Sleep, Sheep! is a picturebook written by Kerry Lyn Sparrow and illustrated by Guillaume Perrault. There are lots of things Duncan likes about bedtime; the stories, the pajamas, the bubblegum-flavored toothpaste. The only thing he doesn't like is going to sleep, and he'll do anything he can to avoid it. One day Duncan's mom has had enough of his stalling. “Try counting sheep,” she tells him. So, he does. At first, it's kind of fun. As he counts, each sheep appears, wearing its number like a race car, and leaps over the bed. But then comes Sheep #68, who hesitates. He needs a drink of water before he can jump. Then he has to go to the bathroom. Then he wants to put on running shoes. Will Sheep #68 ever do what he's supposed to?
Sleep, Sheep! is a great bedtime book that parents and children can enjoy. Parents can appreciate the amount of stalling tactics that Duncan has learned, and the skill that his mother has used to shut them all done. There are some great tips there for we adults. I think seeing the young boy facing the same arguments his parents had faced with him can help children see themselves in the story and hopefully empathize with the adults that might normally give a hard time. The story and illustrations are fun and amusing, I liked the good natured humor of the story and the charming illustration. I think this will be a bed time and general read aloud hit, with many requested re reads in the future.
