Everyone knows yawns are catching. They are as catching as smiles. Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) uses these ideas wonderfully in Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book. The picture book has sixty-four pages. This story book is for everyone. Although, the bedtime book targets the age group 4-8.

The bedtime book begins with one creature’s yawn. Soon, in the fantasy book, the yawn spreads from bedroom to bedroom. Dr. Seuss’ whimsical creatures see a yawn and smile at the thought of sleep. They brush their teeth and dress in pajamas in anticipation of a goodnight rest. Creatures distinguish the lights and slip beneath the bedcovers.

A narrator tells of others yawning and preparing for bed. A sleeping epidemic is sweeping the planet. Newsbreak! There are 40,004 creatures sleeping, now. Some sleep walks, some are talking in their sleep, but they all are sleeping. More are falling asleep until there are trillions of sleepers. Newsbreak! Everyone is asleep. Goodnight!

Little children love the bedtime book. Don’t be surprised they are asleep with a smile on their face before page 64. The images and talk of sleep weave a soft spell of sleep. The rhythm of the rhyming text is soothing. Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book's text is done in humorous rhyme. Adults love the bedtime book, too. The only appropriate time to read Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book in preschool or kindergarten is at nap time. Sleepy heads in the classroom is not a good thing.



Goodnight Moon (Buenas Noches, Luna)is a classic bedtime story by Margaret Wise Brown. It is a child’s home library must have. The picture book has been in print for more than fifty years.



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