Beep! Beep! Go to Sleep!

This book accomplishes two important goals: it’s wonderfully entertaining, and it gives parents a well-deserved opportunity to tell their offspring, “Welcome to my world.” A responsible-looking boy is trying to get his three robot charges—who, like their human counterparts, are full of beans at bedtime—to go to sleep: “Three little robots, time for bed/ Time to dim your infrared.” Every time the boy thinks he has ushered them into slumberland, with the goal of getting some shut-eye himself, a new obstacle pops up (“Is something wrong?” “I need my coil!”/ “My sensor aches!” “I want more oil!”). When peace finally prevails, Tarpley (Ten Tiny Toes) and Rocco (Blizzard) offer another twist, best summed up as “Who’s tucking in who?” The rambunctious robots will win readers’ hearts from the title page, when they swing from a light fixture and bounce on the sofa. But the human hero is equally appealing: dressed in dadlike striped pajamas, he has clearly had an excellent role model when it comes to be being a loving and put-upon authority figure. Ages 3–6. Author’s agent: Rachel Orr, Prospect Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Rob Weisbach, Weisbach Creative Management. (Sept.)