FICTION

A Recipe for Bedtime

by Peter BENTLY
illus. by Sarah Massini. 32p. Putnam. Jan. 2016. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780399176258.
COPY ISBN
PreS—Three stuffed animal chefs band together in this rhyming recipe filled with the sweet, familiar motions of a baby getting readied for bed. The simple, humorous verse instructs the cook to "take a bundle full of joy/(It can be either girl or boy)./Snuggle in your arms, like so." The songlike steps show how baby is bathed, dried, wrapped up, fed, kissed, sung to, and finally put to sleep. Bently's language is cloaked in comfort, and Massini's muted primary colors perfectly capture the quiet, loving scenes. Bently's gentle nod to the not always easy aspects of bedtime, while still appealing to a very young listener, makes this a standout among others of its ilk. The lulling rhythm of the rhyme scheme is so memorable that the words will likely be recited and woven into family routines.
VERDICT This bedtime selection is a recipe for success.
Reviewed by Jenna Boles, Greene County Public Library, Beavercreek, OH
A rhythmic, rhyming "recipe" consists of parts of a child's nightly routine, such as these instructions for bathtime: "Add to water (not too hot). / Stir a little. Then a lot." In the peaceful illustrations, a bevy of smiling toy animals follow the directions, including a teddy bear who reads the book "A Recipe for Bedtime" (so meta). Choose this for a quiet evening read-aloud.
 , Jan 01, 2016

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