When the World Is Ready for Bed

by Gillian Shields, Anna Currey (Illustrator)

Overview

As the whole world gets ready for bed, so does an adorable bunny family-brushing teeth, closing curtains, and sharing a story. The complete text of this sleepy, soothing book is captured in a new board book edition with sturdy pages and rounded corners.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781599905334
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	09/28/2010
Pages:	26
Sales rank:	544,597
Product dimensions:	6.98(w) x 11.80(h) x 0.52(d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 3 Years

About the Author

GILLIAN SHIELDS is the author of Bloomsbury's Mermaid SOS series and other books for young children. She lives in England.

ANNA CURREY's warm, classic watercolor style has brought to life many enchanting picture books. She lives in England with her husband, two daughters, a dog, and a variety of goldfish.

Editorial Reviews

For three bunnies and their parents, nightfall brings a comforting set of domestic rituals: family dinner, common room cleanup (“Now clear the room/ And tidy up;/ There's a toy,/ And here's a cup”), sharing of the day's news and, finally, snuggling into bed. It's a story that's been told countless times, but the quiet grace of this unabashedly old-fashioned book makes it easy to justify finding just a little more room on the shelf. Shields's (Puppy Love: The Story of Esme and Sam) rhymes are a model of economy (“Today has nearly/ Slipped away;/ Tomorrow brings/ Another day”), but as every parent knows, tender sentiments don't have to be grandiose to be effective. Currey's (A Babysitter for Billy Bear) watercolors, all double-page spreads, are an intriguing combination of Beatrix Potteresque delicacy and expansive scale—the images feel big and small at the same time, assuring diminutive readers that home is not only a refuge from the world, but also a world that's all their own. Ages 3–6. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

PreS-Gr 1—This calming tale follows three brown bunnies as their day draws to a close. They have dinner, tidy up, tell dad about the fun they've had, brush their teeth, and listen to one last story. After kisses, hugs, and prayers, they curl up under a fluffy quilt and slip off to sleep. "Always lovely,/Always new,/Tomorrow's waiting/Just for you." The gentle singsong text makes for excellent bedtime reading, and the homey watercolors are equally pleasant. The bunnies wear distinctive outfits and have a variety of expressions. The final spread shows the sun rising over the yellow-green meadow that surrounds their little cottage. Children will easily relate to the story, especially the scene in which one bunny in a suds-filled tub is having its ears washed. A good addition to the genre.—Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH

School Library Journal

The sky is growing dark, and it's time for the flowers, the birds and every bunny to start thinking about bed. Shields's sweet, melodious rhyme and Currey's warm, lively watercolors trace the evening of a very appealing rabbit family after the sun goes down. From eating dinner, cleaning up with Mom and reminiscing about the day with Dad to tooth brushing, getting into bed, listening to stories, saying prayers and looking out at the stars, these bunnies have a very busy night. At last, satisfied, tucked in and sleepy, the bunnies quietly drift off, since after all, there's a lot to anticipate: "Always lovely, / Always new, / Tomorrow's waiting / Just for you." These bunnies owe a lot to Beatrix Potter; like hers, they sport clothing and human mannerisms, but in anatomy and posture they're very much animals. Children will be glad to snuggle up and be softly lulled to sleep by this soothing selection as they are simultaneously reminded of the necessity and comfort of a bedtime routine. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews