Review by New York Times Review
SHHH! I'M SLEEPING Written and Illustrated by Dorothée de Monfreid. 132 pp. Gecko. $12.99. (Board book; ages 2 to 5) Eight dogs in a pair of quadruple-level bunk beds make for a raucous bedtime shuffle in this clever, delightfully illustrated oversize comics-style board book. A giant hound named Popov is snoring, which wakes the others, one by one. There's a request for a drink of water and some toy-borrowing and bed-swapping before everyone ends up in Misha's top bunk. He reads a story that puts them to sleep. All but the snorer, who wakes with the sun, wondering where everyone is. BLANCHE HATES THE NIGHT Written and illustrated by Sibylle Delacroix. Translated by Christelle Morelli. 24 pp. OwlKids. $16.95. (Picture book; ages 2 to 6) It's not that Blanche doesn't want to go to sleep. The problem is night itself: so gray, and "such a pain!" The worst part is you can't even play. Trying to chase away the moon, she bangs a drum and bursts into song, ignoring her mother's calls from the doorway. Soon her bed is a trampoline. With adorable, shadowy drawings, Delacroix ("Prickly Jenny") offers a refreshing c'est la vie take on bedtime conflict. The mom stays offstage; when Blanche finally conks out it's from sheer exhaustion. ROCK-A-BYE ROMP By Linda Ashman. Illustrated by Simona Mulazzani. 32 pp. Nancy Paulsen. $16.99. (Picture book; ages 2 to 6) "Sweet little Baby, rocking with me- / Who'd put a cradle high in a tree?" The dark heart of "Rockabye Baby" inspires Ashman's rhyming bedtime tale, which turns the scary nursery classic into a dreamy, surreal journey for a lucky baby. Mulazzani's painterly illustrations create a magical mood, with creamy colors, soft patterns and a rosy-cheeked baby looking blissed out by the trip. A hawk brings the child home to a smiling mom and a bedroom with a cradle and a groovy mural. GOODNIGHT OWL Written and Illustrated by Greg Pizzoli. 48 pp. Disney-Hyperion. $16.99. (Picture book; ages 3 to 6) Things don't go as planned in the stylish midcentury-modern-looking picture books by Pizzoli ("The Watermelon Seed," "Number One Sam"). But his creatures know how to triumph over neurotic disappointment, and Owl is no exception. That "tiny sound" keeping him awake? He's determined to find it, emptying cupboards, pulling up floorboards - even, in a gloriously mad gesture, taking the very roof and walls off his house. It was just a mouse, but it's nice to sleep under the stars. HOW TO PUT YOUR PARENTS TO BED By Mylisa Larsen. Illustrated by Babette Cole. 32 pp. Katherine Tegen. $17.99. (Picture book; ages 4 to 8) Watch out, parents! This hilarious book is onto you, with your hypocritical preaching about how important it is to go to bed. A demonic-looking cat narrates, telling the child listener to "take charge" and get those grown-ups to sleep already. Ignore excuses like "Just one more email," the cat advises, and "keep them moving toward the bedroom." Cole's frisky illustrations bust the lid right off the secret chaos of modern family life. ONLINE An expanded visual presentation of this week's column at nytimes.com/books.
Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [February 7, 2016]
Review by Booklist Review
The author-illustrator of Geisel Award winner The Watermelon Seed (2013) offers another anthropomorphic look at a familiar childhood concern. Here Owl, nattily robed in pink, is preparing for bed in his well-appointed house when he hears a tiny squeak. Annoyed, he checks his door and empties his cupboard but finds nothing. As the squeaks continue, he becomes even more determined to uncover their source. He removes floorboards, takes down his roof, and tears apart his walls before finally noticing the noise maker, a tiny mouse. Pizzoli's friendly, pastel-hued artwork will reassure young listeners that all ends happily, despite the rampant destruction depicted. Owl's expressive eyes and simple lines effectively convey his increasing frustration, while the tiny gray mouse seems mostly to be looking for a friend. Although the scientifically inclined are likely to realize that nocturnal owls generally eat mice, most listeners will be amused by this over-the-top adventure. This makes a perfect companion to Pat Hutchins' classic Good-night, Owl! (1972) for story hours or bedtime sharing.--Weisman, Kay Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Pizzoli's picture books can feel a little like Twilight Zone light: a cat who wishes away his family (Templeton Gets His Wish), a car-racing dog who unexpectedly loses (Number One Sam), a crocodile who fears a watermelon is growing inside him (The Watermelon Seed). This story is no different as it introduces a blue owl whose attempts at slumber are repeatedly interrupted by an inexplicable "squeek!" Readers instantly see that a friendly gray mouse is the culprit, but Owl isn't so lucky. In an effort to locate the source of the noise, he clears the shelves of knickknacks and vinyl albums (he looks to be a fan of the Clash and Ramones), pries up the floorboards, and tears the roof off the house. Pizzoli's bright colors, mid-century modern details, and fuzzy outlines offer a zingy counterbalance to Owl's increasingly frazzled mental state. After reducing the house to rubble, Owl finally sees the mouse ("Owl smiled. He said, 'Good night, noise.'"), and the two curl up in bed to sleep. Is that what the mouse was after all along? Pizzoli leaves the answer to readers. Ages 3-5. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-Owl is just beginning his bedtime routine when he hears an annoying squeak. Readers can see that a cheerful little mouse is responsible, but Owl remains clueless about its origins. His attempts at discovering where the noise is coming from not only are glaringly wrong but also cause him to do enormous damage to his home. When he thinks that the squeak is coming from under the floor, he pulls up every last floorboard. When he is certain that he has a "noisy roof," children witness a manic Owl destroying it with a sledgehammer. The stakes get higher and higher, as will the laughs and groans from readers, until he obliterates every inch of his domicile save his bed. It is at this point that Owl spies Mouse, and with that discovery, they both go happily to sleep. While the ending is quirky and feels abrupt, kids will be greatly amused by Pizzoli's latest effort. VERDICT Filled with big, colorful illustrations and amusing facial expressions, this is a lively addition for most collections and a definite storytime addition.-Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, St. Joseph, MI © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
When a noise (SQUEEK!) interrupts Owls bedtime, he gets up to investigate. Was it the door? The wind? Its coming from the cupboard, said Owl. So he went to take a look. He emptied every shelf, but there was no noise to be found. Well-designed pages and energetic cartoon art in candy colors bring out the storys humor while showing readers what the text does not tell: a small, mischievous mouse is teasing Owl. Frustrated Owl systematically goes on to pull up the floorboards, pry off the roof, and tear down the walls until he completely dismantles his house. After each new effort, he climbs back into bed and wishes himself good night -- only to be disturbed again. Owls cozy home offers plenty of amusing details to notice, including a super-cool album collection (The Clash, The Ramones, Nirvana, The Talking Heads) as well as cameos of characters and items from Pizzolis previous books (Tricky Vics Eiffel Tower, rev. 5/15; the gemstone from Templeton Gets His Wish, rev. 5/15). Back in his bed, now completely out under the stars, Owl finally spots the source of that noise -- and so he wishes it a good night, with a smile, as they both snuggle in for sleep. The nocturnal mouse-hunting habits of owls in the natural world adds another layer of fun to this entertaining bedtime drama that works equally well for new readers and for sharing aloud. julie roach (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Something is preventing Owl from falling asleep. Owl leans back against his white pillow and headboard. "Squeek!" says something underneath the bed. Owl's never heard that sound before, so he fastens his pink bathrobe and answers the front door. Nobody. It must be the wind; back to bed. Bidding himself goodnight, he climbs into bedand hears the noise again. Time after time, he pops out of bed seeking the squeaker. Is it in the cupboard? He empties the shelves. Under the floor? He pulls up his floorboards. As Owl's actions ratchet uphe destroys the roof and smashes the walls, all in search of the squeakso does his anxiety. Not until he hunkers down in bed under the night sky (his bed is now outdoors, because the house's roof and walls are gone), frantically clutching his pillow, does he see what readers have seen all along: a small, gray mouse. In simple illustrations with black outlines, textured coloring, and foreshortened perspective, Pizzoli plays mischievously with mouse placement. Sometimes the mouse is behind Owl or just out of his sightline; other times, the mouse is on a solid, orange-colored page across the spread from Owl, which removes him from Owl's scene in a rather postmodern manner. Is the mouse toying with Owl? Who knows? A funny tale about stress and an ever upping ante, with a comforting end. (Picture book. 3-5) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
