YOU ARE GETTING SLEEPY

Baby winds down for bed.

Alexander and Mikai detail the steps needed to get a sweet baby to sleep. The baby is treated to a relaxing bath, dressed in fresh jammies, read a story, and given a cuddle and kiss before drifting off to sleep. Mikai’s illustrations carry the text. The use of color shows the sky darkening, plays off of the gold of a parent’s jewelry, and conveys warmth and comfort. As the baby lies in the crib looking up at their parents, the light through the slats plays across the little one’s face and the bed linens. The baby’s “tired eyes” and deep yawn playfully match the family pup’s. And in the most compelling moment in the book, a close-up of the baby’s parents shows them leaning in and giving one final, loving goodnight kiss. The illustrations capture the parents’ loving gazes, their patience and love, and the feeling of watching a wide-awake baby become a peaceful, sleeping one. The baby and parents are Black. While there are many bedtime board books for baby, this one stands out for its incredible illustrations and for centering a family of color. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Perfectly captures bedtime for baby from a parental perspective.