Night Animals Need Sleep Too

November 1, 2019
Having a restful day of sleep proves difficult for Possum and his fellow night animals. In Marino's follow-up to Night Animals (2015), the search for "somewhere dark and quiet" to sleep doesn't go easily for Possum. Readers meet Possum on the endpapers, as the marsupial is woken by a singing bird welcoming the new day. The problem? Possum is a night animal and must therefore sleep during the day. As Possum looks for a place to lay down his head and sleep, other nocturnal animals join the search. First, Skunk suggests a cave. Yet before even turning the page, the dangers that lurk there are visible to attentive readers. Soon Possum trails behind him a band of sleepy companions--skunk, bear, beaver, gray wolf--all night animals looking to catch some Z's while the sun shines. As each suggestion proves inadequate, the group must escape the dangers they encounter. Escaping is sometimes hard, as Possum, doing what possums do, often plays dead, and his friends must carry his inert body along. Marino's illustrations of Possum and company--struggling to stay awake, playing dead, and running for their lives--are hilarious and endearing, as is her dialogue. Beaver: "Oh, Possum! I am so sorry you're dead!" Bear: "He does that sometimes." Brief facts on the nocturnal animals depicted appear on the inside of the dust jacket. A midday bedtime book that will keep readers laughing. (Picture book. 3-6)

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December 1, 2019

PreS-Gr 1-When the sun goes down and the moon comes out, many animals snuggle up for a good night's rest...but not all of them. Nocturnal animals like skunk and possum sleep during the day. One day, these two friends search for a dark space to curl up and sleep, but each place they try is wrong for some reason. The first place they try is a cave with a bear; but before they can rest, a hive of bees begins to chase them. Next, they try unsuccessfully to fit together into a hole in a tree. Will these friends ever get a decent day's sleep? Every page of this book is dominated by the illustrations. The animals are realistically rendered in color, and the texture of each one is as close to lifelike as they can be in two dimensions. To tell the story, the words are presented in word bubbles above each character's head, serving to accent the images and provide light context. Onomatopoeia is interspersed throughout the book as well. Though the text does add a level of dimension to the story, much of the plot can be determined from the images alone. Some light humor coupled with a learning opportunity at the end make this book enjoyable both to young children and to their caregivers. VERDICT Emerging readers will love the accessibility of this picture book as they increase their independence, while still in the arms of their parents.-Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver Public Library

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2020
Preschool-K The nocturnal critters who cracked up readers in Night Animals (2015) are on the hunt for a quiet, dark place to sleep during the day. It doesn't go well. Droopy-eyed Possum and Skunk make their way to a promising cave, but a curious buzzing sound is sourced to BEES! The angry insects chase the original two animals, plus Bear, who had been sleeping in the cave, unbeknownst to anyone. The three animals find refuge up a tree, only for Beaver to crunch, crunch, crunch through its trunk and send them sprawling. Then they all try an underground wolf den (taken) and an empty?but not abandoned?camping tent, both entertaining failures. Marino's cumulative tale is a satisfying slapstick romp; each new fright hilariously sets off some animal's defenses (an acrid, smelly poooooooofffft from Skunk, whirlpooling eyes and a catatonic state in Possum) that will trigger a new round of giggles in readers. Add in the text's sound effects and large gouache-and-ink illustrations, and you've got a lively storytime pick. Reverse the book jacket for bonus animal facts.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)