It simply can't be bedtime

Budding Anglophiles should be rather keen on this tale of a child whose bedtime avoidance is aided by Lady Pigsworth: a proper pink porcine stuffie sporting a Royal Ascot--worthy hat and a Union Jack handbag. Pretend play collides with domestic demands as the girl's bedraggled father attempts to wrap up an evening's events. Lady Pigsworth insists, using a formidable tone, that he's overlooking essential steps: pajama-donning, teeth-brushing, and more. But as the hour grows later and the pig's delay tactics become increasingly elaborate--she suggests a piping hot cuppa and silk sheets strewn with flower petals--the child begins to tire of the stuffie's schemes. "Please keep it short. It's way past her bedtime," the youth whispers when Lady Pigsworth demands a lullaby. In this extended bedtime romp, digital drawings by Salerno (On the Corner of Chocolate Avenue), rendered in deep shades of pink, purple, and blue, tell the story in bold strokes, while dialogue by Paul (Rectangle Time) crackles with British turns of phrase. Human characters are portrayed with pale skin and black hair. Ages 4--8. (May)

A girl's stuffed pig helps her postpone bedtime. Daddy says it's time to go to sleep, but his daughter insists that she isn't ready. Her stuffed animal, Lady Pigsworth, takes the lead, suggesting creative tactics to delay the inevitable. With guidance from Lady Pigsworth, Daddy helps the girl exchange her fairy costume for pajamas, brush her teeth, clean her room, and read a story. But as the girl gets increasingly sleepy, she loses her enthusiasm for Lady Pigsworth's escalating antics, which include requests for tea with scones, a lullaby (with the porcine plushie accompanying Daddy with her clarinet), and silk sheets strewn with flowers. Finally, the girl notices that Lady Pigsworth has worn herself out and tucks her stuffed animal into bed. Both drift off to sleep--but not before scheming to do it all again tomorrow. The basic plot is familiar enough, but it's told with humor and sweetness, accompanied by Salerno's retro-style illustrations, dominated by soothing nighttime hues of lavender and yellow. The text is entirely made up of dialogue, mostly between the father and Lady Pigsworth. The pig's formal, British-inspired speech ("Tickety-boo, old chap") makes for a fun read-aloud. The father and daughter model a strong, loving relationship as he joins her play wholeheartedly, giving her agency while also steadily guiding her toward bed. The human characters have light skin and dark hair. An amusing addition to the bedtime story stack.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.