I'm Not Tired Yet!

PreS-Gr 2—Six-year-old Ralphie does not want to go to sleep, and he pushes his bedtime back by telling his mother that he sees monsters in closets and bugs crawling across rugs, and that there is an annoying mosquito buzzing near his ear. Each time Mom knows just what he needs, whether it is a polar-bear cuddle, an enormous ape hug, or a goldfish kiss. This is clearly an enjoyable nightly routine for mother and son. Ralphie finally turns the table on Mom when he alludes to some transgressions at school, and she stops short. He quickly admits he is joking and the two of them share a "gotcha" moment. The story is written in a rhyme scheme that at times does not scan satisfactorily, especially toward the end. Cheery polka dots on the endpapers mirror those on Ralphie's bed linens. Nevertheless, the pictures are unpolished, and scenes that feature perspective result in awkward illustrations. Sherri Duskey Rinker's Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site (Chronicle, 2011), Bob Shea's Dinosaur vs. Bedtime (Hyperion, 2008), and Jane Yolen's How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Goodnight? (Blue Sky, 2000) are stronger bedtime selections.—Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA