Nighty-Night, Cooper

PreS-K—Mother Kangaroo establishes a ritual of singing lullabies to young Cooper before bedtime. However, like any typically energetic child, the joey has difficulty settling down: "I can't sleep." But his mama presses on, creating her own verses to six childhood favorite melodies such as "Rock-a-Bye Baby" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," as Cooper keeps asking for another. Rhymed couplets that read aloud easily move the story along between the clever ditties. Comforting illustrations show soft curving lines of text as well as gestures of warm hugs on the couch, amid the exuberant antics of Cooper, who is pictured climbing on the back of the sofa and holding a toy sailboat. A witty conclusion will leave both adults and children smiling. Although bedtime stories are in abundance, this one is a winner.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA