CLOSE YOUR EYES

A familiar dance between mother and child begins as the night descends on the jungle and the little tiger refuses to close his eyes and go to sleep. At first the little tiger is worried that he might miss something if he drifts off. “If I close my eyes,” he said, “I can’t see the sky.” He continues to worry that he will not see the tree and “the bird with the blue feathers,” but each time his mother comforts him, telling him of all the wonderful things that he will be able to do in his dreams. Satisfied that he will be able to play and maybe even fly in his dream world, the little tiger then becomes worried that he might fall or become lost, but his mother comforts him again. She tells him that she will always be there for him. Finally satisfied, the little tiger closes his eyes and dreams of far away places safe between his mother’s paws. Bright, textured illustrations rendered in broad brushstrokes on oversized pages depict the little tiger’s lush surroundings and his fanciful dreamscape. While not terribly original, parents searching for another way to convince little ones to go to sleep might give this one a try if for no other reason to share the pictures before bedtime. (Picture book. 3-6)