THE NOISY WAY TO BED

A sleepy little boy in pajamas of blue leads readers on a gentle ramble through field and farmyard as he wends his way home and, finally, to bed. Along the way, four friendly animals, each of which interrupts both the little guy’s journey and his beddy-bye-bound refrain, join him and his ever-faithful white bunny. Youngest readers will revel in their ability to predict and chime in, quite rightly, with the animal sounds to come, and parents and programmers will appreciate the crayon-bright pictures, rhythmic text, and perfectly paced page turns that will make this a favorite. Beeke employs multiple watercolor techniques to create the charmingly naïve illustrations and endpapers that cuddle this cozy bedtime tale, and a large crisp font complements her work. Share this with a single child or with a slew, and root for the small hero, who has the last word (and a companionably crowded bed) in the end. Sweet dreams. (Picture book. 1-5)