My library was a big fan of Marino's first Night Animals book, so I was very excited when I saw there was a sequel!

The night animals are back and they're exhausted! Possum and Skunk, their eyes heavy with weariness, set off to find somewhere just right to sleep. Quiet, dark... and not full of bees! Bears! Wolves! Oops, Skunk got a little surprised there. Pooft! Aaaand, Possum is dead again. Don't worry Beaver, it happens all the time!

The friends, joined by a bear, beaver, and wolf, and running into all sorts of (stinky) situations, finally find just the right place to sleep... but it looks like somebody might already be there! Just when they're ready to collapse from exhaustion, the nice, peaceful, dark returns and they can finally get some sleep. Or can they? Bat and Owl have a few facts of life to point out to them, which is make it unlikely that this goofy group will be sleeping anytime soon!

Marino's delicately drawn animals are back, paired with expressive, weary eyes, panicked skunk explosions, and frequent possum death faints. While you can enjoy this from a distance, in storytime, you'll really want to get up close and personal to catch all the hilarious details!

Verdict: Although it lacks the element of surprise in the first book, this is still a hilarious adventure into the world of the night animals and their adventures. Sure to please fans and new readers of Gianna Marino alike.

ISBN: 9780425290651; Published February 2020 by Viking Children's Books; Review copy provided by publisher and donated to the library; Purchased for the library; Used in activity calendars and online storytimes.