Book picks similar to
Sloth Wasn't Sleepy by Kate Messner


picture-books
bedtime
picture-book
childrens

Mr. Watson's Chickens


Jarrett Dapier - 2021
    Bawka-bawka!Mr. Watson has 456 chickens in the sink, on the bed, in the bread box. When his partner, Mr. Nelson, threatens to leave, Mr. Watson takes his chickens to town to sell only for them to escape! Young readers will follow Mr. Watson all around town as he gathers up his chickens. But, when they're all rounded up, does he have the heart to sell them? Does a different fate await these chickens?This quirky, irresistible book is full of read-aloud fun with its onomatopoeia, rollicking rhythm, and familiar refrains and ends with a touch of sweetness. It has all the makings of a classic, with a farm theme, hilarious refrains, and a familiar narrative structure that unfolds in threes. Librarians, teachers, and parents looking for a new book that feels traditional will love sharing this book with children.A JOY TO REREAD: This is a very classic-feeling storybook. Paired with its funny farm setting and hilarious refrains, this book is sure to inspire countless rereads and endless giggles.PERFECT READ-ALOUD: This book is full of nonsensical sounds and repetition that make it fun to read out loud and invite audience participation. It's a perfect choice for classroom events and laptime reads.LIKE CHICKA CHICKA BOOM BOOM, WITH CHICKENS!: With its bouncy refrains and rollicking rhythms, this book will remind readers of classic bestsellers like Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.REALISTIC RELATIONSHIP UNUSUAL IN PICTURE BOOKS: This book features a gay couple at its center, but doesn't call specific attention to it. It simply portrays a healthy relationship between two men (and their chickens!).WRITTEN BY A NEW TALENT WHO REALLY UNDERSTANDS KIDS: This is Jarret Dapier's first book! He's a popular, award-winning teen librarian who works with kids, knows what they like, and is well-versed in the rhythms of the classic children's book—and he has many more stories up his sleeves.DELIGHTFUL, DETAILED DRAWINGS OF OVER 400 CHICKENS!: With hundreds of chickens to find and scenes crammed with action and detail, the pages of this book are chock-full of things to look at. Young readers will spend hours poring over each spread.Perfect for: parents, families looking for LGBTQIA+ stories, fans of funny books

Snoozefest


Samantha Berger - 2015
    In fact, she's such a good sleeper that she decides to go to Snoozefest, an arena festival that celebrates sleep. There, she lounges in her hammock while bands like the Nocturnal Nesters and the Quiet Quartet serenade the audience with lullabies. There's warm milk and honey to be had, designer pajamas from Diane von Firstinbed, and no one dares be seen without a baby blanket. But before she knows it, the nuzzling, snuggling, and dreaming are over—and Snuggleford has slept through it all.This hilariously endearing bedtime story is perfect for anyone who loves sloths, music festivals, and/or cuddles.

Pirasaurs!


Josh Funk - 2016
    We're Pirasaurs! We're Pirasaurs!We rule the open seas!We'll cannon-blast you to the past! We do just what we please!Meet the Pirasaurs, a ragtag team of seasoned pirate dinosaurs looking for adventure and treasure! There's fearsome Captain Rex, golden-toothed Velocimate, one-eyed Bronto Beard, and more fearsome, buccaneering beasts....as well as one new recruit who may be small, but who's eager to prove he can learn the ropes and find his place on the team.But when a trap is set upon the Pirasaurs while looking for buried treasure, it's up to the littlest recruit to show the team that there's more to a Pirasaur than meets the eye patch!

Cricket Song


Anne Hunter - 2016
    While differences between cultures may be obvious, ultimately, this lovely story of sleep is a tale about interconnection.

Fall Mixed Up


Bob Raczka - 2011
    Geese hibernate. Squirrels fly south in big figure eights." Fall is all mixed up in this silly book from Bob Raczka! Can you find his mistakes in the words and pictures?Fall Mixed Up is a collection of mixed-up fall images from the imagination of Bob Raczka taken to their visual extremes in the intricate mixed-media illustrations of Chad Cameron.

A Cat Named Swan


Holly Hobbie - 2017
    Holly Hobbie's intricate watercolors evoke the small kitten's hardscrabble life as powerfully as they do his blissful one. This story tugs the heartstrings and is a testament to the importance of pet adoption and the powerful ways that pets connect with their people.

Beep! Beep! Go to Sleep!


Todd Tarpley - 2015
    Not a peep. Three little robots are... BEEP! BEEP!When his three rambunctious robots give every possible excuse not to go to sleep, what's a little boy to do? With a fun refrain that will have readers of all ages chanting along, here's a book that kids will be begging to read every night before bed.

Black? White! Day? Night! - A Book of Opposites (Neal Porter Books)


Laura Vaccaro Seeger - 2006
    Through a  series of ingenious die-cut pages, the reader discovers things that are the opposite of what they seem: A black bat transformed into a white ghost, a sunny day that becomes a starry night. Posed as a series of 18 questions and answers, Black? White! Day? Night! is sure to be a big success with small children everywhere.

Playing Possum


Jennifer Black Reinhardt - 2020
    So he has trouble making friends . . . until Sophia the armadillo reveals that when she gets anxious, she rolls up in a ball. A witty friendship tale inspired by animal behavior.

Bagel in Love


Natasha Wing - 2018
    . . but no one wants to be his partner! Can he find a sweet-tart who doesn’t think his steps are half-baked? Bagel loved to dance. It made him happier than a birthday cake! And more than anything, he wants a partner who will spin and swirl, tap and twirl with him in the dance contest. But Pretzel sniffs that he doesn’t cut the mustard, Croissant thinks his moves are stale, and Doughnut’s eyes just glaze over. Can a cute cupcake save the day for our would-be Fred Éclair? Witty and pun-filled, this picture book really takes the cake.

Back to Bed, Ed


Sebastien Braun - 2009
    But while Ed loves going to bed, he doesn't like staying there.At bedtime, Ed plays silly games with Dad. He has a drink and brushes his teeth. He takes a bath and cuddles with Mom for a bedtime story. Then Ed is off to bed with hugs and kisses. But night after night he tiptoes down the hall and climbs into Mom and Dad's big bed. Mom and Dad aren't getting much sleep, so they come up with a plan to keep Ed in his bed. Ed doesn't think much of Mom and Dad's plan―so he comes up with one on his own!Parents transitioning their little ones from cribs to toddler beds will immediately relate to Sebastien Braun's charming spin on the perennial challenge of getting young children to stay in bed. Bright, uncluttered illustrations complement the simplicity of the story.Awards: Best Children's Books of the Year --Bank Street College of EducationCCBC Choices (Picture Books for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers) --Cooperative Children's Book Center

Codzilla


David Zeltser - 2019
    Bertie—a giant codfish—is tired of being bullied about his size, but when the other fish at school start calling him Codzilla, it really hurts. Being big isn’t easy, but when a shark comes around with his mouth wide open, Bertie becomes everyone’s hero. For fans of Nugget & Fang, Friends Don’t Eat Friends, Clark the Shark, and SpongeBob SquarePants.Bertie is the biggest codfish in school. He loves reading about sharks more than anything, but he’s teased about his size by the fish in his school. When they start calling him Codzilla, he gets fed up and starts living up to the name. But when danger strikes from the deep in the form of a shark, Bertie uses his shark knowledge and his size to save his friends.From David Zeltser (Ninja Baby) and Jared Chapman (Vegetables in Underwear) comes a heartfelt and clever tale about bullies, fast thinking, and the power of knowing your shark facts.

Once Upon a Winter Day


Liza Woodruff - 2020
    Instead, she encourages him to go out and play in the snow. At first, Milo is disappointed - he doesn't want to play outside, he wants a story.But when he starts to follow a trail of mouse-prints, he discovers signs of activity all around, prompting him to ask, What happened here? Before long, he's using his imagination -- depicted in lush wordless spreads that capture the vividness of Milo's fantasies -- to fill in the gaps. By the time Milo comes home, he's the one with stories to tell.A must have for the winter season, Liza Woodruff's Once Upon a Winter Day is a fun read-aloud that shares details about animal behavior from a child's perspective.A Bank Street Best Childrens Book of the Year!

Thank You and Good Night


Patrick McDonnell - 2015
    During a fun pajama party, three animal friends dance and play, but at last everyone is getting sleepy. Is it time for bed yet? Not before taking the time to say thank you for the day, the night, and good friends.

Dust Bunny Wants a Friend


Amy Hevron - 2019
    Perfect for fans of Annie Silvestro's Bunny's Book Club . Dust Bunny is alone--and lonely. So when a small bug passes by him, he calls out hi and tries to befriend her. But the bug keeps on moving, and Dust Bunny sadly says bye. Then he meets a cat . . . but when the cat sneezes, the dust bunny goes tumbling. And so it goes, one failed attempt to make a friend after another. That is, until a broom sweeps Dust Bunny into the bedroom . . . and what does he find under the bed? Yes, his mates! This is a very simple, very sweet, incredibly spare story of missed connection and friendship, anchored by the cutest little bunny around.