Good Night, Zodiac Animals

PreS-Gr 2–As this book opens, 12 animals are preparing for bed. A mouse is followed by an ox (in knitted mittens), tigers, and so on until all the figures of the lunar zodiac are presented. At the conclusion, readers see a young girl tucked in bed surrounded by stuffed animals, all of whom bear a striking resemblance to the ones they’ve been reading about. It is a sweet culmination of a dreamy little board book that offers a nice introduction to the lunar zodiac. Lin’s artwork is dark and layered, and creates texture with simple strokes that are loaded with graphic appeal. The faces of the animals are welcoming and approachable without being excessively cartoonish. Rich, earthy colors complemented by shades of nighttime blue contribute to the book’s peaceful tone, and there is a visual depth and atmosphere that is gratifying in the board book form. The rhyming text is fittingly simple, with about a dozen words per spread. Lin’s illustrations also include the Chinese characters for each animal, a small touch that lends the book an additional layer of authenticity. Notes at the end provide more information about the origins and rotation of the zodiac.