hold up to multiple reads. A fun new animal series for board book collections.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Uncategorized

The Digger and the Dark is ready for bed… maybe

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Digger and the Dark, by Joseph Kuefler, (June 2024, Balzer + Bray), $19.99, ISBN: 9780063237933

Ages 3-7

A group of trucks are all ready for bed after a busy day, but a playful group of raccoons have other plans. Surely they can play for a minute, right? The latest book in Kuefler’s Digger series is a cheerful wink to kids who want to play “for one more minute” at bedtime. Digger and friends indulge the raccoons, only to be exhausted the next day; when it’s time for sleep again, though, the raccoons reappear, ready to play. The trucks can’t keep up this momentum, and even poor Digger is “delirious”, declaring “I am ready to play… I am wide awake!” Thankfully, the raccoons see the other trucks asleep and help Digger get ready for a good night’s sleep… “just for a minute”. The story is charming, with short sentences that work great for emerging readers and readalouds. Parents and kids alike will relate to both the trucks and the raccoons: trying to keep up with a nonstop, energetic playmate and the manic frenzy that kicks in when one is overtired is familiar on both sides of the aisle. Kuefler has a deep blue background to denote the nighttime, and the primary colors of the trucks pop against the background, as do the gray and black raccoons, who manage to be here, there, and everywhere on each vehicle. An adorable bedtime story that will enchant truck fans.

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Night Blooming Jasmine: An evening walk brings discovery

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Night Blooming Jasmine, by Diane de Anda/Illustrated by Kendra Binney, (June 2024, Star Bright Books), $17.99, ISBN: 978-1-59572-976-7

Ages 4-8

A young girl named Jasmine is fast asleep with the night-blooming jasmine vine outside her window calls to her, inviting her to go outside and discover the world that comes to life outside at night. Encountering frogs and crickets, sleeping dogs and hungry opossums, Jasmine explores the world that wakes up when we go to sleep. Written in occasional rhyme, the verses illustrate the quiet wonder of night, with a playful view, as seen through the eyes of a child: “The spotted hound lies on his back; / his feet run in the air. / Deep in his sleep he’s rousting birds / and chasing down a long-eared hare”. Parallel to the plant with whom she shares a name, Jasmine heads back to bed to “end her nighttime bloom”. Soft, blue-hued illustrations set a calming stage for bedtime reading; Jasmine sets herself apart from her world as she wears a pink nightgown. Back matter includes animal facts on the various nocturnals that appear in the story. A bedtime story that promises dreamy adventures, Night Blooming Jasmine is a great choice for collections.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Toddler Reads

Zoom off to bedtime with Sleep Little Dozer

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Sleep, Little Dozer, by Diana Murray/Illustrated by Cleonique Hilsaca, (June 20245, Random House), $18.99, ISBN: 9780593119044

Ages 2-6

It’s been a full day for Little Dozer, but when Papa tells him, “Let’s roll! Time for bed!”, Dozer is concerned: Mama is working late! How will Dozer fall asleep? No worries: Papa knows the routine. This sweet rhyming bedtime story is just what a child needs when a parent is working late or traveling and another parent – maybe not the usual parent or caregiver – is left to handle bedtime. Papa Dozer is a large bulldozer with a bushy mustache; Little Dozer is a tiny bulldozer. The vehicles all have bold, friendly expressions and colors are soft, gentle, wonderful for bedtime. Much of the story is Papa’s bedtime rhyme, which Little Dozer chimes in on; it’s relatable to kids who have their bedtime routines down pat. Visions of numbered jeeps fill in for a human child’s “counting sheep”, and various vehicles bed down for the night as Dozer struggles with anxiety over not being able to sleep without Mom. Endpapers show truck-shaped clouds against a night sky. A very cute and comforting story that vehicle fans will ask for at bedtime, and a good addition to collections.

Pair with Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site and Steam Train Dream Train, both by Sherri Duskey Rinker, for a fun pajama storytime.

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Simon Says Good Night by Orit Bergman

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

An adorable game of bedtime Simon Says awaits in this adorable book, translated from the original Hebrew.

