A Book of Sleep [Hardcover]

Il Sung Na (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 8, 2009 | Age Level: 1 and up

When the sky grows dark
and the moon glows bright,
everyone goes to sleep . . .
except for the watchful owl!

With a spare, soothing text and beautifully rich and textured illustrations of a starry night, this is the perfect “book of sleep.” Join the owl on his moonlit journey as he watches all the other animals settle in for the night: some sleep standing up, while some sleep on the move! Some sleep peacefully alone, while others sleep all together, huddled close.

Il Sung Na makes his American debut with this gorgeous bedtime offering. While each animal rests in its own special way, little ones will also drift off to a cozy sleep.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* First published in England under the title ZZzzz: A Book of Sleep (2007), Na’s wonderfully illustrated debut is one of those bedtime books that children will likely turn to again and again. The text is spare but informative, and soothing in its rhythms: “When the sky grows dark / and the moon glows bright / everyone goes to sleep . . . except for the watchful owl.” In the double-page spreads that follow, Na presents a variety of animals at rest (“Some sleep peacefully alone, / While others sleep all together, huddled close at night”). However they sleep, these animals are always being observed by that “watchful owl,” and children will enjoy finding him tucked between two huddling penguins or perched on the branch of a distant tree. There’s no way to miss him when he comes face-to-face with a fish whose eyes are open when asleep; their close-ups, in profile, make them seem startled to see each other and showcase Na’s playful use of texture, color, and unlikely patterns. The striking deep-blue of Na’s nighttime gives way to bright sun at the end of the book, and finally “the tired owl” gets his turn to sleep. Grades K-2. --Abby Nolan

Review

Starred Review, Booklist, November 1, 2009:
"Na’s wonderfully illustrated debut is one of those bedtime books that children will likely turn to again and again."

Review, New York Times Book Review, December 6, 2009:
“So thoroughly does the book inhabit its sleepy world.”

Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, September 14, 2009:
"It's the rare picture book that, upon arrival, feels as though it has been around for years already"

Starred Review, School Library Journal, November 2009:
"Nimble lines influence the gentle mood through spotted colors and shaded images, balancing darkness and light to depict the passing of time."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 1 and up
  
• Hardcover: 24 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (September 8, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375862234
• ISBN-13: 978-0375862236
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 0.4 x 10.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #39,930 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review from www.firrkids.com, September 23, 2009

By 

www.firrkids.com - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Book of Sleep (Hardcover)

Every once in awhile, along comes a picture book so beautifully illustrated that it doesn't need a single word of text to be entrancing. This is one of those amazing books that delights your eye with the very first page and holds your attention all the way through.

This is a fantastic bedtime book in nearly every respect. The story centers around bedtime and how nearly all the animals are ready for sleep when the darkness descends. Only the nocturnal owl remains wide-eyed and alert.

The owl keeps watch over all the other animals as they sleep, and steps in as our tour guide to taking a closer look at the dozers. On some pages the owl is very small and artfully hidden, which makes finding his small frame a nice game for readers. He swoops over the snoring elephant, gazes balefully at a row of giraffes and lofts over an enormous whale, before roosting among a large group of slumbering doves.

Animals sleep in all different ways - some stand, some swim, some perch. A clue to a snoozing animal is typically the closed eyes, but we discover there are a few animals who sleep with one or both eyes open! And what about that owl, when does he sleep? Ah, the tired owl gets sleepy when the sun glows brightly and all the others animals rise for the day.

There's nothing as soothing as a book centered around sleep to get your little ones settled in for the night, particularly one as lovely as this. Subdued colors and the tiniest of details make this a visually stunning read. The above photos don't do the book justice. Holding the book in your hands, you will be surprised to find tiny line drawings on every page. Beautiful flower patterns and curlicues are etched in a deep blues and grays on every page, with white stars and tiny animals decorating the corners. Gorgeous!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Lovely!, September 20, 2009

By 

Deborah Verlen "Deborah" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Book of Sleep (Hardcover)

The illustrations in this book are so lovely that the story might just be lost in the looking! Il Sung Na shows various animals in sleep from the view point of an inquisitive, nocturnal owl as he goes about his activities through the night. Your child can see how various animals get ready for bed.

The book features some repetitive dialogue which children love as well as the owl being incorporated into each view of a sleepy animal--as well as learning about sleep habits, your child can play the "find the owl" game.

The book shows how various animals sleep from some birds who sleep with one eye open, to a fish with both and an elephant with both eyes closed. And your child will find that the owl sleeps when the sun comes up!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lovely new perspective on nocturnal animals and bedtime story, September 10, 2009

By 

M. Talalay "Edamommy - Mom, Reviewer, Writer,... (Lutherville, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Book of Sleep (Hardcover)

Kiwi Magazine Review:
This is one of the most beautifully illustrated books of late. While all of the other animals sleep, whether solo or snuggled with others, the owl stays awake. The story line is simple, but the illustrations are unique, complex and as soothing as a lullaby.