Sweet Dreamers by Isabelle Simler from Eerdmans Books for Young Readers [Review and Giveaway]

My thoughts: This is an unusual book. The images are quite dark representing the night when dreamers are asleep. The art is distinct reflective of children's scratch art. Actually, it took me back in my memory to the days my children were in school and did scratch art using a variety of crayons to create a colorful base and then deeply layer on the black crayon. They then proceeded to take an edged tool and scratch their drawing through the black revealing the colors beneath providing a "line" style of drawing. (It could be a bit messy with those crumbs of crayon gathering in spots on table, desk, and floor. But the experience was worth it.)

The illustrations are created digitally. And this is stunning to me. To think that a computer can create this type of art is fascinating.

As the author takes the reader across the World peeking into the sleep of animals, sea creatures, and insects globally we see a close up image on one page of the critter's face in slumber and the facing page shows the critter in his sleep habitat. The scenes for each are astutely draw with a multitude of fine lines in various colors across the dark backdrop that is night.

Throughout the book Issbelle Simler captures beautiful night scenes with the moon shining brightly through trees, clouds, over the sea, and reflecting on the snow. Stunning. Seasons are also represented.

I absolutely love the lines of poetry for each critter's dream and slumber time. They are brief and a form of free verse beautifully translated from the original French into English. The text describes something about that particular critter's habits, life, or environment. "As if wrapped in silk / with shrimp-tinted reflections, / she slides her delicate head / between her feathers. / The flamingo dreams in pink."

I highly recommend.

About the book: A gorgeous bedtime book from an award-winning creator

From the celebrated creator of Plume and The Blue Hour comes another enchanting animal book. Countless cozy animals are settling in for the night, but they all sleep in different ways. A bat dreams upside down, a hedgehog snuggles into a pile of leaves, and a humpback whale spins in its sleep like a ballerina.

With its poetic language and lush illustrations, Sweet Dreamers will dazzle young readers as they drift off to sleep themselves.

About the author/illustrator: Isabelle Simler is the award-winning author and illustrator of The Blue Hour and Plume (both Eerdmans). Both books were featured in the 2017 Society of Illustrators "The Original Art" Annual Exhibition, and Plume was named a 2017 New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book. Isabelle lives in France. Visit her website at www.isabellesimler.com. Note: Chat With Vera reviewed both The Blue Hour and Plume.

GIVEAWAY

Begins May 2

Ends June 1 at 12:01 a.m. EDT

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a Rafflecopter giveaway DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's copy if provided and shipped directly to the winner by the publisher.