Oppenheim's (The Miracle of the First Poinsettia
) alliterative rolling, rhyming verse, centers on a young prince in a faraway kingdom who refuses to go to sleep at bedtime. The king loudly issues a royal request: "If anyone knows how
/ to make the prince rest
,/ please come at once
/ to the royal address!
" A physician responds to his plea, bringing medicine he promises will "cure the condition." Though the prince refuses to taste the elixir, the queen and her courtiers, setting an example by tasting a sample, immediately fall asleep. Latimer's (Wheelie Girl
) quirky, energetic acrylic and collage art playfully tweaks perspective and scale as dancers determined to perform until the prince nods off, tire themselves out instead, and a magician who promises to cast "hypnotic spells" riles up the lad rather than launching him into dreamland. At last a wise old woman arrives with bedtime stories to read to the restless child. But he's puzzled: " 'But where are the pictures?,' he asked in surprise./ 'You'll see them,' she said, 'if you just close your eyes.' " And that does the trick. This spirited story may not lull little ones to sleep, but it will surely put smiles on their faces. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)
