Shhhhh! Everybody's Sleeping [Hardcover]

Julie Markes (Author), David Parkins (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Does the farmer sleep on a mattress of hay? Is the baker's bed made of soft, doughy bread? And is the grocer most comfortable resting on a bed of lettuce? No matter what the bed or walls look like, when the day's activities are done, it's time for everyone, big or small, to go to sleep.

With whimsy and humor, Julie Markes and David Parkins show that -- although everybody has a unique idea of quiet and order -- happy dreams and slumber await all when evening falls.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K - Although this well-conceived book is based on a simple premise, its execution is wonderfully expansive and enticing. On each spread, rhythmic verses introduce a community helper who is sound asleep, followed by a phrase reassuring readers that this person's responsibilities have been taken care of for the day. "The doctor is sleeping. Everyone feels well./The grocer is sleeping./Food's ready to sell." At story's end, a mother tucks in her baby. While the text is clear and purposeful, it's the art that allows the book to soar. There's a largess to the bright, dynamic paintings that's comforting. Peaceful smiles grace everyone's faces as they nestle deep within their plush beds. The individuals are seen snoozing in the midst of their workplace; the librarian's bed is set up among shelves of books and the fireman dozes in the back of his truck. This is a fun idea, in perfect sync with a child's perspective. Plus, each person cuddles with a special stuffed animal, the teacher with her spectacled owl and the policeman with a raccoon dressed in striped jail fatigues. This book will get youngsters thinking, not just about the inevitability of bedtime but also about how we are all so intimately connected to our communities. - Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* PreS-Gr. 1. Not quite everybody is asleep in this beguiling book. "The teacher is sleeping. / School's done for the day. / The librarian is sleeping. / Books put away." Each turn of the page displays a community helper asleep at the workplace in a themed bedstead. The fireman sleeps atop a fire engine; the grocer snoozes below a billowing lettuce headboard. Although the rhythm is less precise than the rhyme, the text satisfyingly moves along while the artwork soars. Amusing, affectionate scenes will show up beautifully from a distance (think community helper units) and work equally well for bedtime reading. Glowing with warm colors in subdued hues, the sturdy pictures stretch wide across double-page spreads, offering surprisingly energetic, varied compositions, considering that nearly every scene features a sleeping person. On the dedication page, an evening townscape gives children a chance to point out notable buildings that house the sleepers: the grocery store, the bakery, the police department, and more. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1 edition (December 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060537906
• ISBN-13: 978-0060537906
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 11.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #424,827 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Julie Markes, who was born and raised in Los Angeles, has worked as a photographer for the Los Angeles Times and the Associated Press. A former world traveler, she now finds her inspiration much closer to her home in New York City, where she lives with her husband, Eric Schine, and their sons, Charlie and Nicholas. Good Thing You're Not an Octopus! is her first book for children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very endearing and sweet, June 10, 2005

By 

Stacy F. "baybreez" (Long Island, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Shhhhh! Everybody's Sleeping (Hardcover)

My 2 1/2 year old son loves this book. We took it from the library and now I'm here to buy it since it enjoys it so much. It's a simple read, and short enough for a toddler bedtime. The premise is that each page shows another person sleeping, but people children would know. Like the teacher is sleeping (surrounded by school things), the librarian is sleeping (with books around her), policeman, etc. My son likes to see everyone sleeping, and the illustrations are gentle and have enough going on so we can talk about what he sees. For instance, in the picture for the pages on the Farmer is sleeping, he's using a sheep for a pillow and one of his socks fell off. My son thinks that's pretty funny. And at the end, a little boy just like him is shown going to sleep. I highly recommend it, especially for kids that don't want to go to sleep!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, February 27, 2005

By 

B. Wilkinson "rhiannon353" (US AFB) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shhhhh! Everybody's Sleeping (Hardcover)

My 21-month-old daughter loves this book. She asks me to read it every night before bed. It is short and engaging enough for young toddlers, but would appeal to older kids as well. It only has two short sentences per page and is beautifully illustrated. I don't even mind reading it over and over.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good children's book, September 9, 2008

By 

KB's Mom (Gainesville, FL United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Shhhhh! Everybody's Sleeping (Hardcover)

It is too bad that this book seems to be out of print. My daughter just loves it. I had checked it out from the library and had to buy my own copy. It goes through the town and talks about everyone who is asleep and then tells the child it is time to be asleep also. All with delightful pictures showing what the people, such as baker, librarian, teacher, zookeeper, do. For a child like mine who fights sleep to the best of her ability this is a great book!