Do mommies ever sleep?

PreS-Gr 3--Simple rhymes bring to life the completely sleepless life of a mother in a humorous way. From drinking cold coffee ("Is she scared to drink it hot?") to growling tummies and gassy behinds, this book laments all the reasons why mommies probably are not sleeping from the point of view of a child. Howard highlights just how magical the small moments are for the child, while Obuhanych's fun illustrations mimic a painterly palette mixed with colored pencil sketching and bring bright, vivid life to the tired mother. VERDICT This fantastic story for families, for tired mothers, and for curious children is a great addition to any school or personal library.--Jessica Clark

Where do moms get their energy? The baby protagonist starts things off by putting the question out there: Do mommies ever sleep? Newsflash: Real-life children, particularly egocentric babies and toddlers, never ask this question. Yet this little one, who narrates in rhyme, seems genuinely concerned about how much Mommy manages to do, without stopping to rest for even a minute. Mommy seems to be attentive to her child's every need, though she looks haggard and frazzled. In fact, the baby eventually becomes worried at how exhausted Mommy is and decides it's time for some shut-eye: "I'll show her bedtime's fun!" The young narrator guides Mommy through a familiar bedtime routine, giving her a bath, reading her a story, singing with her, tucking her in under a cozy blanket, giving her a hug and a kiss, turning off the light, and saying a final "I love you" before the little one settles down for the night, too. This gently humorous, knowing story has an adult sensibility and will make a good gift for baby showers and new parents. Though the rhymes are a tad clunky, the illustrations, created with colored pencil and acrylic-painted paper collage, are lively and endearing. Mommy has lightly tanned skin, while her baby is brown-skinned. An exuberant story that might encourage older children to consider Mom's needs more often. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.