Time for Bed by Mem Fox

Time for Bed

By Mem Fox; Illustrated by Jane Dyer

Red Wagon Books, 1993
23 pages

Ages 2 and up

ISBN 0-15-201066-1

http://www.memfox.net/welcome.html

Soothing and poetic bedtime board book.

This is the perfect bedtime story. Rolling lyrical lines allow the reader's voice to fall and rise pause and resume; making this book magical while emphasizing the musical quality of words. It lures the young to sleep. "It's time for bed, little calf, little calf, What happened today that made you laugh?/It's time for bed, little foal, little foal, I'll whisper a secret, but don't tell a soul./ It's time for bed, little fish, little fish, So hold your breath and make a wish./ It's time for bed, little sheep, little sheep, The whole wide world is going to sleep." The cadence/tune/repetitive words will will appeal to young ears and will heighten rememberability. 

The illustrations are the perfect compliment to the text. Dyer's watercolors are lovely and capture the intimacy and tenderness of moments between loved ones. The illustrations are peaceful and ideal for a bedtime story.

Mem Fox is an Australian writer and has specialized in educating people about early literacy. She knows her stuff and her books (those for children and those about literacy) show that knowledge.