Sleepy Sheepy and the sheepover

In the Sleepy Sheepy (2023), a lamb known by that name resists bedtime until his exhausted parents prevail. In this sequel, Sleepy Sheepy is eagerly looking forward to spending the night with "his two favorite people" (his grandparents) at their house. But after his parents have left: "his tummy got twisty, and his eyes got misty." Also, he can't sleep. Luckily, his grandparents know just what to do. After giving Sleepy his Pa's old favorite book, Goodnight Mooo'n, to read, Grammy and Grampy bake cookies, dance with him, and tightly tuck him into bed, where the little sheep falls fast asleep. As in the previous volume, the text is relatively short and, while written in prose, includes rhyming couplets from time to time, just for fun. The story line is true to the experience of the many children who feel excited yet anxious at the prospect of spending a night away from home. Oswald's illustrations are both amusing and endearing. As a classroom read-aloud choice, this picture book is sure to elicit sleepover memories from young listeners.

A slumber party is thrilling--until it isn't. Sleepy Sheepy is excited: He's packed his suitcase and can't wait for his first sheepover at Grammy and Grampy Sheepy's house. He imagines the fun things he and his "two favorite folks" will do all night long. But anticipation is different from reality. Sleepy bids his parents good night. All of a sudden, this sheepover business doesn't seem so fun. Everything feels different. The blankets are scratchy, his jammies don't match, his tummy feels twisty, and his eyes are misty; even Grampy's potato collection doesn't distract him. Sleepy Sheepy can't sleep; he misses home. Sleepy can't explain his feelings to his beloved grandparents. But this wise pair know what's what. Grampy whips up a batch of cookies, Grammy reads Goodnight Mooo'n (featuring a cow, natch)--Sleepy's dad's favorite--and all three dance to the Woolen Stones' album Let It Bleat. Guess what? An exhausted Sleepy Sheepy hops into bed, ignores the blankets' scratchiness, and falls asleep, feeling "right at home." Cummins brings her gently humorous story, written in bouncy rhymes, to a predictable ending, but readers will enjoy it nonetheless, especially kids (er, lambs) who have had their own first "sheepovers" at a beloved relative's home. The cheerful, lively illustrations are endearing; boldfaced typefaces of different sizes are incorporated playfully into the text. Young readers needn't feel sheepish about appreciating this sweet, entertaining story. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.