Books at Bedtime: Hush! A Thai Lullaby
Sunday, August 17th, 2008
With our present focus on literacy and my avowal that it’s never to soon to start sharing a bedtime story, I feel it is time I put the spotlight on a book for that early age-group. In her last post on the Tiger’s Bookshelf, Janet asked about first bedtime stories and there are a couple of stories there to make you smile. When my two were small, I used to like finding stories that ended with everyone, especially the baby, going to sleep – hint, hint…
It took me a few moments to make the connection between Hush! – A Thai Lullaby (Scholastic, 2000) and The Clay Marble, the Tiger’s Choice for August, but as soon as I realised that they shared Minfong Ho as their author, it seemed too serendipitous to ignore and I knew it would have to be this week’s choice! It also offers a slightly subversive take on the let’s-get-baby-to-sleep ending since by the end of this one, everyone else is asleep except baby…
All the animals mother asks to hush make their noises in Thai, which children will find intriguing as well as fun to imitate. It’s a beautifully written book and the multi-layered illustrations by Holly Meade are also stunning (read reviews here). It could have the desired effect of settling little ones down to a good night’s sleep – but it could equally well raise a triumphant chortle and give the grown-ups a chance to snatch a few moments of shut-eye, even if it is just to be pounced upon and rudely awakened!
What special books do you recommend as bedtime stories for babies and toddlers?
