When the Sun Goes Down

by Greg Pizzoli

Discover where creatures go when the sun goes down in this interactive and rhythmic bedtime read for sleepy animal lovers by an award-winning creator!

Butterfly
Butterfly

Where do you go?
Where do you go
when the sun goes down?

I go under a leaf.
I find a good leaf,
and crawl underneath.

The sun is going down and creatures outside and inside the house are ready for sleep. But where do they go? Come along as a young girl spends her evening learning just where butterflies and kittens go to get their rest. Through soothing and interactive dialogue, the creatures answer the question “where do you go when the sun goes down?” until the girl finally makes her way safe and sound to bed.

Perfect for curious children and restless readers who need one more story before bed, this engaging picture book gives readers a peek into the nighttime habits of some of their favorite creatures. Award-winning author Greg Pizzoli's gentle rhythmic text and snug illustrations make this the perfect last read before turning out the light.

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Animals, Childrens, Nature, Fiction, Juvenile

40 pages, Hardcover

Published April 7, 2026

About the author

Greg Pizzoli is the author and illustrator of The Watermelon Seed, winner of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, Number One Sam, Templeton Gets His Wish, Tricky Vic: The Impossibly True Story of the Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower, and coming in April 2016, Good Night Owl. He lives in Philadelphia.

Reviews

[DaNae]

A rhythmic look at the world as we settle at the end of a day. Proof that brevity can be repetitive, and encompassing.

[Peacegal]

A gentle, calming bedtime book has a child asking a variety of animals and insects where they go at the end of the day. Each has a special spot to sleep and rest. This one has a classic feel and bright, childlike illustrations.

[Janet]

Now this is the type of Greg Pizzoli title I like, illustrations were drawn with a Pentel Pocket brush on Strathmore paper, screen printed by hand and collaged. And yes I recognize that Strathmore is a very art paper, but I would not have guessed the illustrations were collaged.
The young unnamed girl of the story uses a repeating sentence of, “where do you go when the sun goes down?” Which she asks of various creatures she sees in the daytime. Eventually we see she is going off to bed. Great bedtime story.

[YSBR]

A lilting refrain, simple but ingenious parallel story construction, and bright child-like artwork will make this newest bedtime story from Greg Pizzoli a treasured nightly read. Appealing to toddlers’ love of repetition and recalling Bill Martin’s classic Brown Bear, Brown Bear, this book follows a little girl with light-colored skin and brown hair as she queries a series of animals about where each one sleeps at night, starting with “Butterfly, Butterfly / Where do you go? / Where do you go when the sun goes down?” Turn the page and see the insect answering her question while fast asleep: “I go under a leaf. I find a good leaf and crawl underneath. I go under a leaf when the sun goes down.” Young children will quickly catch on to the refrain and chime in as the adult reader proceeds through subsequent encounters with an ant, a bird, a fish, and a cat, before inevitably turning to the child herself, who emphatically and entertainingly does NOT sleep under a leaf, in a nest, or in a chair, but in a bed, safe and sound, when the sun goes down. Pizzoli’s bold, cartoonish artwork features hand screen-printed images on textured paper, which he then assembles into collage, also prompting this reviewer to connect it to Eric Carle’s work in Brown Bear. Even the book’s end papers reinforce its arc, with the opening set featuring the sun brightly rising behind a neighborhood of simple, boxy little houses, while a dark blue double page spread closes the story, with the moon and stars twinkling above the same scene. With its warm, organic color palette and gradual progression from daytime and outside to evening and inside, this comforting bedtime story will nudge even the busiest preschooler toward sleep.  Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Cindy]

Parents are always in search of great bedtime stories for young children. This adorable picture book is a good choice for a new bedtime story. Going to sleep when the sun is gone is an idea that young children will relate to.

Where does a butterfly go when the sun goes down? Where does a little ant go when the sun goes down? Where does a pet kitty go when the sun goes down? All of these questions are answered in the story. Where does your young child go when the sun goes down? They go to bed of course. Young children will be eager to follow the lead of all of the little animals that are featured in the book when they go to their space for sleeping.

Pizzoli contributes his talents as an illustrator to provide the adorable and colorful illustrations for his book.

This picture book will be published on April 7, 2026. It has an ISBN of 978-0-593-64980-0.

