Farmer Simpson's sheep find every excuse to avoid bed: they are thirsty, or it's too dark, or the ground is too hard. But while buying a nightgown for his wife, Simpson picks up some cozy blankets, and the baaahing soon turns to snoring. Though thin on plot, the smoothly rhyming text and softly textured, nighttime-hued illustrations make this a soothing lullaby.

PreS-Gr 1 The title says it all. Poor Farmer Simpson is suffering from sleep deprivation after a long, hard day of planting crops. His cows, pigs, ducks, and chickens are all sound asleep, but the sheep are full of reasons why they aren't tired: they're thirsty, they're hungry, they have to "go," they start a tickle fight, the ground is hard, the grass is wet, etc. The exhausted farmer almost forgets his lovely wife's birthday, but he remembers in time to go shopping in town. At the store he sees the answer to his sheep dilemma-"cozy blankets, soft and snug,/as comfy as a mother's hug." At night, tucked in under their new blankets, "Their eyes drooped low. Their 'baaah's' baaah'ed deep./&30;they couldn't make/one poor excuse to stay awake." The rhyming text begs to be read aloud, and the stylized pictures perfectly capture the tired farmer and his sleep-resistant flock. Arant's creatures, with their big eyes reminiscent of Shaun the Sheep's, are adorable, and the clutter-free illustrations are great for storytime or individual sharing. Parents will sympathize with Farmer Simpson, and children will totally understand where the sheep are coming from. Great fun for everyone. Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH