Bunny Should Be Sleeping

Starred review from December 11, 2023
On a winter night, Bunny’s awake in bed, his surroundings soft and cozy: “Bunny’s toes are warm. His blanket is soft, and the moon hovers over the pond.” He’s waiting for his father, who “will come in the night to check on his little Bunny.” The youth waits until he can’t any longer (“He just needs his dad!”), and Liwska (Winter: A Solstice Story) shows in tranquil digitally created spreads Bunny placing a thermos of water, a blanket and cookie, and the duo’s favorite book in a wagon and setting off for Dad’s room. There, he enjoys the blanket, cookie, and water himself before tapping Dad on the nose. “You forgot to check on me,” Bunny says. “So, here I am.” “Indeed,” Dad replies, before holding out his arms. “Sometimes a dad just needs his little bunny,” whispers Dad. “Indeed,” Bunny replies. Back in Bunny’s room, the two cuddle as they share the book. In yearning text, Hest (Sometimes It’s Nice to Be Alone) captures the way time can move slowly when someone’s on their own, the way an attentive presence can meet needs, and the sense that Bunny is learning to love well by mirroring Dad’s words and actions: “Dad checks on Bunny. Bunny checks on Dad.” Ages 4–8.

Starred review from January 15, 2024
While waiting for Dad to check on him in the middle of the night, Bunny gets up and packs a wagon full of nighttime supplies for his father. In the still of the night, Bunny impatiently awaits Dad, who always comes to check on him. Finally, Bunny slips out of his crib, slides into his slippers, and puts water, a blanket, a cookie, and a book into his wagon. He heads for Dad's room. While Dad snoozes, Bunny preps and enjoys the items in his wagon until Dad wakes up, and the two go back and snuggle in Bunny's bed. This sweet tale of role reversal--here, it's the little one checking in on the parent--will resonate with readers young and old, especially adults with children in need of reassurance in the middle of the night. Laudably, it showcases a father figure as the central caregiver--and a father who's especially capable, loving, and comforting at that. The illustrations are soft and cozy, appearing to have almost a feltlike finish. Numerous lovely details await to be pored over, such as the books on Bunny's shelf, the watering can that he uses to fill a bottle of water, and his bunny slippers. Quiet and reassuring, though laced with humor, the book strikes the perfect tone for bedtime reading, exuding comfort and the joy to be found in nightly routines. A snuggly, soothing bedtime read. (Picture book. 4-6)

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March 1, 2024

Toddler-PreS-Hest (Kiss Good Night) and Liwska (The Quiet Book) team up to create the ideal bedtime book for young readers. Bunny slides out of his crib in the middle of the night to check on his dad, because his dad forgot to check on him. He gathers everything his dad will need (water, blanket, cookie, and "their special favorite book with so many favorite pictures") in a wagon he then pulls down the hall. The elder bunny is eventually awakened and the pair head back to the crib where the last page depicts the pair cuddled cozily together by the light of the moon. The soft and simple prose combined with muted pastel illustrations will reassure little ones that they are safe at night, even when alone. Parents and caregivers will enjoy the tender care shown to the elder bunny, and perhaps a conversation about how members of a family tend to one another may come next. VERDICT As cozy as the snuggle between a toddler and caregiver, this book should be on all picture bookshelves.-Carrie Voliva

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2024
Preschool-Grade 1 *Starred Review* One cold night, Bunny lies in his bed, quietly waiting for Dad to come and check on him. "Check on me, check on me, check on me, check on me!" he thinks, but no one comes. Bunny climbs out of bed and loads his wagon with necessities for Dad: water, a blanket, a cookie, and "their special favorite book." Bunny pulls the wagon into the room where his father is sleeping. While waiting for him to waken, Bunny covers Dad's toes with the blanket. Then Bunny drinks the water. He eats the cookie and then wakens his father, who hugs him, carries him back to his room, and reads him the book. "They listen to the quiet, and the moon hovers over the pond." Taking on bedtime, one of the most common scenarios in picture books, Hest writes in prose, though her gift for creating an atmosphere is more commonly associated with poets. A character with a sense of agency, Bunny takes action to bring about the desired outcome, and his decision to eat Dad's cookie is both amusing and age-appropriate. Reflecting the quiet tone of the text, Liwska's illustrations create a sense of softness and stillness reminiscent of a foggy morning. A beautiful, memorable picture book.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

May 1, 2024
Bunny has been lying awake in bed -- when he should be sleeping -- waiting for Dad to check on him. The youngster's expressive body language and his impatience ("Come on, Dad! Check on me, check on me, check on me!") convey relatable child behaviors. But "sometimes a bunny simply can't wait. He just needs his dad!" Bunny gathers supplies (water, blanket, cookie, "their special favorite book") and heads to Dad's room. In this reversal of what's clearly their regular routine, Bunny discovers his father asleep, and Dad continues to sleep through Bunny's offering of each item, which Bunny then enjoys himself. Finally, after letting out a "great big sigh," Bunny stands on tiptoe to wake his father up with a "tap, tap!" on the nose. As Dad carries Bunny back to Bunny's bed, he reassures his son that "sometimes a dad just needs his little bunny." This idyllic episode in a cozy home speaks to the love and dependability at the heart of their relationship. Hest's rhythmic text has a soothing, lulling cadence. The soft hues and textures awash in moonlight in Liwska's digital illustrations convey the perfect mood for this warmhearted bedtime story, which features a refreshing portrayal of what appears to be a single dad caring for his son and vice versa. Cynthia K. Ritter

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2024
Bunny has been lying awake in bed -- when he should be sleeping -- waiting for Dad to check on him. The youngster's expressive body language and his impatience ("Come on, Dad! Check on me, check on me, check on me!") convey relatable child behaviors. But "sometimes a bunny simply can't wait. He just needs his dad!" Bunny gathers supplies (water, blanket, cookie, "their special favorite book") and heads to Dad's room. In this reversal of what's clearly their regular routine, Bunny discovers his father asleep, and Dad continues to sleep through Bunny's offering of each item, which Bunny then enjoys himself. Finally, after letting out a "great big sigh," Bunny stands on tiptoe to wake his father up with a "tap, tap!" on the nose. As Dad carries Bunny back to Bunny's bed, he reassures his son that "sometimes a dad just needs his little bunny." This idyllic episode in a cozy home speaks to the love and dependability at the heart of their relationship. Hest's rhythmic text has a soothing, lulling cadence. The soft hues and textures awash in moonlight in Liwska's digital illustrations convey the perfect mood for this warmhearted bedtime story, which features a refreshing portrayal of what appears to be a single dad caring for his son and vice versa.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)