HOW TO CATCH SOME ZZZS

What to do if kids’ “Zzzs” go AWOL?

This trusty handbook is exactly what fretful children (and their parents) need to ensure a good night’s rest. First things first. “Zzzs can’t resist a good bedtime routine.” Little ones should wash thoroughly, because “Zzzs adore soapy scents.” What follows is more standard but important advice. Select a pair of pajamas, gather “emergency supplies” (a flashlight and water bottle), remember to include cherished stuffed and real animals, give loved ones a good night kiss, listen to plenty of bedtime stories (“Zzzs can’t get enough” of them), make a wish before nestling under the covers, and turn off the lights (“It’s okay—really. Morning will be here before you know it”). The final steps? Cuddle a plush pal close, relax, think good thoughts, and use those emergency supplies. Now it’s time to pay a visit to dreamland. The book concludes with a great YAWN…and what do you know? Here come the Zzzs! This adorable, comforting offering is guaranteed to make bedtime less stressful for children and parents alike. Kids will want to hear it repeatedly—and may aim to follow the directions exactly. The winning illustrations, rendered in watercolors and digitally, are charming, portraying a loving, brown-skinned family whose eldest child is attempting to get some shut-eye. While the text consists solely of directives, Orlando’s busy spreads flesh out the story, depicting raucous sibling and pet antics.

Kids will savor this very sweet addition to the getting-ready-for-bedtime canon.