MIDNIGHT PILLOW FIGHT
by Jan Ormerod & illustrated by Jan Ormerod
Fantasy or dream, a winsome adventure to pair with Sendak's In the Night Kitchen. Restless Polly, supposing her pillow wants to play, takes it downstairs, where the two bounce and tumble with some soft, delightfully expressive cushions; after the huge, firm sofa cushions join in, they march and play leapfrog until Polly's own pillow gets bumped and her reflexive retaliation turns into a free-for-all. Polly quells the uproar by switching on the light and takes her own pillow back to bed, where Ormerod provides a last cozy twist before Polly drifts off to sleep. The engaging narrative draws young listeners right in with frequent queries (``Polly pushed—would you do that?''), while Ormerod's creatively varied frames, frequently invaded by rambunctious pillows, keep the eye moving along. Deftly drawn Polly is a charmer, her unusual crew a delight. (Picture book. 3-7)