This charming picture book, intended for very young audiences, visits the familiar territory of bedtime. Using simple declarative sentences, Mama Elephant tells her baby what she could do all night long: nibble fingers, gobble toes, tell stories, sing songs, and so on. However, Mama reiterates, once sleepy time comes, it is time to go to sleep. The repetitive, simple language creates a calm, soothing, lullabylike effect that is perfectly complemented by soft crayon-and-watercolor illustrations. Parents who mimic Mama Elephant's actions (stroking hair, holding hands) will be moving their child in the right direction towards slumber til they inevitably hear, "Read it again!" This should resonate with babies, toddlers, and their designated adult readers, and when presented alongside other bedtime classics, it makes a great choice for parent-and-child story hours.

I could eat your little ears. / I could nibble on your nose. / I could munch your tiny fingers. / I could gobble up your toes.

Here-s a wonderful little lesson in the subjunctive from master teacher Fox (Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes). As a purple mother elephant gets her lavender baby ready for bed, she enumerates all the things she -could- do: -I could eat your little ears./ I could nibble on your nose./ I could munch your tiny fingers./ I could gobble up your toes.- Readers will instantly know that Mom has actually done-or is doing-all these things and more, but her savvy grammatical construction enables the mother elephant to assure her baby that he-s adorable while acknowledging the higher power of discipline and routine: -There comes a time for sleeping and our sleepy time is now.- Quay-s (Goodnight, Me) mixed-media pictures establish a mood of reverie, and her characters have blissful, loving expressions that keep the cooing text from turning soggy; sharp eyes will notice that she incorporates actual items of cozy domesticity, like doilies and handkerchiefs, into the pictures. After a few pages of soft-crayoned textures, pastel hues, and arm-s-length framing, a visual sameness sets in, though readers should find it soporific. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)

PreS In this soothing bedtime ode, an elephant in a bathrobe snuggles and carries her baby up to bed. Gentle hugs and kisses are accompanied by nose nibbles, toe gobbles, cradling, whispers, book reading, hair stroking, and yawns as bedtime draws near. In this beautifully designed book, a line of text is paired with an image rendered in muted pencils, acrylic paint, and Photoshop. Each illustration abounds in patterns and textures created from items such as doilies, handkerchiefs, lace, baskets, and belts. The elephants have an unfocused, sketchy look that pairs perfectly with twilight and dreams around the corner. This gentle lullaby in book form is perfect for sleepy toddlers and parents who will want to mimic the actions in the book. Marge Loch-Wouters, La Crosse Public Library, WI