I was stunned to find this book was out of print. We purchased it several years ago for my daughter, and it is one of her favorite books. The illustrations are wonderful, very lifelike, and the story, which focuses on the relationship between a girl and her cat, is darling. It is definitely a great book.

A woodman begins to chop down a huge tree in the Amazon jungle but, the wood is very hard. The heat of the day and the lull of the insects put him to sleep. In his dreams he is visited by the animals, a child, and insects of the forest who explain their interdependency and the importance of the Amazon. They ask him to look at them with new eyes, with new understanding. When he awakens from his dream, he picks up his axe to resume his labor, looks at the animals and a child, pauses, puts down his axe, and leaves. Beautifully told. Wonderful illustrations.

it's a very good book but it needs more details about other places. I really liked the postcards because they looked so real. If I was going to places, I would write postcards to my friends.

Signed, E.J.W.

I checked out this book from our local library because of the colorful illustrations, but as soon as I got it home I knew I had discovered a treasure. My children loved the rolling, tumbling word play and I loved the fact that they were learning as I was reading. Ms Cherry does a wonderful job of drawing you into the story and her illustrations are delightful. I have added this book to our home library and look forward to seeing new stories from this wonderful authoress. I highly recommed it to any one with children or a love for Texas. A must to own.

Lynne Cherry once again writes a story that is cute, fun, and contributes to childhood development. By using characters that are far from ordinary and very likeable she creates an enjoyable story that gives children an idea of where they are in the universe.

The book opens with a little girl lying alone in her bed, with her teddy bear. At first she is unhappy being in her bed alone at night, as she wishes she could sleep in various places in the world with the animals that live there instead. Places range from curled up with a bird in a nest to sleeping standing up in between two penguins on the ice. In almost every picture she is snuggled up with the animal. After going through various scenarios she states she is happy to be sleeping in her own bed with her blanket and pillow, and we see her sleeping with two stuffed animals and dreaming of her real animal friends. After visiting these various sleeping arrangements I expected to see her sleeping alongside her parents, as humans used to do for most of our existance on this planet, and as some cultures continue to do today. It seemed silly to me for her to have been so happy literally curled up sleeping next to a bear and a raccoon, but then at home she is relegated to sleeping with stuffed toys. I would have given this book more stars if she was shown sharing sleep with her parents which is what historically, human children have done. The illustrations are very nice and show fine details of various habitats such as under the sea and the Egyptian desert. This is obviously a good story to read to your child before bedtime especially if your child sleeps alone, or if you are transitioning from a family bed to having your child sleep alone. If you have a family bed your child may be a little confused about why the girl is sleeping all alone.Parents who enjoy books and stories about wildlife will also like this book.

What a great book. My 17 month old now runs to the stairs to go to bed and asks for "the sleepy book". The pictures are beautiful, the pages CAN'T tear, and she loves it. She stands when the giraffe page comes, but sits right back down with the owl. A nice change from Goodnight Moon which we read for 17 months!!!

Jane Howard lulls us to sleep with soothing adjectives such as cozy, curl, stretch, yawn and warm, while we're drawn in by Lynne Cherry's illustrations utilizing brilliant colors and life-like imagery. This is a simple bedtime story that pacifies both reader and listener. It draws you in with the repetition of the phrase, "When I'm sleepy," and keeps you in a very tranquil mood until the very end. I read this book to my children in order to calm myself down. Days are hectic for both children and their parents, and I always found this book to be of comfort to both. There is an appreciation for nature and a glance into our wildlife, their habitat, and how the animal kingdom comes to rest. The earth tones of green, orange, red and blue are found on every page. The young girl sleeps beside the animals in their sprawling or confined surroundings and appears content in every posture. This book roams through the mind of a sleepy young girl wishing and wondering what it would be like to sleep with turtles in a swamp, raccoons in a hollow log, penguins on the freezing ice or giraffes standing up. She is pictured on each page doing those things that transform the setting but not the mood of the story. In the end she discovers the place she desires most is her own cozy bed with warm cuddly blankets and a soft pillow. On the final page, fluffy white clouds above her head reveal the various animals she had imagined as she was falling asleep. I think this book is a delightful alternative to counting sheep! I would recommend it to anyone who like me is always trying to find ways to get children to relax. You cannot read this book without becoming relaxed. It's like a magic potion. Jane Howard captured the essence of falling asleep in a unique and captivating way. The illustrations seal the words inside a cozy blanket of color and style that makes this book a true work of art!

My 3 yr old loved hearing about how caterpillars turn into butterflies. He has been caterpillar obsessed and this book helped to explain metamorphasis in the most simplistic terms.

Lynne Cherry's illustration of this book are so realistic they look like photographs. The book has exceptional detail from the flowery meadow to all the creatures living in it. The poetic text and illustrations describe the life cycle of a swallowtail butterfly with great accuracy. A wonderful story for nature lovers.

My 1 1/2 yr old loves this book, she's in a big animal phase, and loves to explore what Orangutan's do. The book shows mommy and baby Orangutans, swinging ones, ones with different expressions. Great little travel book.

A lovely little book of few words and beautiful illustrations for the young reader and listener. No attempt is made to make the snow leopards look like house cat and kittens - they are shown as the wild animals they are, however beautiful and cuddly, in their mountain home. The book presents an easy segue into endangered species for parent or teacher. A book the child will want to hold and call his own.

This book is much different from Cherry's "normal" environmental books. This is a bright and cheerful book full of wonderful illustrations. This is a great "first book" that teaches children being sick is not that bad!

This well illustrated board book is great for first readers as well as non readers. My 16 month old can't get enough of the "teddies". It is a very simple book that shows a mother grizzly bear with her two cubs eating and playing. There are only 5 double page sets, a very basic introduction into the lives of a wild animal. Its just the right tone and speed to introduce nature to the very young.