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BOOKS

Good night. Sleep tight ... ... we hopePublished: February, 2012

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It is one of the major challenges every parent at one time or another faces: getting a child to fall asleep. Children from ages 7 to 12 years old need between 10 and 12 hours of sleep.     How many of you have children who keep getting out of bed, night after night, asking for water or complaining that their brains just don’t want to shut down? And there’s the classic, “But I’m not tired!”     A major part of my family’s routine is story time. This month’s selections, three books and a CD, are destined to become your family’s bedtime favorites. ‘Bedtime with Rollo the NightSpryte’ [Ages 4-8] By David Bier and Seth Bier Monsters under the bed and other fears are banished by a “nightspryte.” Told in rhyme, it is not only a fun read; it’s one that the authors have based on research in the fields of childhood development, psychology and bedtime anxiety.         As a real sweet treat, “Bedtime with Rollo” comes with a plush Rollo doll that your little one can use as his or her very own nightspryte to cuddle with – and to banish monsters – at night. ‘Starry Night, Hold Me Tight’ [Ages 4+] By Jean Sagendorph; Illustrated by Kim Siebold “Starry Night, hold me tight. All is calm, all is bright.” With a first line like that, one cannot help but feel calm, since it sets the perfect tone for bedtime. The book goes through Baby Bear’s day, from playing in the snow to putting away his toys to finally saying his prayers at day’s end. With sparse text and simple yet striking line drawings of a Momma Polar Bear and her cub, this book warms you up in a tight bear hug. ‘Seriously, Just Go To Sleep’ By Adam Mansbach Here’s the children’s version of last year’s bestseller, “Go the F*** to Sleep.” Adam Mansbach captured every sleep-deprived parent’s feelings in an honest way.        On April 10, Akashic Books will publish “Seriously, Just Go to Sleep.” The author was inspired to write it for children after getting great feedback about the original title: “[Parents] said that their kids loved the book – read in an altered form. They recognized themselves in the character of the mischievous kid who’s winning the bedtime battle.” ‘Rockabye Baby! Good Day, Good Night’ Music CD; rockabyebabymusic.com This 2-CD set includes 24 instrumental lullabies of rock songs by bands such as U2, Weezer, Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. Some songs sound like elevator muzak, but other renditions worked out quite nice, actually.     If you’ve never listened to any Rockabye Baby CD, this would be a good sampler. My kids and I had fun guessing what the songs were, and trying to sing along, before finally drifting off to sleep. Marcie Taylor is OC Family’s children’s book editor. In her blog, “By the Book,” she celebrates a love of books and reading. Check it out at ocfamily.com.

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