It’s been a busy day, and Charlie, like any tired rabbit, is ready for bed. He arranges his slippers and glass of water, finds his teddy bear, and checks to make sure there are no monsters under the bed. But just as he drifts off to sleep, TAP TAP TAP, a loud noise outside the window, wakes him up. It’s not just the tapping of Bird that keeps him up, Squirrel starts cracking nuts, then Mouse begins playing on the swings. Will Charlie ever get some rest?! This playful and beautifully illustrated picture book is funny and entertaining. Charlie’s humorous expressions, inspired by slapstick comedians like Charlie Chaplin, will make you laugh out loud at every turn.
Charlie the rabbit is set in his ways, and just wants a little peace and quiet after a long day, but his bedtime routine is routinely thwarted by noisy animals who don’t respect quiet hours! Bird won’t stop hammering on trees (with an actual hammer), Squirrel needs to crunch through his nuts all night to prepare for winter, and Mouse just loves swinging on a squeaking swing set after dark.
Now, I understand why Mouse is so active at night (mice are typically crepuscular and nocturnal), but why aren’t the diurnal Bird and Squirrel also going to bed? They should be on a similar sleep schedule as Charlie the rabbit. And why does Charlie have a name, while the other animals are only identified by their species?
These little quibbles aside, watching poor Charlie get more and more frustrated as his carefully ordered routine gets more and more ridiculously jumbled will delight young readers.
The illustrations are very appealing, with a darker palette and vintage quality (there’s a strange sort of Victorian aesthetic to Charlie) that’s a refreshing change from the hyper-cartoony, brightly-coloured images often found in contemporary picture books.
There’s also a fun little twist ending that’s sure to bring a smile, as it’s revealed that Charlie isn’t the only one who’s struggling to get a good night’s sleep!
Sleep Tight, Charlie!
Hardcover, 56 pages
September 5, 2017 : Princeton Architectural Press
Source: Raincoast Books