FICTION

Will You Help Me Fall Asleep?

Will You Help Me Fall Asleep? illus. by Christopher Weyant. 40p. HarperCollins/Harper. Oct. 2018. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062396853.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 1—Monty, a young frog, appeals to readers for help in falling asleep. He claims that he's been awake for hours and can't settle down. If he doesn't get some sleep, his mother won't let him take part in the annual boat races in the morning. He desperately wants to go, but his excitement and anxiety are not helping the situation. He tries a couple of commonplace strategies such as counting sheep and reading a book, both of which appear to be suggested by readers—"Ohhh, did you say "sheep"? Like counting sheep? Okay, I'll try… One… two… three…" but neither recommendation works. It's not until he attempts a relaxation technique his schoolteacher taught him that he slowly sinks into slumber. Large, watercolor-and-ink cartoon illustrations in predominantly blue, green, and gold fully cover each page and make this story practical for storytime and one-on-one sharing.
VERDICT . This zany offering is not a typical bedtime story; the teacher's relaxation method may be useful for even the youngest listener at the end of day. Recommended.

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.


RELATED 

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?