Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
"Tick-tock, peek at the clock.../ It's time to sleep, sweet baby." Caregivers coax an infant to sleep in this effective bedtime board book by Alexander, which maps out a Black family's bedtime routine. Opening images show two arms reaching down to carry a baby from play with a pile of blocks to a sudsy bath, followed by "diaper, jammies,/ turn down lights" and a story and lullaby. As the text suggests with hypnotic repetition "Soon you'll get so sleepy" and "YOU are getting sleepy./ Very sleepy," the child, with smiling eyes and mouth, appears wide awake for a gently humorous effect before yawning soporifically. Visual interest comes from Mikai's child-centric images, which make good use of patterns, textures, and shadows. When the child is at last laid down in a crib, two parental figures are shown offering final kisses and cuddles to "my sleeping sleepy baby"--a conclusion that emanates love. Ages up to 3. (Sept.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K--A mother and father guide their ebullient baby through the steps of a comforting bedtime routine. At first, only the child's face can be seen, with hints of adult presence at the edges of image: a pair of hands scrubbing shampoo, a cozy lap at story time, a gentle shoulder to rest on mid-yawn. Finally, as the baby drifts off to sleep, the happy parents come fully into view. Alexander's text pairs a subtly undulating rhythm with a loose refrain, perfect for tired listeners. With softly faded colors and stippled textures, Mikai achieves a stunning depth of emotion centering the loving Black faces of the family members. VERDICT This irresistible ode to bedtime rituals is a must-have.
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
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. (Board book. 0-1) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
