GOODNIGHT, CRAYONS

Even crayons have to sleep.

Yellow stretches scribbly arms wide and yawns a big yawn. Time for bed! But all of Daywalt’s beloved Crayons have different bedtime routines. Blue sips a glass of water through a long straw, promising, “I’ll go to bed as soon as I drink it all.” Beige drags a stuffed piece of wheat (named Wheaty-Wheat) on the floor as he goes to his room; he can’t sleep without his lovey. And Red? Red needs a story. Quite a few stories, in fact. With covers drawn up (in red), Red snuggles up while Green chooses some of Daywalt and Jeffers’ classics to read. The tale takes a metafictive turn when Green falls asleep and Red starts reading the very book they are in. The jokes aren’t as hilarious as in previous outings—the vibes here are reassuring and gentle—but loyal readers of the series will happily recognize familiar personality traits. Peach is excited to be wearing bear pajamas, exclaiming, “I’m so comfy-cozy I could freeeeeak ooout! But I won’t…” And Yellow and Orange wrap themselves with a “Halloween bankie.” Peppered with insider gags for fans but centered on a familiar childhood experience, this story could easily introduce newcomers to the series.

A soothingly sweet smattering of bedtime rituals with old friends.