Customer Reviews

Close Your Eyes

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a wonderful book that my 20mo old adores. Its about a little tiger who is scared to go to sleep at night. The mother tiger comforts him and explains to him that he doesnt need to be scared and that she will be right there if he needs her. One of the quotes is so beautiful, the mother tiger says to the baby tiger "dark is just the other side of light. It's what comes before dreams." My heart melted when I read that for the first time and I thought that was a perfect way to tell a child that its ok to close your eyes and go to sleep. This book will be a big hit at bedtime!

This is a delightful little book, about a tiger cub who doesn't want to go to sleep as his mom directs. He doesn't want to let go of his wonderful day-time world by closing his eyes. His mom coaches him along the way, about all the wonders he can see in his imagination, and then in his dreams. Most importantly, she assures him that she always will be there to protect him.

The illustrations are fanciful and utterly non-threatening. I come from a bunch that loves tigers anyway, but even if you're a little wary of "large, ferocious animals", as someone once put it to me, don't pass this one up. There is no ferocity here; there is only gentleness and a mother's love.

... Don't pass this one by!

"The little tiger lay on his back in the tall grass. "Close your eyes, little tiger," said his mother, "and go to sleep." But the little tiger didn't want to sleep. "If I close my eyes," he said, "I can't see the sky..." So begins author, Kate Banks, and illustrator Georg Hallensleben's third bedtime story collaboration, and this dynamic duo justs gets better with each book. Little tiger has all kinds of excuses for not closing his eyes. He won't be able to see the sky, or the trees, or the bird with blue feathers. When he closes his eyes, the world is dark, and he's afraid. But his patient mother is there with just the right reassuring words, telling him about the wonderful places he'll go in his dreams. And when he wakes up, she reminds him, his dreams will be gone, but she will be right there, cuddled next to him..... Ms Banks gentle, lyrical text is warm and engaging, and filled with imagery and magic. Mr Hallensleben's evocative, bold and bright lush jungle scenes dazzle with vivid color and expression. Together word and art create a soothing and captivating bedtime story preschoolers will beg to read, night after night. Like their other nightime books, And If The Moon Could Talk and The Night Worker, Close Your Eyes is a winner that shouldn't be missed.

This is a bedtime book for little kids that will be appreciated by adults too. The very simple story adresses a young cub's concerns about going to sleep with the lights out (whether the cub is the little tiger in the book, or your own little cub in their bed.)

As mentioned in the other reviews, Kate Banks text is lovely -- simple and poetic; easy and fun to read. But, it is the illustrations that are really special to me, and how well they work with the story that really elevates this book to the level of classic. The illustrations are beautiful, simple and bold. Very little kids will be captivated -- and their expressive power will be felt by adults too.

Whether you buy books for a small child or just collect picture books for their artwork this is a must have.

The writer and illustrator of "The Cat Who Walked Across France" team up again in another simple yet totally winning story. This time, our protagonist is a baby tiger--so innocent looking that he resembles a cuddly soft toy--who just can't go to sleep. With the enormous curiosity of any infant, this little tiger doesn't want to close his eyes and miss the sky, the trees, abright blue bird--all the wonderful, wondrous things around him.

In time-honored style, his wise mother counters all his objections with a parallel in his "mind's eye." In fact, she suggests that closing your eyes can bring you an even more varied and rewarding experience:

"The little tiger rolled onto his belly and listened to the leaves quiver overhead. 'If I close my eyes, I can't see the tree.' he said. 'But you can, said his mother. 'You can see many trees, where you can play hide-and-seek until the night finds you and brings you home."

This book was just made for quietly reading to your child as he or she gets into bed! ALong with the quieting possibilities offered in the book's beginning, Kate Banks also soothes the "what ifs." WHen the tiger imagines he's a bird, he suddenly acquires a fear of falling. The mother, who may have read some kids' books herself, answers "I will be there to catch you." IF he gets lost, "then I will find you." Banks knows no fear herself, she even tackles the dark: "'Don't be scared,' said his mother. 'Dark is just the other side of light. It's what comes before dreams.'" (Awwwww...) The sleepy tigers imagines what he might dream of, and illustrator Hallensleben shows us a panoramic view of snow-capped mountains shaded blue and purple, sand dunes with purple-topped palms, and a giant orange fish jumping out of a deep blue sea, a seagull, an orange-billed penguin-ish bird, and the tiger dancing merrily on its back.

Hallensleben draws his typically rich oil colors here, and brush strokes and saturated, unusual color schemes (there's a bit of the Fauve here) are almost too visually exciting for a bedtime book. Still, a darkened room will dampen the colors, and Banks' ever-present, always reassuring mother tiger will undoubtedly work as well with your young audience as it did with her tiger cub.

This is probably one of my son's favorite books, and it's one of my favorite books to read to him. I especially appreciate the way the book conveys the worries and fears of the Little Tiger (similar to worries and fears little kids have!) and the reassuring answers the mother tiger comes up with...

It's also a calming read, so if your son or daughter gets excited reading silly books before bedtime like mine does, you'll want a book like this around.

This is a very very good book to get children in a sleepy mood. The little tiger is adorable, his/her questions sweet and smart at the same time, the mother's answers guiding and caring. You breathe an air of piece, affection, wisdom and motherly love. The little tiger just takes your heart. The artwork makes you feel in a dream. Worth a classic of the highest caliber!

This is probably one of the sweetest books I have ever read. The conversation between the mother and the little tiger is realistic and sweet without it being cloying. The artwork is spectacular--very colorful without being garish or too busy. This is a lovely pre-bedtime book that allows your child to get comfortable with the idea of going to sleep and discovering the positives in what might seem scary about nighttime. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

How charming and how appropriate! Little Ones don't want to close their eyes and neither does the little tiger, but with a kind warmth and reassurance from his mother, the little tiger accepts that he will not "miss out" on anything because he will use his imagination when his eyes are closed. Then, knowing his mother will always be near by, he can sleep without fear and feelings of loss. A timely and subtle teaching lesson emerges to satisfy and comfort every child reluctant to "close their eyes" at bedtime.
Evelyn Horan - teacher/counselor/author
Jeannie, A Texas Frontier Girl, Books One - Three

This is a beautiful book about going to bed and having wonderful dreams! The story is simple for toddlers to understand and the illustrations are impressive. It really shows young kids' imaginations and that "mama tiger" is always there for her baby.