Published by Candlewick

Summary:  Isaac’s excited to be at Grandpop’s house, but he’s a little less certain about sleeping over.  “I’m not sleepy,” he says as bedtime approaches.  “Then stay awake,” replies Grandpop, “But it’s time to put the house to bed.”  They move slowly and quietly around the house, turning off lights and pulling shades.  When Isaac hears noises, Grandpop patiently explains what’s causing them: Snuffles the dog, the swingset creaking in the wind, the house making sleepy sounds.  Finally, Isaac and Grandpop snuggle in a chair to read a bedtime story.  Grandpop invites Isaac to tell him what’s happening in the pictures, then promptly falls asleep in the chair.  Isaac takes one more good-night tour around the house, then settles himself in.  The last picture shows the two of them and Snuffles snoring.  32 pages; ages 3-8.

Pros:  A cute and reassuring bedtime story that could start a new nighttime routine of putting the house to sleep.  More power to Grandpop;  after a whole day with his grandson, he still has enough patience to take the time to make bedtime relaxed and happy.

Cons:  “Snuffles” seems like kind of a sad name for a dog.

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Bob is a lazy–but hungry–alligator who hopes that birds will fly into his mouth when he calls to them.  When that plan fails, he notices how much birds like birdseed, and decides to open a seed restaurant on his nose.  Chez Bob attracts its first customer the very next day.  The bird promises to tell all its friends, so Bob decides not to eat it.  Pretty soon, Chez Bob is super popular, and Bob finds himself enjoying the community with a book club, a basketball team (he’s the coach), and a sunset cruise.  When a storm comes up, Bob invites his new friends to take shelter in his mouth.  He can hear them laughing, playing, and cleaning his teeth.  It’s official: these birds have gone from “the birds he was going to eat” to “the birds he was absolutely, without a doubt, definitely not going to eat.”  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Bob Shea (who, according to the back flap, insists that the book’s title has nothing to do with his first and last names) has created another goofy book which, like Who Wet My Pants? is also an unexpectedly sweet friendship story.  The cover is sure to catch the eye of young readers and they won’t be the least disappointed by what’s inside.

Cons:  It’s not clear what Bob will be eating once he befriends the birds.