[Barbara]

A good choice for a bedtime or naptime read aloud, this picture book follows a child who asks various animals where they sleep. The rhythmic text and repeated question of "Where do you go when the sun goes down?" has a lulling effect on listeners, and the fact that various animals, including a butterfly, an ant, and even a cat, among others, respond allows youngsters to learn a little about each animal and where it sleeps. The question-and-answer element of the last portion of the book adds variety to the read. The illustrations, created with a brush pen, screen printed, and then collaged, add interesting visual appeal to the story as well as a feeling of warmth and comfort.

[Pamela]

A young girl asks a butterfly, where do you go when the sun goes down? The butterfly’s answer begins, I go under a leaf. A couple other simple rhythmic couplets round out the reply. This pattern is repeated with an ant, bird, fish, and cat. Then a mother figure enters and ask the girl, where do you go? The coloring book-like drawings are cute and could easily be adapted to prompt students to add their own page to the book by following the pattern w another animal, such as a dog or squirrel.

[Terresa Wellborn]

This book is reminiscent of Bill Martin Jr.'s Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, in all good ways. Various animals answer the question, "Where do you go when the sun goes down?" including a butterfly, an ant, a bird, a fish, a cat, and a child.

Themes: nature, animals
Ages: toddler to 1st grade
Pub year: 2026

[Andrés]

Reminiscent of Brown Bear, Brown Bear: What do You See (1967) by Eric Carle, this book asks a repeating question of 6 animals as they go to bed: "Butterfly, butterfly, where do you go?" I thought the illustration of the little girl was a little unsettling. Most appropriate for babies through preschool.

[Rachel]

Bedtime ST. Night ST. Love the Greg P. This is a perfect book for a bedtime ST. It's short, has rhyme, has the kids do a silly No at the end when it asks a silly question. It also has bright colorful images and plenty to ask about in the images to get kids more engaged. Not as silly has his other books..but still just as good a read aloud.

[Madeleine]

Greg Pizzoli is one of my absolute favorite storytime authors for something goofy and fun and maybe a little unhinged (see: my undying love for Lucky Duck) and I was genuinely shocked when I read through to this one and it was just...a normal, sweet storytime book? And it was so good. What can't Greg Pizzoli do??

[Read Ribbet]

Greg Pizzoli's newest book is cleverly written patterned story which asks the question Where do you go when the sun goes down? A young girl asks that question to a butterfly, ant, bird, fish, cat and listens to their answers. Then she answers the question for herself. The book is a great bedtime read but also a very accessible read for young children.

[Dylan Teut]

A familiar, yet fresh, exploration of the patterns and places and rhythms that creatures experience as they nestle into their evening sleep. It could stand its own alongside M. Fox's Time to Sleep. Rhythmic, lyrical, and inventive.

[Amy]

One of those rare, magical books that just hits every note. Fabulous illustrations, science concepts perfectly suited for preschoolers, and a rhythmic, repeating text perfect for storytimes and read-alouds. I love it when all the pieces come together to create a beautiful reading experience.

[Ann Haefele]

Excellent bedtime story for preschoolers. Cumulative text has a child asking different animals where they go when the sun goes down, ending with the child being asked where she goes when the sun goes down.

[Roben]

Where do you go when the sun goes down?
A butterfly, an ant, a mama bird, a cat... they all go different places. But where do you go?

Take a peek under the dust jacket - the cover of the book is different.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin]

In this rhyming story, a child repeatedly asks where various creatures go to sleep at night. The soporific rhyme scheme will induce sleep by the end of the child’s questioning, making it a good choice for bedtime. Simple artwork gives wee ones just enough to stay engaged until their eyes close.

[Kelly]

This was a decent book.

[Connie]

A nice way to telling who sleeps where.

[Becca]

A young girl discovers where creatures go when the sun goes down. Where does she go?

[Diana]

Perfect bedtime book for the kids to explore the different things animals do when the sun goes down.
Cute illustrations!

[Mompop]

3.5

[Lindsey]

fun for storytime!

[Melanie Hetrick]

A simple question/answer style story of a young girl learning where various creatures go to sleep when the sun goes down.

Recommended for storytime.

[Shanna]

A cute little girl asks different insects and animals where they go when the sun goes down. This one has a rhythmic and soothing tone. Perfect for bedtime!

Mia’s 3rd Year of Books: Day 53

[Paula]

Shareable, readable, enjoyable.

[Michelle]

My 8 year old daughter read this out loud no problem.

[Amber]

Toddler and preschool
Rhyming text

[Elizabeth]

Perfect for a baby or toddler story time, this book has simple, repetitive text and adorable illustrations.

[TJE]

Night time summer book, catches some summer vibes, repetetive which is good for this age. Teagan enjoyed but adult wouldn't read over and over.