My Sleepy Room
This simple bedtime book depicts a little girl named Bess who shares her thoughts and experiences in her room, which she calls her "sleepy room." The warm illustrations by Elizabeth Wolf create a soft, snuggly atmosphere in which to say, "Night, night."
The title, "My Sleepy Room," says it all for this beautifully illustrated book meant to be read at bedtime or naptime. Its very simple text introduces Bess, a little girl who is clearly at home in her room full of imaginary friends and toys who come to life as she tries to go to sleep. The repetition of phrases and short, simple text is told in first person to give it a cozy, personal feel. Bess shares each part of her room, from the big bed, her toys, her clock and her window to the squeaky door and fluffy quilt. It's a happy place filled with love and security that every child likes to imagine before settling into dreams.
While the illustrations are lovely and have a dreamy feel that's nice, the text is so simple that it lacks the lyric quality I like in a nighttime book. The repetition of "my sleepy room" grew tedious, and some of the passages, while fittingly child-like, just seemed awkward.
Bess also talks about some things that don't really inspire sleep. She plays with her toys until she falls asleep, something I'm not sure some parents would allow at bedtime. Her little sister also comes to check on her, which would be a no-no at our house. The last sentence uses the word "sleepy" three times, which did indeed make me tired.
