bedtime

4 Sunny New Picture Books

| Tasha
Cover image for Children of the Sun by Micaela Chirif, illustrated by Juan Palomino, translated by Lawrence Schimel, featuring yellow, orange and red sun beams, blue lines of water and a small human figure.

Children of the Sun by Micaela Chirif, illustrated by Juan Palomino, translated by Lawrence Schimel

  • Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
  • Publication Date: March 31, 2026
  • Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley
  • ISBN: 9780802856548

Based on the Incan legend of Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo, this picture book tells the story of the first people on earth who lived in caves and didn’t cook food. Then Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo were created when the Sun leaned in to see his reflection in the lake and created foam on the water. The two were entrusted by the Sun to make the first city. They would know when they were in the right place when their long stick sank into the ground. The two walked the earth for almost a year, ending up exhausted and discouraged. That’s when the stick sank into the ground and they founded Cusco, the Incan capital. 

Written by Chirif, a Peruvian poet, with art created by Palomino, a Mexican illustrator, this picture book is splendid. The story is told with such an openness and welcoming tone. In honor of its oral tradition, the book reads aloud well while still taking its time building towards the capital creation. The art is unique with a modernity but also a traditional vibe that matches perfectly with the tale. 

A journey worth taking with Latin American legends. Appropriate for ages 5-9.

Cover image for Ritu in the Sun by Moniza Hossain, illustrated by Mercè López, featuring a little girl with brown skin smiling as the sun shines on her face.

Ritu in the Sun by Moniza Hossain, illustrated by Mercè López

  • Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
  • Publication Date: April 21, 2026
  • Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley
  • ISBN: 9780593806692

Ritu loves the sun at all times of day. She loves it in the morning when the sunlight streams through the windows and she can curl up like a cat on the floor in the pools of light. She loves it in the afternoon, floating in the swimming pool. She loves it in the evening as it colors the world orange and pink and slants across the backyard. But Ritu’s grandmother avoids the sun and wants Ritu to join her in the shade. When Ritu finally asks why her grandmother hates the sun, her grandmother admits that she was raised to avoid the sun so her skin wouldn’t get darker. Ritu likes her grandmother’s darker skin and tells her so. Now it’s time for them both to embrace their love of the sun.

Based on the author’s personal experience and inspired by talking with a young girl, this book speaks very clearly to children who love the sun, spend time outdoors and enjoy a good swim. While their skin might darken, their love of play and being outside is even more important than what society or family members might think. The grandmother’s transformation is a lovely piece of Ritu’s story, showing that change is possible with love. The illustrations in this picture book share Ritu’s connection with her grandmother and their shared adoration of one another. 

A loving and strong look at skin tone. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Cover image for Thank You, Sun by Douglas Florian, featuring a large yellow sun surrounded by birds with a girl and trees on a rounded planet.

Thank You, Sun by Douglas Florian

  • Publisher: Beach Lane Books
  • Publication Date: March 31, 2026
  • Reviewed from copy provided by publisher
  • ISBN: 9781665966757

Children’s poet Florian returns with a winning collection of poems that offer thanks to parts of our world. The book starts with the sun, thanking the sun for light, warmth and generosity. The earth is then thanked for air, ground, food and much more. Throughout, Florian plays with poem structure and typeset, having the one thanking the wind blow across the page and the poem thanking a tree standing straight, narrow and upright. 

Florian creates poems here that are celebratory and joyous. It’s a clever way for children to connect with nature around them, by thanking them for being there and for providing what they do, whether that is birdsong or snowflakes. His writing is child friendly but never didactic or condescending. Instead he makes sure that young readers will relate to his ideas and then shares his joy of words and poetry. The art in the book is done by Florian as well. It is full of background texture, colors, friendly animals and natural scenes. 

Share this with children and they are sure to thank you. Appropriate for ages 6-10.

Cover image for When the Sun Goes Down by Greg Pizzoli, featuring a little girl lying in the grass looking at a butterfly and flower in front of a setting sun.

When the Sun Goes Down by Greg Pizzoli

  • Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
  • Publication Date: April 7, 2026
  • Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley
  • ISBN: 9780593649800

Told in soothing repetitive forms, this picture book is perfect for bedtime reading. A little girl asks a butterfly, “Where do you go? Where do you go when the sun goes down?” The butterfly then answers that they go under a leaf. The little girl asks an ant, a bird, a fish, and the cat. Finally the book asks the child what they do when the sun goes down. The book repeats then what each other creature does and asks if that’s what a child does too? Finally, the book ends with the little girl in bed asleep with the sun down. 

This book begs to be shared aloud while cuddled up together. It’s a book with a wonderful rhythm to it built by the repeating refrains and the repetition of responses towards the end. The rhythm is soothing and quiet rather than rambunctious, offering just the right feel for a bedtime read. The illustrations have a marvelous quality to them thanks to their unique process. They are done in brush pen on paper, screen printed and collaged. The result is luminous colors with an organic quality and layers. 

