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Sleep, Baby, Sleep
If a parent could vocalize all her deepest hopes for her child, this is what she might say...
Every parent has hopes and dreams for their children? that they will play and explore, learn and grow. That they will experience life's many wonders and persevere through its many challenges. That they will one day leave the protection of home and go off into the world strong, happy, knowing that they are always loved.Maryann Cusimano Love, author of the modern classic "You Are My I Love You," has written another moving ode to parenthood, captured in playful, loving images by brilliant newcomer Maria van Lieshout ("Bloom!"). This timeless book is perfect for bedtime or anytime.
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Every parent has hopes and dreams for their children? that they will play and explore, learn and grow. That they will experience life's many wonders and persevere through its many challenges. That they will one day leave the protection of home and go off into the world strong, happy, knowing that they are always loved.Maryann Cusimano Love, author of the modern classic "You Are My I Love You," has written another moving ode to parenthood, captured in playful, loving images by brilliant newcomer Maria van Lieshout ("Bloom!"). This timeless book is perfect for bedtime or anytime.
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32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
January 30, 2025
Cleaning out the kiddo's baby books and holy crap when I came to this one the memories flooded back. I think for a year and a half he became obsessed with this book, being unfamiliar with the concept of "counting sheep." I take for granted what I grew up with versus him. So to him this idea of counting sheep to help you sleep was ludicrous if not entirely unhinged. But as children do he fully embraced the insanity. The book made him laugh and also, wonderfully, helped him get sleepy, especially by the fifth reading in a night 😂 So for about a year and a half this book was read weekly if not daily, numerous times. I hope as we pass it along to a younger generation it makes them happy as well.
March 17, 2017
Way over my kiddo's head, but I love reading it to him.
September 15, 2016
• Sleep, Baby, Sleep
o Summary: This book is based off Mother Goose. It is like a lullaby that you would read for a child. It has a lot of hidden inspiration that I believe would make a child feel good about themselves. The first little poem is talking about being sweet. The second poem is talking about being brave. The third poem is about adventuring out but know your way back home. The poems continue to be inspirational and give advice throughout the rest of the book.
o Grade level: 1st- 3rd
o Appropriate classroom use: Read before a time to rest, have it for a test over poems, or just read for fun.
o Individual students who might benefit from reading: Any child would probably enjoy reading this book. It’s a happy, sweet book.
o Small group use: Small groups could just read this for entertainment together or they could read it in preparation for a test.
o Whole class use: This book could be read to the whole class before some sort of resting period or it could be read for preparation for a test.
o Related books in genre/subject or content area: Any Mother Goose nursery rhyme
o Multimedia connections available: I did not find any
o Summary: This book is based off Mother Goose. It is like a lullaby that you would read for a child. It has a lot of hidden inspiration that I believe would make a child feel good about themselves. The first little poem is talking about being sweet. The second poem is talking about being brave. The third poem is about adventuring out but know your way back home. The poems continue to be inspirational and give advice throughout the rest of the book.
o Grade level: 1st- 3rd
o Appropriate classroom use: Read before a time to rest, have it for a test over poems, or just read for fun.
o Individual students who might benefit from reading: Any child would probably enjoy reading this book. It’s a happy, sweet book.
o Small group use: Small groups could just read this for entertainment together or they could read it in preparation for a test.
o Whole class use: This book could be read to the whole class before some sort of resting period or it could be read for preparation for a test.
o Related books in genre/subject or content area: Any Mother Goose nursery rhyme
o Multimedia connections available: I did not find any
April 10, 2019
Inspired by the Mother Goose rhyme, this picture book conveys a litany of hopes for a child laying down to sleep.
This is a bedtime ritual book. It is very gentle in both tone and illustration style. Composed as a lullabye, each two page spread expresses the hope that the sleeping child will have a certain quality embodied by a different animal (lamb, chick, goose, calf, hawk, bear cub, duckling, hound dog, butterfly, foal, firefly, dove, and dragonfly).
The first verse was inspired by the Mother Goose rhyme:
Sleep, baby, sleep,
Down where the woodbines creep;
Be always like the lamb so mild,
A kind, and sweet, and gentle child.
Sleep, baby, sleep.
Disclosure: Dolly Parton was kind enough to send us this book through her Imagination Library Foundation.
This is a bedtime ritual book. It is very gentle in both tone and illustration style. Composed as a lullabye, each two page spread expresses the hope that the sleeping child will have a certain quality embodied by a different animal (lamb, chick, goose, calf, hawk, bear cub, duckling, hound dog, butterfly, foal, firefly, dove, and dragonfly).
The first verse was inspired by the Mother Goose rhyme:
Sleep, baby, sleep,
Down where the woodbines creep;
Be always like the lamb so mild,
A kind, and sweet, and gentle child.
