I Am Not Sleepy and I Will Not Go to Bed

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 27 AUG. 2001

In this equally spirited follow-up to I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato, big brother Charlie faces a new challenge: to cajole his sister, Lola, into bed. "Lola likes to stay up coloring and scribbling and sticking and wriggling and bouncing and most of all chattering," remarks the patient older sibling. Chatter she does, as the comic dialogue between the two attests. Warning that "I will probably still be perky at even 13 o'clock," Lola trots out some imaginative procrastination maneuvers. Charlie offers her a subtle bribe: " 'If there's no bedtime there can be no bedtime drink, and it's strawberry milk tonight.' (Lola really likes strawberry milk.)" Lola counters that her three tiger pals need a similar treat as well. Creative situations also arise when it comes to toothbrushing (she says that a lion is using her toothbrush) and bathtime (she insists whales are swimming in the bathtub). Child's collages juxtapose photographs of flannel pajamas, bubble gum pink toothpaste tube and bath bubbles with childlike drawings framed in exotic wallpaper patterns. These images emanate as much energy as does Lola herself, with text in an array of sizes and typefaces. Once again, Child tackles a common childhood conundrum with boundless imagination and zip. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)