Board Book
Ages Birth-3
By Il Sung Na
24 pages
Knopf
2011
In Il Sung Na’s first picture book, A Book of Sleep, he utilizes a mix of hand painting and computer enhancement to create soothingly beautiful illustrations. Intricate designs and complex textures are etched into his bold, simple artwork; lovely little details implore the reader to fully inspect each spread. His rich, saturated palette captures the blue hues of night and, in the last two spreads, the golden brightness of day. The simple, direct text describes the different ways in which several animals sleep—an ideal topic for bedtime.
The book opens: “When the sky grows dark and he moon glows bright, everyone goes to sleep…except for the watchful owl.”
Over the next several pages, readers learn that some animals sleep in peace and quiet; other animals make lots of noises.
Some animals sleep standing up, while others sleep on the move.
There are animals that sleep with one eye open and some that sleep with both eyes open!
Some animals sleep alone; other animals sleep huddled in groups.
The sharp-eyed owl appears throughout the book—sometimes sitting plainly on a tree branch, sometimes hidden among the slumbering animals—and children will delight in locating the hidden observer.
“But when the sky turns blue and the sun glows bright…everyone wakes up! Except for the tired owl.”
Na’s gorgeous art engenders peaceful feelings; the serene nighttime scenes will surely set the stage for little ones to demonstrate favorite sleeping positions of their own.
View the book!
IndieBound / Powell’s / Amazon
thecreativityofescape said,
November 12, 2013 @ 9:09 am
Beautiful art! Glad I found this on your website.
rachel's book nook said,
November 2, 2013 @ 11:01 am
I was taken with the beautiful illustrations.
thebrookcook said,
October 4, 2013 @ 7:14 pm
I am in love with the illustrations! Beautiful 🙂
themanofletters said,
October 4, 2013 @ 11:06 am
Reblogged this on The Man of Letters and commented:
This is a lovely book!
kiwiskan said,
October 3, 2013 @ 7:57 pm
that is beautiful. I’m going to look for it…
cookingwithauntjuju.com said,
October 3, 2013 @ 5:06 pm
Even at my age I still enjoy reading children’s books. I need some great-grandkids 🙂
DougDoesLife said,
October 3, 2013 @ 4:57 pm
Beautiful work. I just went and put it on my Amazon wishlist…
edgarone2 said,
October 3, 2013 @ 3:52 pm
beautiful illustration and soothing pastels.
I always wonder how fish sleeps.