Night Play

PreS-Gr 2—A young boy and his six stuffed animals enjoy performing skits on the stage in his room before bedtime. Tonight, as the animals set up for another play, Arlo falls asleep, signaling the end of the first act. With their leader out of commission, the toys decide to go ahead and perform their play anyway, heralding in the second act. However, with no one in charge, the toys can't come to a consensus on a song, dance, or other necessities as they prepare for their production. The ruckus awakens Arlo, who assists them in getting organized and completing what they started. Die-cut pages in the shape of red-and-white–striped stage curtains grace the edges, and a large gatefold heralds the opening of the third act. The gouache illustrations have simple lines and solid colors. The wallpaper in Arlo's room is of water, clouds and sailboats, foreshadowing the play's action, and the backdrop on the stage changes often, adding to this childhood fantasy.