This Is MY Room! (No Tigers Allowed)

JoJo decides to sleep in her own bedroom instead of with her older sister, Margaret (“You’ll be back,” Margaret tells her). But after she confidently settles in, “a lion slipped out from behind the window curtain,” thumping its tail. The way to keep lions away, Margaret indicates, is to make a “No Lions Allowed!” sign. The lion doesn’t return (it must have read the sign, JoJo figures), but a bear with meatball breath appears next. She adds bears to the list of restricted animals and, looking dejected, the bear leaves. Readers will recognize a pattern by the time a tiger arrives. Charming digital illustrations by Neonakis first render the animal visitors as imposing—the tiger stalks out of the closet with an expression of possible hunger—then as benevolent when the light turns on. An endearing twist suggests that making friends with things that go bump (or growl) in the night can help everyone rest easier. Ages 4–8. [em](May) [/em]