Simon Says Good Night, by Orit Bergman/Translated by Annette Appel, (Dec. 2023, Amazon Crossing Kids),
$17.99, ISBN: 9781662514289
Ages 3-7

A bedtime ritual sets the stage for this sweet game of Simon Says. Beginning with the bedtime preparation that Daddy puts forth – “Daddy says: Brush your teeth. Daddy says: Clean your ears” – things are flipped once young Simon is in bed for the night. Wearing his bright yellow crown (a bit reminiscent Where the Wild Things Are‘s playful scamp, Max), Simon lines up his dog and toys for his own game of Simon Says. Starting with the basics, the game heads into imaginative spreads with Simon & Co fly, become giants, and ride wolves into the mountains. And what happens if you complete a task without hearing Simon Says? You’re out of the game for a round! A fun way to teach a classic game to audiences that may not have learned it yet and a great way to make bedtime fun. Mixed media illustration has a charming vintage feel to it and combines narration with comic book word balloons and panels.

A playful addition to storytimes and collections – I’d display my copy with nursery rhyme and fingerplay-friendly picture books like those by Jane Cabrera and Annie Kubler.

Orit Bergman is an Israeli author and illustrator. She was born in Jerusalem and lives and works in Kerem Maharal, Israel. She writes and illustrates children’s books, adapts her stories for the theater, and frequently meets children across the country. Her books have been published in Israel, France, China, and the United States. She studied at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem, where she now heads the illustration-studies department. Learn more about the author at www.oritbergman.com.

Annette Appel is a translator of books for young readers and truly enjoys the challenge of making stories written in Hebrew accessible to English speakers. She recently translated Bear and Fred: A World War II Story, by Iris Argaman and illustrated by Avi Ofer. Annette grew up in Oak Park, Michigan, and now lives with her family on a kibbutz in northern Israel.

 

One lucky winner will receive a copy of Simon Says Good Night, courtesy of Amazon Crossing Kids (U.S. and Canada addresses). Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway here!

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Nibbles goes to bed… or does he?

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Nibbles: The Bedtime Book, by Emma Yarlett, (March 2023, Kane Miller), $16.99, ISBN: 9781684644933

Ages 4-7

Nibbles, my favorite book-nibbling monster, is back at bedtime in this latest adventure. After a long day of escaping into libraries and eating his way through all the books, it’s finally bedtime and Nibbles is in crate… but a quick lift of the flap shows readers that he isn’t: he’s off on another book-nibbling escapade, hilariously chomping his way through bedtime stories like The Ugly Duckling, Cinderella, and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Will Nibbles finally slow down and get tired? Will fairy tales ever be the same? Flaps and die cuts reveal Nibbles’s adventures to readers, and the bright yellow monster pops off the quieter, darker backgrounds, letting readers easily spot him. A little bit of rhyme, mixed with exasperated storytelling and fractured fairytales, give readers a little something for everyone. A delightful addition to fairy tale collections.

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

A Bed of Stars and a camping trip with Dad

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

A Bed of Stars, by Jessica Love, (Apr 2023, Candlewick Press), $18.99, ISBN: 9781536212396

Ages 4-8

A child and their father set out on a camping trip “to shake hands with the universe”. The road trip is as delightful as the night under the stars, with vivid descriptions and experiences: “We drive out of the city, which smells like rubber and french fries…”; everything the two see and enjoy together comes to life under Love’s pen and watercolors. Pausing to enjoy a sunset; observing different flora and fauna; dreaming under the stars all comes to life for readers as Love weaves a story celebrating the time spent together between a parent and child. When the child expresses fear of going to sleep under the “bigness” of the universe, Dad is there to allay those concerns, telling the child that we are all made of energy, from stars to bugs: “We’re all friends and family. Maybe if you learned their names, they wouldn’t feel so much like strangers”. A surprise awaits the child at home, bringing this loving tale of family and discovery full circle. A gorgeous story to share with readers. A Bed of Stars has starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books.

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Tales from the TBR: Picture Books about Animals

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

It’s another installation of Tales from the TBR, and this time, I’ve got some fun books about animals for your collections! Enjoy.

Holey Moley, by Bethan Clarke/Illustrated by Anders Frang, (Aug. 2023, Kane Miller), $15.99, ISBN: 9781684645497

Ages 4-8

This hilarious story is full of wordplay, rhymes, and laughs. Gus the Goat meets Mavis the Mole and proceeds to start guessing where Mavis lives, adding his own rhyming flair: “A mole in a hole. A moley in a holey. A holey moley!” Mavis weathers Gus’s insistence on coming up with rhyming places where Mavis lives, to the reader’s delight. The back-and-forth dialogue is fast-paced, with illustrations that bring Gus’s imagination to life in the silliest of ways. A supporting cast of animal characters provide an audience for Gus. Originally published earlier this year in Great Britain, Holey Moley is a good addition to stories that engage readers with creative wordplay.

