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Genre
Bedtime stories
Picture books for children
Tone
Quiet
Writing Style
Lyrical
Illustration
Big and bold
Cartoony
Subject
Bedtime
Dogs
Insomnia
Silence and silent things

It's time to say goodnight. But what if a dog isn't sleepy? This book captures how a reluctant pup warms to bedtime in a way that young children will recognize immediately–and find as reassuring as their own bed.

This is the most charming book. My daughter picked it out from our local shop and my mom bought it for her so I hadn't really read it until it was deployed at bedtime, but it is just fantastic. It's sweet, and simple, and just plain good. I love it so much. ( )

This is the most charming book. My daughter picked it out from our local shop and my mom bought it for her so I hadn't really read it until it was deployed at bedtime, but it is just fantastic. It's sweet, and simple, and just plain good. I love it so much. ( )

It can be difficult to find picture books that are suitable for very young, toddler audiences. However, although I originally passed this one over because the cover didn't grab me, upon closer inspection it turned out to be exactly what I was looking for.

Dog prepares for bed as he listens to the sounds of the evening and remembers his day. He remembers the words he knows, the games and fun of the day. Now the day is over and dog takes one last walk through the house, checks his people, and goes to sleep.

The simple, lulling text is complemented by Malone's blocky, simple illustrations. The only face is of dog's girl, mostly shown sleeping or pressed tightly against his fur. The illustrations remind me of the broad outlines and simple colors of Laura Dronzek's work, although Malone's art is very much her own. The simplicity of the art makes it perfect for small children both one-on-one and in a group to follow along the story and share their own experiences of the day, words they know, and bedtime routines.

Verdict: Use this at bedtime with your little one or in a bedtime or dog-themed toddler storytime. The slow pace of the story may lose listeners, but if you make it interactive - finding things in the picture, asking about their day to compare, you'll quickly pull them back to the lilting rhythm of the story.

ISBN: 9780544286122; Published 2015 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Borrowed from another library in my consortium