Animals Don't Wear Pajamas: A Book About Sleeping [Hardcover]

Eve B. Feldman (Author), Mary Beth Ownes (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up

Mother deer tuck their fawns in for the night; sea otters wrap themselves up in a blanket of seaweed to avoid being carried away by the tides. This delicately illustrated and informative sleepy-time book gives children insight into what 16 different animals do at bedtime. Full color.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-- Feldman introduces 16 wild creatures from around the world and contrasts their resting places and techniques with those of humans. Children are shown being carried up to bed, read a story, and snoozing away in awkward, yet characteristic positions. Brief para?- graphs describe the animals' unique methods of repose; short explanations of their daytime behavior is appended. The straightforward text includes attention-getting facts, such as ``Sometimes, the octopus wedges a shell in front of the cave's opening as if it were closing a bedroom door.'' The illustrations present the biggest challenge for this book. Owens's impressionistic watercolor style leaves so much white space and subtle definition that many of the illustrations are indistinct and confusing. Whenever a white border, rather than a painted-in outline, is used, the image is lost in white. Many animals are very difficult to make out. The illustrator paints expressive faces of people and animals with powerfully deft skill, but viewers still can't quite figure out what's there. These would make fantastic posters, but are not great illustrations. Try The Ways Animals Sleep (National Geographic, 1983) for a photographic approach. --Jacqueline Elsner, Athens Regional Library, GA
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

A gentle, poetic good-night book, with parents and children of various ethnic groups--plus 16 different, slightly anthropomorphic animals--settling down to sleep. ``Tired Chinese golden monkeys huddle and cuddle for comfort. They gather together wrapping their arms around each other, and stay that way for a long sleepy-time hug.'' In her charming illustrations, Owens (The Caribou Alphabet, 1988) uses blue, green, and tan, night washed and fluid, to enhance the text's warm, relaxed tone. A soothing, entrancing lullaby, with some intriguing (if undocumented) animal facts. (Nonfiction/Picture book. 5-7) -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 30 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holth & Co (J); 1st edition (March 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805017100
• ISBN-13: 978-0805017106
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #727,321 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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