 

 

Just a Worm, by Marie Boyd, (March 2023, Greenwillow Books), $17.99, ISBN: 9780063212565

Ages 4-8

After being called “just a worm” in the most squeamish of reactions, Worm sets off through a garden to discover ways to prove people wrong. Some garden denizens are friendly, some are a little standoffish, but every0ne in the garden – including worm – has something important to contribute. An engaging narrative about recognizing one’s worth, Just a Worm is also a STEM story about how spiders, dragonflies, ladybugs,, bees, caterpillars and butterflies, and worms are the best neighbors a garden can have. Paper-quilling art adds an extra dimension of texture; back matter includes instructions on making a quilled paper butterfly that is sure to delight readers. Earthworm facts and a glossary complete this story that will find a home on fiction and STEM shelves.

 

 

Fish and Crab, by Marianna Coppo, (March 2023, Chronicle Books), $17.99, ISBN: 9781797204437

Ages 4-8

Best friends Fish and Crab live together in an aquarium, where they share a bedroom. When it’s time to go to sleep, Fish has a lot of worries: what was that sound? What if aliens abduct them? What if it rains frogs? Crab brews a cup of herbal tea and hears Fish out, with some hilarious commentary. An adorable bedtime story with some chuckles in store, Coppo creates a sweet story about friendship and the importance of having a person you can turn to with all your worries and fears – no matter what time of day or night. The back-and-forth dialogue moves quickly, and the tempera and pastel illustrations move from bright colors to grey and black to denote nighttime conversations. Parents will get a kick out of this one, too; they’ll see themselves in this scenario. Endpapers add to the story, with black endpapers and a wide-open pair of eyes to denote who’s left awake in the beginning and end of the story. A storytime choice your readers will want to hear again and again.

 

 

The Fastest Tortoise in Town, by Howard Calvert/Illustrated by Karen Obuhanych, (Apr. 2023, Candlewick Press), $18.99, ISBN: 9781536228359

Ages 3-7

A charming story that acts as a prequel to a beloved fairy tale, The Fastest Tortoise in Town is the story of Barbara Hendricks, a “regular leopard tortoise” whose owner and best friend, a little girl named Lorraine, has entered her in a race. Barbara is nervous about her chances – she’s a tortoise, after all – but Lorraine encourages her and helps her build stamina by taking her for walks every day. When Barbara is frustrated at how slow she is compared to assorted toddlers, remote-controlled vehicles, and Lorraine’s grandfather, Lorraine is there to keep Barbara’s spirits high. Calvert spins an adorable story of friendship and perseverance, told in the first person from Barbara’s point of view, and touches on facing and overcoming fears. Obuhanych’s enjoyable, colorful mixed media illustrations show expressive animal and human characters; the panel-by-panel scenes from the actual race will have readers giggling as they enjoy the unlikely competitors. The story’s end leads into a well-known fairy tale; have some of the many versions available! A very cute addition to storytime collections.

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Uncategorized

Ready, Set, Sleep! The World Sleep Championship of Animals is on!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The World Sleep Championship of Animals, by Daniel Napp, (March 2023, Kane Miller), $15.99, ISBN: 9781684644964

Ages 4-8

Set in a game show sleeping competition, this bedtime story may have readers laughing too hard to go to bed… but it’s an excellent Pajama Storytime choice! Viktor Frog is your host and Heinz Boar is your judge as they put five animals to the test: can they fall asleep in the wackiest conditions? Who will sleep through the loud construction, steamy sauna, or raucous roller coaster challenges? Read like a sportscaster narrative, this amusing story will keep readers giggling as they see the animals doze off or stay awake in a frazzled panic. A scoreboard pops up throughout the story, providing a good opportunity for a feltboard storytime and some counting and predicting skills. Colorful cartoony artwork is kid-friendly and the animals are expressive, allowing readers to connect with them. Who hasn’t tried to sleep in complete silence and found themselves wanting? We’ve all been either too hot or too cold to fall asleep, so you’ll find readers who can relate. A good purchase for a fun readaloud.