A brilliant bedtime book. Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Night Light by Michael Emberley – Book Recommendation

| Tasha

Night Light by Michael Emberley

Publisher: Holiday House

Publication Date: April 15, 2025

Reviewed from library copy.

ISBN: 9780823458165

In this graphic novel for beginning readers, two of the author’s recurring characters get caught in a blackout. It’s too dark to read bedtime stories, but one of them gets an idea. Grabbing a long ladder, they climb up into the sky with a big bag and gather up all of the stars. Released from the bag into the bedroom, it is suddenly too bright to read without wearing sunglasses. But someone else misses the stars in the sky. Perhaps giving them back is the right thing to do after all? 

Written with a wry sense of humor and a delight in making a normal circumstance magical, this comic for new readers is a grand bedtime read. Done entirely in speech bubbles, the book is nicely paced. The illustrations are joyous and full of action, sharing the loving dynamic between the two characters. 

A great pick for new readers looking for a graphic novel. Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Time for Bed, Old House by Janet Costa Bates

| Tasha
Cover image for Time for Bed, Old House.

Time for Bed, Old House by Janet Costa Bates, illustrated by AG Ford (9781536209983)

Isaac is on his very first sleepover at Grandpop’s house. He’s had a great time, but isn’t looking forward to sleeping away from home. Isaac insists that he isn’t sleepy, so he and Grandpop put the house to bed together. They move quietly and slowly, turning off the lights. As the house gets darker, Isaac hears noises, but they are easily explained as being the dog or the wind moving the swings outside. The window shades are closed for the night and they head upstairs, listening to the sounds of the creaking house. Then Isaac reads a picture book aloud and puts Grandpop to sleep. Then it’s up to him to listen to the sounds of the house and say good night.

This is a gentle story about sleeping over at a grandparent’s home for the first time. Isaac is unsure but also excited, an accurate portrayal of the mix of feelings that young children have at staying away from home, particularly for the first time. The quiet and slow good-night process adds to the lovely bedtime tone. I particularly appreciate that it is a grandfather doing this loving moment with his grandson.

The illustrations offer just the right mixture of glowing lights, gathering darkness, and warmth as this Black grandfather and grandson share a special evening together. This book is not one to startle or scare and the illustrations take real care in exposing what the noises actually are in the house. The empowering final scenes when Isaac is the last one up also set the perfect tone.

Quiet and filled with building self-esteem. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Candlewick.

Everybody in the Red Brick Building by Anne Wynter

| Tasha
Cover image for Everybody in the Red Brick Building.

Everybody in the Red Brick Building by Anne Wynter, illustrated by Oge Mora (9780062865762)

Everybody in the red brick building was sleeping until Baby Izzie howled in her crib. That set off a chain reaction that got lots of people in the building awake. Rayhan tried to quietly check on his parrot, who shouted to Wake up! The boys sleeping outside got into a game of flashlight tag. Natalia set off her light-up rocket. And the noise kept growing with a car alarm too. Then quiet returned with the street sweeper going by, acorns plonking down, windchimes, and Izzie getting snuggles. Finally, everyone in the red brick building was asleep – again.

Wynter takes a classic children’s story structure and brings the noises to a full cacophony before returning the building steadily to quiet again. The book is a great mixture of wildness in the middle of the night and then quieting to fall asleep, making it a great book to get restless children to bed. The text is filled with repeating loud noises that children will enjoy joining in to help make them even louder. As the book quiets down, the sounds become soft and gentle while staying just as enjoyable as before.

Mora’s illustrations are done in colorful paper collage that show the diverse community that lives in the red brick building together. The colors take the deep blue of night to the orange warmth of indoors to teals, lavenders, and yellows. The colors are engaging, making each page turn a new room of its own. The illustrations are just as dynamic as the book, and that is certainly saying something!

A great read-aloud bedtime book. Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Balzer +Bray.

It’s So Quiet by Sherri Duskey Rinker

| Tasha
Cover image

It’s So Quiet by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illustrated by Tony Fucile (9781452145440)

As the sun sets, the farm gets quiet and still. The moths “shah” against the light until the lamp turns off. A little mouse thinks it’s way too quiet to sleep, but his mother tells him that the sounds of the night will whisper him to sleep. He starts to listen and hears many things in the night. There is a frog singing, crickets chirping, a rattling screen door, wind through the trees, an owl hooting, and much more. Grandpa is snoring on the porch and the dog’s tail is thumping on the boards. When a coyote howls, the little mouse looks out his window to see what that was! He hears all of the noises once more, and then again even louder. The night might be too noisy after all!

Funny and a joy to read aloud, this picture book will quickly become a bedtime favorite. The book is filled with noises that should be great fun for both the reader and the listener to contribute to, since they repeat several times in the book. Expect enthusiastic frog croaks, wind whooshes, and more. It’s also a book that will have children listening in their own beds to the noises of the night around them.

The illustrations add to the fun with the serenity of the night clear at first and then quickly moving to a zany pitch and pace visually as the noises pick up. The natural setting is shown simply, allowing the various elements to repeat visually as well. Readers will see the frog, owl, crickets and coyote from the very first page.

Bedtime giggles galore. Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from copy provided by Chronicle Books.

