HUSHABYE LILY
by Claire Freedman & illustrated by John Bendall-Brunello
A noisy farmyard is keeping Lily awake, but Mother Rabbit solves the problem by taking her on a tour of the grounds, allowing her to see for herself how all of the animals are preparing for bed. A visit to the pond earns Lily a lullaby from a goose. A cow offers her a bedtime story, making Lily yawn in response. A generous hen fashions a comfortable bed for Lily out of straw. As the owl hoots, the pigs squeak, and the dreaming donkey softly brays, Lily is coaxed towards sleep by the gentle sounds on the settling farm. A sleepy foal pricks up his ears at a sound in the night, but his mother comforts him, telling him, “It’s only little Lily snoring!” Muted illustrations, alternating between full-bleed paintings and small vignettes, mimic the quiet tale of one small bunny’s struggle against sleep. A bedtime treat for the ears. (Picture book. 2-5)