Sleep, baby, sleep.
Disclosure: Dolly Parton was kind enough to send us this book through her Imagination Library Foundation.
November 30, 2019
This book would be good for all ages.
May 9, 2024
I did not care for the rhyming or for the words, but I did really enjoy the illustrations. It's talking about a child in real life, but the illustrations are of animals.
August 20, 2024
A sweet book with beautiful soft pictures.
June 8, 2025
3.5 stars
October 3, 2016
This is a very sweet bedtime-reminder we love you type book. Would be perfect for a baby shower gift! My 2 year old granddaughter has enjoyed it since she received it as a 11 mth old from her monthly Dolly Parton Imagination Library books. The illustrations are soft and gentle (not to over stimulating) the verses are gentle and very touching. Many various animals involved with the story on each page. Adorable book
July 10, 2025
Sleep baby, sleep, down where the woodbines creep.
Be always like lamb so mild, a kind and sweet and gentle child.
Sleep baby, sleep.
My mom used to sing that to me, though for years I could not remember the second part of the first line. I'm grateful to the author for printing the original rhyme, and also for adding her own verses to really make this old-fashioned lullaby sing.
This is a perfect bedtime book.
Be always like lamb so mild, a kind and sweet and gentle child.
Sleep baby, sleep.
My mom used to sing that to me, though for years I could not remember the second part of the first line. I'm grateful to the author for printing the original rhyme, and also for adding her own verses to really make this old-fashioned lullaby sing.
This is a perfect bedtime book.
December 16, 2009
The art is lovely. I don't recognize the Mother Goose rhyme cited, but the words fit the German cradle song that translates to: "Sleep, little one sleep. Your daddy tends the sheep..."
Used with the tune, this might work as a bedtime book. But some of the verses are more in touch with concepts a parent would understand rather than a baby or toddler, which diminishes its child appeal.
Used with the tune, this might work as a bedtime book. But some of the verses are more in touch with concepts a parent would understand rather than a baby or toddler, which diminishes its child appeal.
February 3, 2010
The language in this book is lovely, though the concepts are beyond a child to understand. This would be a wonderful book to share with a child on your lap.
I'm considering using it with my babies & tots but singing the first line, the 2nd line, and then skipping to the 5th line. We'll see how that goes.
I'm considering using it with my babies & tots but singing the first line, the 2nd line, and then skipping to the 5th line. We'll see how that goes.
November 28, 2009
This book reads like a lullaby with repeating lines setting a calm tone for the verse. Excellent bedtime book for birth through preschool...repeated readings of this title will add to the child's enjoyment.
March 8, 2010
A beautiful book that expands upon the original "Sleep, Baby, Sleep" lullabye. My only complaint is that it doesn't include any inkling that it is a song, so you would have to know that yourself if you wanted to use it that way.
March 12, 2010
This quiet, gentle bedtime book will be a favorite of kids at bedtime. The quiet text is rendered in gorgeous watercolor and line art by Maria van Lieshout, whose little book series (Bloom, Peep, and Splash) are favorites at our house. A fine book your kids will love.
December 22, 2012
I read this to my 6 month old at bedtime and she sat spellbound. Great rhythm and rhymes. I loved the message of each verse and had tears at the end. I want to keep reading her this book as she grows and understands more of the content.
August 27, 2013
My daughter is 19 months, she can't get enough of this book! She knows the animals on every page and she knows the word associated with the page. We read it before naps and bedtime. It is a great book of encouragement and love for your little ones!
December 9, 2009
This book is clearly written for the grown up, not the kid, but I like it anyway.
December 21, 2009
Shorten for storyime read - removing a few of the rhyming passages.
August 17, 2010
While this book is obviously aimed at the sentimental parent more than the child, I love the artwork and it's a soothing read-aloud.
November 6, 2011
A good bedtime story, filled with lullaby-like language. It also coveys the love from parent to child through its rhymes that children will find wonderful.
June 4, 2012
Inspired by the rhymes of mother goose, the author creates a story in rhyme encouraging babies to sleep, dream, laugh, and grow.
The rhymes are awkward at points upsetting the flow.
The rhymes are awkward at points upsetting the flow.
November 20, 2012
Sweet book going through different animals and characteristics of each and Z is LOVING.
February 5, 2013
Nice poem.
March 7, 2013
This is a beautiful book, I absolutely loved reading it to my kids.
April 3, 2013
A sweet night time rhyme with interesting watercolor pictures.
August 7, 2013
So sweet!
October 13, 2018
I adore this children's book. I love reading it to the kids
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November 25, 2013cute kids story
December 9, 2013
Such an adorable bedtime book. I love reading this to my kids.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews