This chuckler of a bedtime romp pits the wiles of a young procrastinator against his no-nonsense grandmother. Patrick's grandmother announces that it's time for bed. " 'But Granny,' said Patrick.... 'I don't have a bed here.' 'What?' cried Granny." Thus begins the pleasingly repetitive structure of the text. A whirlwind of efficiency, this spry and resourceful grannyAsporting reading glasses, pearls and a smart black handbagAmakes a beeline for the yard, where she chops down a tree, carries it to her workroom and proceeds to make him a bed, following extensive blueprints. No pillow? No problem: a quick trip to the henhouse produces the needed feathers; and of course, Granny is a master seamstress. Finally all of Patrick's comforts are secured and Granny orders him to bed. "But Granny... it's morning," Patrick replies. Lum's forthright text plays straight man to Johnson's elastic artwork, which stretches the story's humorous elements with a kind of manic glee. With their beady eyes, poker faces and exaggerated hairdos (Granny sports a lavender beehive; Patrick an Elvis-esque swoop), Patrick and his Granny make a bracingly droll pair. The pages hum with visual energy, from the dotted white lines that follow Granny as she zips about, to the puckishly retro palette (lime green paired with purple, fiery orange with red, and so on) applied in blocky shapes ? la Bruce Ingman. Sleepy sheep counting businessmen as they jump over fences and a glimpse of The Avengers on Granny's small black-and-white TV add to the eye-popping fun. Ages 3-7.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Kindergarten-Grade 3-It's Patrick's first sleepover at his Granny's house, and the woman is a little unprepared. As the sun begins to set, she instructs her grandson to get ready for bed. "But, Granny," the boy points out, "I don't HAVE a bed here." "WHAT?" cries Granny, and she runs out to chop down a tree, out of which she proceeds to make a bed. Patrick then points out the lack of a pillow, blanket, teddy bear...and finally, the fact that morning has arrived. This simple and inventive story moves along with a satisfying predictability; and if the pace is a bit rushed, readers will enjoy the mock surprise and melodrama of Patrick and Granny's repeated lines. The acrylic-paint illustrations are styled after the graphics of the 1950s and '60s, with dramatic and exaggerated layouts that command attention from a distance. The black text is well integrated into the double-page spreads, as are Granny's frenetic maneuvers. The effect is a little too enthusiastic, as is the story; but this is an admirable first picture book for both author and illustrator, and one that should find a place in most storytimes and collections.
Nina Lindsay, Oakland Public Library, CA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-A resourceful Granny fulfills each of her grandson's bedtime needs in the most outlandish manner. The bright acrylic cartoons are in perfect sync with this zany putting-off-bedtime adventure. (Mar.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
In a ridiculous version of the I-don't-want-to-go-to-bed scenario, this tall tale from Britain combines the deadpan and the surreal in wild words and neon-colored acrylic illustrations. It is Patrick's first sleepover in Granny's house, and as the sun sets, she suggests that it is time for bed, dear. "But, Granny," says Patrick, and he points out that he does not have a bed there. "What!" cries Granny, and she rushes off to cut down a tree, saw the logs, measure, drill, nail, and paint. But Patrick tells Granny that he does not have a blanket. Appalled, she's off to the sheep to get wool. A pillow? She raids the henhouse. Teddy bear? She pulls down the living room curtains, cuts, sews, and stuffs a huge toy. What adds to the farce is that Granny does all this while wearing a sweet floral outfit, her blue-rinsed ringlets neatly in place, purse on her arm throughout. And the end? Both preschoolers and those who put them to bed are winners in this story. Hazel Rochman
From Kirkus Reviews
With the help of shrewd, patient grandmother, Patrick scores a victory for all bedtime foot-draggers in this energetic debut of two children's book newcomers. With the sun on the horizon, Patrick points out that he has no bed; springing into action, Granny chops down a tree, hauls out her toolbox and presents him with a fine new bed. Unfortunately, as a poker-faced Patrick complains in succession, he has no pillow, blanket, or teddy; by the time Grannyquietly, relentlessly toiling on despite her Herculean taskshas finished gathering chicken feathers, weaving wool, and converting the curtains into a huge purple bear, morning sunlight is flooding in. Johnson gives his illustrations a 1960s retro look, with canted perspectives, long slanted borders, and a color scheme involving turquoise, orange-reds, and pastel greens; these colors, evenly applied in large background fields, cool off as sunset deepens into night, then warm to signal the approaching day, slyly preparing viewers for the concluding punchline. Children will snuggle down with smiles on their faces after this comic spin on the paraphernalia associated with a common ritual. (Picture book. 5-7) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
