cover image Maybe I’ll Sleep in the Bathtub Tonight and Other Funny Bedtime Poems

Maybe I’ll Sleep in the Bathtub Tonight and Other Funny Bedtime Poems

Debbie Levy, , illus. by Stephanie Buscema. . Sterling, $14.95 (24pp) ISBN 978-1-4027-4944-5

Bedtime is the subject of the 20 poems in this rambunctious picture book; verse and artwork alike have a retro feel with a slightly modern edge. An invitation to sleep “over” is met with dread (“ 'Are you quite sure?’ Fred asked with fear in his voice./ 'Your house is quite tall, you know’ ”), and a kid with morning breath wearing a purple skull-and-crossbones shirt urges readers to brush their teeth before giving any early morning kisses (“You know what your mouth tastes like when you awake”). Despite the occasional awkward phrase, it’s a fun, hip take on traditional bedtime books. Ages 6–9. (Mar.)