Little Bunny's Sleepless Night - Hardcover

Roth, C.; Gorbachev, V.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0735810699 ISBN 13: 9780735810693

Publisher: North-South / Night Sky Books, 1999

Synopsis

Little Bunny, an only child, is so lonely that he cannot sleep, so he asks his friends Squirrel, Skunk, Porcupine, Bear, and Owl if he can stay with them, only to discover that his own bed is best.

About this title

About the Authors

Roth, a former kindergarten teacher, writes full time.

Valeri Gorbachev is the author and illustrator of a number of children's books, both in the United States and Europe, including Nicky And The Big Bad Wolves and Where is the Apple Pie? Mr. Gorbachev immigrated to the United States from the Ukraine in 1991 and now lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York.

Reviews

PreSchool-K-"Little Bunny had no brothers or sisters. He had his very own room with his very own bed." One night, he is so lonely that he can't sleep, and he goes in search of company. First he stays with Squirrel, who crunches acorns loudly in the middle of the night. Then, he goes to Skunk, who forgets he has company and sprays; and finally, after a few more stopovers, he shows up at the door of Owl, who keeps the light burning way too late. Owl tells Little Bunny, "I stay up reading every night. That's how I got to be so wise" and gives the sleepy fellow some good advice for a predictable yet satisfying ending. The story and artwork are loaded with child appeal. The plot has a good rhythm to it, with a gentle echo of the loneliness some children may feel all alone in a big bed. The pictures are done in soft colors and scratchy yet supple lines to create a nighttime world of endearing animals. This book isn't likely to win any major awards but it will get repeated bedtime readings in lots of households.
Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Like Goldilocks trying out successive porridge servings, chairs and beds until she finds the one that is just right, so Little Bunny, an "only" rabbit faced with loneliness at bedtime, hops away from home in search of "the company of a good friend." Welcomed with open arms wherever he goes, he nevertheless finds that the accommodations never quite measure upASquirrel's place is too noisy, what with all the nut-cracking, Skunk's is too smelly, Porcupine's too prickly and so on. In the end, he returns eagerly to his own bed for some proper shut-eye. Roth's (Whose Mess Is This?) breezy style is right on target for this merry bedtime tale, which also serves as a gentle reminder to nocturnal migrants that there truly is no place like one's own bed. Gorbachev's (Nicky and the Big Bad Wolves) pen-and-ink and watercolor artwork has a homespun coziness, which is amplified by his busy use of line and crosshatching. Generously tinted with humor, the illustrations radiate security as they offer up a cheerful menagerie of animal friends decked out in pajamas. This picture book scores high points on the snuggle scale and is just the ticket for the train to Nod. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

PLB 0-7358-1070-2 A very minimal imaginative effort starring Little Bunny, identified as an only child (although there are no parents commented upon or seen) who is feeling a bit lonely as he tries to go to sleep. He hops off to Squirrel's house; Squirrel readily invites him in, but proves to be a midnight snacker who makes too much noise with his acorns. Little Bunny tries Skunk's house, but there is a minor accident of the aromatic kind, so Little Bunny moves on. At Porcupine's a few errant quills send him packing; at Bear's, the snoring can be registered on the Richter scale; at Owl's, lights burn into the night as Owl feeds his keen intelligence. Owl's words of wisdom: ``Just go back home where you belong.'' Little Bunny does, and falls asleep. Readers probably already know that there is no place like home, but the other messagesthat friends are a bother, that it's better to be lonely, that individual quirks cannot be accommodatedwill be new. Gorbachev's illustrations are great, colorful scene-setting tableaux, owing more than a nod to Richard Scarry. (Picture book. 4-7) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

With no siblings to share his room, Little Bunny sometimes gets lonely at night. So one evening Bunny hops over to Squirrel's house to spend the night, but Squirrel likes a midnight snack of acorns and his crunching keeps Bunny awake. Bunny successively samples the hospitality of his many friends, but Skunk gets startled and sprays, Porcupine's bed bristles with stray quills, Bear snores, and Owl stays up reading. When a by-now-exhausted Bunny urges Owl to turn out the light, his wise friend advises him to return home to his own bed, where, of course, Bunny falls fast asleep. This straightforward story charms with its simplicity and engaging artwork awash in pastel hues. Gorbachev etches humor and delight into each droll illustration; for example, Little Bunny's rag doll bunny is tucked tidily into each bed, Squirrel's bent twig bed frames are the height of fashion, and Owl's treetop, chandelier-lit abode is comfortably cluttered with books. This sweet bedtime story will prove a favorite with children and parents alike. Ellen Mandel

Edition details

• Publisher: North-South / Night Sky Books
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0735810699
• ISBN 13: 9780735810693
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32