A Book of Sleep - Hardcover

Na, Il Sung

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0375862234 ISBN 13: 9780375862236

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2009

Synopsis

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.

About this title

About the Author:

Originally from Korea, Il Sung Na studied illustration at Kingston University and now lives in London.

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

About this edition

• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0375862234
• ISBN 13: 9780375862236
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 24