Every Color of Light by Hiroshi Osada

| Tasha

Every Color of Light by Hiroshi Osada

Every Color of Light by Hiroshi Osada, illustrated by Ryoji Arai, translated by David Boyd (9781592702916)

This picture book explores how weather impacts the sky and its light. Starting with just a pitter patter of rain, the rain steadily grows heavier and louder. Soon the lightning cracks across the sky and thunder booms. Colors swirl in the storm as the wind rises. Just as suddenly, the rain stops and light returns to the sky. Raindrops form crystals in the sunlight. Evening comes, spreading colors across the sky. The white moon rises in the darkening sky. Stars sparkle above, the moon reflected in a pool as everyone falls asleep.

The text in this Japanese import is marvelously poetic. It speaks to the impact of a storm on the sky and on the light you see. The drama of the storm is captured in both the text and the illustrations, just as the returning calm is. Both are celebrated in the book, something quite unusual as the quiet is allowed to be truly focused on.

The illustrations are what sets this picture book apart. Illustrated with glorious paintings that show nature and the changing light, the book shimmers and shines. The changing light sweeps on the pages bringing sun shafts, pink lightning strikes, dark night, and a bright moon.

Unusual and intensely beautiful, this picture book beckons you outside to linger for awhile. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Enchanted Lion Books.

 

Goodnight, Veggies by Diana Murray and Zachariah OHora

| Tasha

Goodnight, Veggies by Diana Murray and Zachariah OHora

Goodnight, Veggies by Diana Murray and Zachariah OHora (9781328866837)

At sunset the garden needs its rest, but the vegetables are tossing and turning. Turnips are “tucked in tightly” while potatoes are closing their eyes. Tomatoes are humming lullabies and cauliflowers cuddle by droopy pea pods. The baby lettuce and baby carrots are snuggling while rhubarb reads stories to the broccoli. Soon the other vegetables are calm as the cucumbers. As the moon gets bright all of them are sleeping, tired from growing all day and all night.

Written in a musical rhyme, this picture book is ideal for reading aloud to toddlers and preschoolers. It takes a spring theme of gardening and turns it into a bedtime book that will make everyone tired, since little children are growing day and night too. Throughout the book, humor cleverly used alongside alliteration, making the book a treat for adults as well.

The art by OHora is marvelous. Readers can follow a worm through the garden as he tunnels past the tired veggies and finally falls asleep himself. The images move from showing root vegetables to garden beds from above, creating a winding path through this abundant garden.

Clever and seasonal, this spring bedtime book is one worth picking. Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from library copy.

 

I Can Be Anything by Shinsuke Yoshitake

| Tasha

I Can Be Anything by Shinsuke Yoshitake

I Can Be Anything by Shinsuke Yoshitake (9781452180380)

At bedtime, a little girl insists that her mother play a guessing game with her. She pretends to be something and her mother must guess what she is. Her mother is reluctant and it’s clear that the little girl has gotten grumpy playing this game in the past. Readers will soon realize that this is a much more difficult game than they might have thought! The mother makes logical guesses but each time is wrong as the little girl pretends to be everything from an omelette to Mount Fuji. By the end of the game, the little girl is very tired and finally falls asleep in the middle of acting something out. Readers and the mother wonder what that might have been.

Yoshitake takes a classic moment in childhood and makes it priceless. She captures both the tired mother and the dynamic child deftly in this clever picture book. The mother getting everything wrong is pitch perfect as is the little girl’s building frustration with the situation. The relationship between them is quietly loving and filled with acceptance. The art in the book is simple and effective, showing the little girl’s version of the object and then an image of the actual thing.

Just right for all children trying to avoid bedtime. Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from copy provided by Chronicle Books.

 

The Yawns Are Coming! by Christopher Eliopoulos

| Tasha

The Yawns Are Coming! by Christopher Eliopoulos

The Yawns Are Coming! by Christopher Eliopoulos (9781984816306)

A sleepover is great fun as long as you can avoid the yawns! This is the story of two children and their sleepover where they planned to stay up all night long. They even had a long list of things to do like playing hide-and-seek, board games, soccer, and trampolining. The yawns started to appear while they were playing cards together. Soon there were hundreds of them. The kids ran, climbed and hid from them, but it was no use. Soon they were yawning and then suddenly a Doze landed on their heads, Snores came, and finally a Sleepie covered them up! Next thing, it was morning, but there was still fun to be had.

Eliopoulos’ picture book has a great look and feel that is made all the more fun by the humor of the story. Using cute monsters as the yawns, snores, dozes and sleepies was a great idea, especially when they appear in droves or drop from the sky. The book captures the great plans made before every sleepover and how they never quite manage to be achieved.

In the illustrations, it’s great to see a picture book that features diverse characters who are close friends. I also appreciate that the narrator and their friend “Noodles” are not given genders in the book and could be whatever the reader chooses. The use of hooded pajamas and then daytime hats to keep them clearly identified but also gender neutral is a great touch.

A funny and marvelous bedtime (or staying up late) book. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from ARC provided by Dial.