I think I have a first going on this week! I have THREE giveaways taking place on my blog! Click HERE to enter to win a copy of  the AWESOME book “The Hero’s Guide to Being an Outlaw” by Christopher Healy – Click HERE to enter to win a 5-book prize pack from Disney Press AND NOW YOU GET A CHANCE TO WIN MY PPBF PICK!!! Just comment and tell me you want to be in the drawing! Next week, I’ll put all the names in a hat and Josie will pick one out. Sorry – it’s only open to U.S. residents.

Susanna Leonard Hill has a feature on her blog called Perfect Picture Book Friday. It is a list of “perfect” picture books recommended by all sorts of people. I chose this book because everyone, sometime in their life, could not, would not fall asleep. 🙂

Chengdu Could Not, Would Not Fall Alseep
Written and Illustrated by Barney Saltzberg
48 pages – ages 3+
Published by Disney-Hyperion on May 6, 2014

Theme/Topic- Sleeplessness

Genre- Children’s Fiction

Opening and Synopsis-

Opening – “It was late and it was quiet.”

Synopsis from the publisher- “High in his tree a young panda named Chengdu lies awake, even though everyone around him is quietly sleeping. He tosses and he turns. He scrunches and he squirms. But it’s not until he finds the perfect spot-atop his brother, Yuan-that he finds rest. But now Yuan can’t sleep.“

Why I liked this book- First of all, just look at Chengdu! Can’t you understand how he feels? He wants to fall asleep, but he can’t! Mr. Saltzberg really draws you into feeling Chengdu’s problem. We really care for Chengdu. He is a cute little panda and he is deprived of  sleep! I get tired just thinking about it. The illustrations are adorable. I like how Mr. Saltzberg drew the details of the bamboo forest and the coloring in it. I also like that there are some flap pages in the book. It makes it interactive and fun. You are going to love Chengdu!

Activities and Resources-

About the author– Barney Saltzberg is the author and illustrator of close to 50 books for children, including Beautiful Oops!, Good Egg, Cornelius P. Mud , Crazy Hair Day and the bestselling Touch and Feel Kisses series with over 800,000 copies in print. Additionally, he’s recorded four CDs of music for children. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, three dogs, and a pond full of fish.

Mr. Saltzberg just posted early Chengdu illustrations on his blog to show his illustration process. It’s cool to see. Click HERE.

Scholastic has an article on what to do for your sleepless middle-grade child (Click HERE) and for toddlers (Click HERE).

Check out this post from PargmaticMom on bedtime yoga to help kids go to sleep. Ms. Wenjen reviews a yoga picture book that may help your little Chengdu fall asleep (Click HERE)!

Check out the book’s trailer! Chengdu is SO CUTE!!!

To find more Perfect Picture Books please visit Susanna Hill’s blog HERE!

Categories: Age 1-5

Tags: Barney Saltzberg, bibliophile, book review, bookworm, chengdu could not would not fall asleep, perfect picture book, susanna leonard hill