image © Mike Wohnoutka
Can't Sleep Without Sheep
written by Susanna Leonard Hill
illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka
Walker & Company
ISBN 978-0-8027-2066-5
Hardcover PB 32p
Whenever Ava can't sleep, she counts sheep. But Ava takes so long to fall asleep, it's the sheep that are getting tired - until they finally quit! The sheep promise to find a replacement that Ava can count on, but it might not be as easy as they thought...
In this hilarious take on a familiar bedtime ritual, readers will be charmed by Ava and her fluffy friends.
I'd also like to draw everyone's attention to the nightcap Number One is wearing, and the matching person-sized one my lovely assistant is wearing. They were hand crocheted by my very talented sister-in-law, Leslie, to exactly match the book. Aren't they perfect? Here's a close-up so you can see better!
All written content copyright © Susanna Leonard Hill, 2010. Site Designed by Donna Farrell
All rights reserved. All artwork is copyrighted by artist/illustrator and is noted within site pages.
Materials for the students,
and ideas teachers can use in conjunction with this book:
Review:
"When Ava’s busy mind won’t let her fall asleep, her mother tells her to try counting sheep, marking the last moment of convention in Hill and Wohnoutka’s refreshing bedtime story. Alas, as she counts sheep jumping over a fence, Ava’s mind is so busy with “ideas and questions, thoughts of today, and plans for tomorrow” that the sheep themselves become exhausted and decide to quit, leaving Ava wondering how she will ever get to sleep. Being compassionate, if pooped, the sheep promise to find a replacement. A veritable menagerie of animals on following pages attempt to jump over the fence and send Ava into dreamland, but horses are too distracting, pigs too slow, chickens too ridiculous and “the cows were a complete disaster.” The acrylic illustrations make the most of the foolishness, placing the animals in ever-more-ridiculous situations. After meeting failure with hippos, buffalo and others, Ava charms the sheep with her appreciation of their efforts, and they return to work. “You can count on us,” they assure her, concluding a gently humorous book that families will undoubtedly come to count on as well."—Kirkus Reviews
awards, honors and news
Children’s Book of the Month Club
October 2010
Korean translation 2011
UK paperback edition March 2011!
