Bedtime in the Forest

PreS-Gr 2—Three squirrel children meet two owlets and would love to play with them, but they go out only at night. That evening, too excited to sleep, Mick, Mack, and Molly sneak out of their tree to join the owls, raring to go in their little red overalls. However, the squirrels, clad in cozy, soft pajamas, soon fall asleep, and their father finds them and takes them home. The next day the children miss their new friends, so they decide to exchange letters. The last picture shows the sleeping owls and the little squirrels putting a letter into the mailbox on the owls' tree. The daytime illustrations are full of yellows and brighter colors, while the nighttime illustrations are muted in darker and softer blues. Somewhat stylized, the squirrels' ears are always straight up and their tails are very full and bushy. One of the appeals of this tale is that the squirrel children solve their problem themselves. This unpretentious story with lovely art and endearing animals will be enjoyed by young children.—Elaine Lesh Morgan, formerly at Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR