Overall I enjoyed this story. It was a very simple read, but served its purpose. The first part of the book that I enjoyed was the information. In the back of the book the author listed tips for children that have trouble falling asleep. These included, no naps, no sugar, listen to soft music, dark room, and a regular routine. The next part of the book that I enjoyed was the design and style of the text. Throughout the story, the author had key terms bolded. One example from the text, “I’m getting Arnold into a Sleepy mood.” The third reason I enjoyed this book was because of the plot. Having trouble falling asleep is a challenge that many children face for a variety of reasons. The story is very relatable to young children in the sense of the activities that the child comes up to try to fall asleep. These included drawing pictures, singing lullabies, and playing with a stuffed animal. Overall, I think the main message of the story was that it’s ok if you have trouble falling asleep, but try to get help from a parent.

Although it is time for young Florence to go to bed, she can’t fall asleep. Why not? Because there are pictures to draw, stories to read, and songs to be sung, of course! This book would be appropriate to read to young children before they go to bed at night. It even includes a list of tips in the back for ways in which to help children fall asleep, such as to get lots of exercise during the day and to have a regular bedtime. The text in the book is a bit long at times, which may make it lose the attention of young children. However, the text keeps moving throughout the book by building upon the same statement “no more…”with new words every few pages, while also repeating the previous uses of the phrase, such as “no more drawing, no more cutting, no more yawning.” The illustrations in the book are large, busy, and detailed, combining drawings of Florence and her mother with drawings on construction paper that look like they could have been created by a young child such as Florence. The combination of this book’s story and sleeping tips make it a fitting addition to any library collection. ( )