Tūī farewells the day with a song, as the sleepy sun tiptoes away. Darkness settles softly. Birds close their eyes.
All is quiet.
All is still … or is it?
Follow Little Kiwi and meet his forest friends, as he hunts for food for a midnight feast, escapes a nasty predator and arrives back to his burrow safe and sound as the sun rises.
Sleep Little Kiwi, Sleep introduces young children to nocturnal creatures that are busy with their ‘day’ while they themselves are tucked up in bed fast asleep.
The book also includes a Te reo Māori translation of some of the creatures featured in the illustration and text.
Janine Holcroft, Read NZ ~ “This great little book is filled with wonderful descriptive words and alliterations that help engage the reader and give them a real sense of what happens in the bush at night. The connection to our land and culture is evident within the story by the use of native creatures and its inclusion of Te Reo. The illustrations are vibrant and aid in the story telling. The children I read this to liked the fact that the night time pictures were darker which gave them a feeling of what it is like in the bush at night …”
Rebekah Lyall – NZ Booklovers ~ “Inspired by author Deborah Hinde’s grandson who struggles to switch off at night, she wrote and illustrated this cute book that makes for the perfect bedtime story for sleepy little ones.
“As usual, Hinde’s illustrations are dreamy. The cute critters are full of personality, and are instantly recognisable. The opening double spread, featuring a tūī at dusk, sets the tone. With warm colours and rich in detail, the book is a visual feast. We had a lot of fun hunting out all the creatures – the bumblebee in a leaf hammock, a particular favourite. Packed full of native flora and fauna, the book has the ability to be quite educational as well.
“The story is sweet, but not the usual lovey dovey bedtime story that is so common. There’s a hint of drama, but Hinde manages the gentle balance between excitement and relaxation using gentle language, to match the illustrations. It’s lyrical and poetic, lulling those who read it to relax and unwind.
“Hinde doesn’t shy away from including te reo Māori, and it was refreshing to see tohutō (macrons) used correctly. While the te reo Māori is fairly basic, for those that aren’t quite sure a helpful glossary spells it out. The pictorial glossary also includes te reo Māori for animals and objects not directly used in the text. It served as a fun additional ‘eye spy’ too, with my children spending a good deal of time trying to spot the exact illustration in the body of the book.”
Kiwi author and illustrator Deborah Hinde
Find out more about award-winning illustrator Deborah Hinde by visiting her creator page.
Additional information
Weight
200 g
Dimensions
23 × 23 × .5 cm
Format
Softcover edition
Page count
32
Published by
PictureBook Publshing
ISBN
9780473515201
First published
2020
1 review for Sleep Little Kiwi, Sleep
Rated 5 out of 5
Kate G –
The KidsBooksNZ blog describes this as “a perfect sleeptime book”.
If your toddler has trouble going to sleep – or refuses to go to bed – then settling them down with a book is a great routine to get them into at bedtime. Let them choose the first 1-2 books, but select a book about going to bed/sleep for last. It will help your reluctant sleeper realise that everyone has to go to bed – even the animals! And here’s the perfect book to read aloud to affirm that message.
Kate G –
The KidsBooksNZ blog describes this as “a perfect sleeptime book”.
If your toddler has trouble going to sleep – or refuses to go to bed – then settling them down with a book is a great routine to get them into at bedtime. Let them choose the first 1-2 books, but select a book about going to bed/sleep for last. It will help your reluctant sleeper realise that everyone has to go to bed – even the animals! And here’s the perfect book to read aloud to affirm that message.
Read the full review – https://kidsbooksnz.blogspot.com/2020/08/a-perfect-sleep-time-book.html?q=Sleep+Little+Kiwi,+sleep+by+deborah+hinde