YOU ARE NOT SLEEPY!

A pig struggles to take a nap.

When storytime ends, the pig (referred to as “you” in this tale told in second person) tries to settle in but can’t. “The room is too bright!” So the pig pulls down the shades. Uh-oh. “Now the room is too dark.” Every time the pig finds a solution to one of the problems causing sleeplessness, another arises. The pig turns on a flashlight to banish the darkness, but moths are instantly attracted to the light. Opening a window gets rid of the moths, but now birdsong keeps the pig awake. As our protagonist dons a pair of headphones to muffle the noise, nap time turns into a dance party. Though the often dull palette and arrhythmic text may not seem like the ingredients for an engaging read, the comical predicaments the pig encounters make for an endearing story (though it’s debatable whether this tale will get young readers in the mood for sleep or rile them up all the more). The delightful conclusion, which puts the pig in charge of storytime and sees our protagonist falling asleep at last, may empower little ones to take charge of their reading and become a little more willing to embrace bedtime themselves.

A slow-building but satisfying story.