Bedtime for Sweet Creatures by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
This was a Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly and Barnes & Noble book of the year.
“‘No! No! No!” the toddler in this books shouts, fists raised. “‘Come, sweet creature. It’s bedtime'”, their mom calls.
The toddler becomes a wild animal as they try to evade bed, growling like a bear, and roaring like a lion. “A koala, you hang onto me for one last kiss… Later, you bound out of bed, sly wolf on the hunt for water.”
Author Nikki Grimes (who is black) is an award-winning poet.
The illustrations in this book, by black illustrator Elizabeth Zunon, who grew up in the Ivory Coast, take it to the next level. All characters in the book are Black.
What Maya Loves: I just love this book! The parade of animals and use of varied vocabulary delights me – and my children – every time we read it. It is also particularly beautiful, making it a great gift.
Recommended reading age: 2 – 5 years
