Can't Sleep - Hardcover

Chris Raschka

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0531094790 ISBN 13: 9780531094792

Publisher: Orchard Books, 1995

Synopsis

The moon comforts bedtime fears.

About this title

About the Author

For Chris Raschka, the first step in his creative process is thinking about his audience - a single imaginary child who is a blend of myself, the students in my wife's classroom - and the students from two classrooms I visit regularly." Raschka, a Caldecott Medalist for The Hello, Goodbye Window and a Caldecott Honoree for Yo! Yes?, draws from any number of images or events - a poem, personal experience, or childhood recollection. He then pulls these ideas into book form. Once the story's complete, he shows it to his audience to gauge their reaction. "And then I may make some changes," he concedes. Raschka lives with his wife and son in New York City. For more information about Chris Raschka, visit: scholastic.com/tradebooks

Reviews

PreSchool-K?Raschka's minimalist watercolors feature a benign full-moon looking down upon a small brown dog who's having trouble getting to sleep. The bedrooms (represented by yellow squares placed on a deep blue page) shine like lit windows, allowing readers and the moon to watch as each family member prepares for bed. As brother, mother, and father fall asleep, the lights go out and they become one with the night, leaving the youngest awake, lonely, and a bit afraid. But the moon hovers over the dog-child and promises to stay awake, keeping watch over him as he drifts off to sleep. In the morning, the dog repays the favor and keeps the moon safe. The careful layout of text and illustration adds greatly to the mood and poetic rhythm of this enchanting bedtime story. Some simple lines, various geometric shapes, and repeated phrases are transformed into a soothing lullabye that can be read to one special child or to a small group.?Karen K. Radtke, Milwaukee Public Library
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A wakeful pup watches and listens as his brother, his mother and his father settle down for the night. Assured that "the moon will stay awake for you" after his family has fallen asleep and he's feeling frightened and lonely, he, too, finally drops off. In the morning he returns the favor as the moon goes to bed, and it's the young dog's turn to stay awake and keep her safe. With just a few strokes of his brush, Raschka (Yo? Yes!), an almost visionary minimalist and a master of whimsy, outlines the sleeping household, and sets the story asail across a nighttime sky of peaceful blue. One by one, as the faithful glowing moon looks on, the household lights go out and the twinkling stars emerge. The prose is hushed, both soothingly repetitive and restrained, and the comforting images-the moon kissing the sleeping pup goodnight, for example-will linger on longer after the book is closed. Ages 2-6.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Ages 2^-6. A young dog with insomnia listens as his older brother, mother, and father prepare for bed. They are unaware of his nighttime fears, but he takes comfort from the moon outside his window, knowing that it "will stay / awake for you / until you too / are sleeping." The pup also realizes that he will be able to repay the moon's kindness: "When morning comes / the moon will go / to bed. Now you may stay awake / and keep her safe." Raschka's simple watercolor illustrations feature a prominent yellow moon against a soothing blue background. Indoor scenes, set in yellow, windowlike squares, keep children aware of who is still awake in the house. As the night and the story progress, the moon travels across the page, finally kissing its canine charge as he falls asleep. A calming bedtime read, this will be popular at story hours or at home. Kay Weisman

Edition details

• Publisher: Orchard Books
• Publication date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0531094790
• ISBN 13: 9780531094792
• Binding: Hardcover