The Sleep Sheep - Hardcover

Anna McQuinn is the author of Lola at the Library and Lulu Loves the Library, among other picture books. She lives near London. Visit her at www.annamcquinn.com.
Hannah Shaw is the author-illustrator of Evil Weasel. She lives in Gloucestershire, England. Visit her at www.hannahshawillustrator.co.uk.

PreSchool-Grade 2 Sylvie is the kind of child whose mind never stops. She demands stories, and water, and drives her mother to distraction in order to avoid bedtime. When her mother suggests she count sheep, Sylvia gives it a try, but they won't stay still. They dance, swim, and rollerblade, making it impossible for her to get a tally. It isn't until the herd pretends to sleep that the child can successfully count them and drift off herself. The cartoon pen-and-ink drawings paint vivid scenes of Sylvie's imagination and are flush with fun details. Readers will linger over each page, looking for Sylvie's pink stuffed elephant throughout the story or the sheep in the cowboy hat with bucked teeth. A counting tale sandwiched in the middle of a bedtime story, The Sleep Sheep moves along at a rapid clip and with enough humor to be a successful read-aloud. Libraries certainly aren't wanting for additional child-won't-sleep stories, but this silly romp through dreamland and wild take on the counting-sheep story offers a new bedtime option. Sarah Townsend, Norfolk Public Library, VA
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