A sweet and gently lulling bedtime poem from the great L.M. Montgomery, author of such Canadian classics as Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon, is paired with lovely artwork from Quebec artist Rachel Bédard in this beautiful picture-book. The simple verse here describes the manner in which children reach the land of dreams, while the luminous artwork depicts numerous magical vistas...

Although I am a long-time fan of Montgomery's work, and have read practically everything she published (in book form) multiple times, The Way to Slumbertown is the first of her poems I have approached, and the first picture-book I have encountered from her pen. On the whole I quite liked it, finding it peaceful and soothing, in a way entirely appropriate for its purpose. The accompanying artwork from Bédard is well-suited to the tone here, with an abundance of white and blue tones that accentuate the sleepy, nighttime feeling. I would be interested to see more of Montgomery's poetry, as well as Bédard's artwork. For the former, there appear to be some collections, but it doesn't look as if the artist has illustrated any other books, which is a pity. Recommended to anyone looking for quiet, lulling bedtime book for younger children. ( )

The illustrations just didn't work for me. I like to really see faces and details, not have them look fuzzy as if I'm already dreaming. Otoh, the poem is lovely. I suggest that parents find a copy of the poem, memorize it, and recite it while snuggling their child off to sleep. ( )