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Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book
Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book, 1962 First Edition Hardcover Book by Dr. Seuss. Beginners reading, Children's Bedtime story about Sleep. Large picture book
64 pages, Hardcover
First published August 12, 1962
218 people are currently reading
8616 people want to read
About the author
Dr. Seuss
976 books18.3k followersAlso wrote as Theodore Seuss Geisel, see https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Theodor Seuss Geisel was born 2 March 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts. He graduated Dartmouth College in 1925, and proceeded on to Oxford University with the intent of acquiring a doctorate in literature. At Oxford he met Helen Palmer, who he wed in 1927. He returned from Europe in 1927, and began working for a magazine called Judge, the leading humor magazine in America at the time, submitting both cartoons and humorous articles for them. Additionally, he was submitting cartoons to Life, Vanity Fair and Liberty. In some of his works, he'd made reference to an insecticide called Flit. These references gained notice, and led to a contract to draw comic ads for Flit. This association lasted 17 years, gained him national exposure, and coined the catchphrase "Quick, Henry, the Flit!"
In 1936 on the way to a vacation in Europe, listening to the rhythm of the ship's engines, he came up with And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, which was then promptly rejected by the first 43 publishers he showed it to. Eventually in 1937 a friend published the book for him, and it went on to at least moderate success.
During World War II, Geisel joined the army and was sent to Hollywood. Captain Geisel would write for Frank Capra's Signal Corps Unit (for which he won the Legion of Merit) and do documentaries (he won Oscar's for Hitler Lives and Design for Death). He also created a cartoon called Gerald McBoing-Boing which also won him an Oscar.
In May of 1954, Life published a report concerning illiteracy among school children. The report said, among other things, that children were having trouble to read because their books were boring. This inspired Geisel's publisher, and prompted him to send Geisel a list of 400 words he felt were important, asked him to cut the list to 250 words (the publishers idea of how many words at one time a first grader could absorb), and write a book. Nine months later, Geisel, using 220 of the words given to him published The Cat in the Hat , which went on to instant success.
In 1960 Bennett Cerf bet Geisel $50 that he couldn't write an entire book using only fifty words. The result was Green Eggs and Ham . Cerf never paid the $50 from the bet.
Helen Palmer Geisel died in 1967. Theodor Geisel married Audrey Stone Diamond in 1968. Theodor Seuss Geisel died 24 September 1991.
Also worked under the pen name: Theo Le Sieg
Theodor Seuss Geisel was born 2 March 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts. He graduated Dartmouth College in 1925, and proceeded on to Oxford University with the intent of acquiring a doctorate in literature. At Oxford he met Helen Palmer, who he wed in 1927. He returned from Europe in 1927, and began working for a magazine called Judge, the leading humor magazine in America at the time, submitting both cartoons and humorous articles for them. Additionally, he was submitting cartoons to Life, Vanity Fair and Liberty. In some of his works, he'd made reference to an insecticide called Flit. These references gained notice, and led to a contract to draw comic ads for Flit. This association lasted 17 years, gained him national exposure, and coined the catchphrase "Quick, Henry, the Flit!"
In 1936 on the way to a vacation in Europe, listening to the rhythm of the ship's engines, he came up with And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, which was then promptly rejected by the first 43 publishers he showed it to. Eventually in 1937 a friend published the book for him, and it went on to at least moderate success.
During World War II, Geisel joined the army and was sent to Hollywood. Captain Geisel would write for Frank Capra's Signal Corps Unit (for which he won the Legion of Merit) and do documentaries (he won Oscar's for Hitler Lives and Design for Death). He also created a cartoon called Gerald McBoing-Boing which also won him an Oscar.
In May of 1954, Life published a report concerning illiteracy among school children. The report said, among other things, that children were having trouble to read because their books were boring. This inspired Geisel's publisher, and prompted him to send Geisel a list of 400 words he felt were important, asked him to cut the list to 250 words (the publishers idea of how many words at one time a first grader could absorb), and write a book. Nine months later, Geisel, using 220 of the words given to him published The Cat in the Hat , which went on to instant success.
In 1960 Bennett Cerf bet Geisel $50 that he couldn't write an entire book using only fifty words. The result was Green Eggs and Ham . Cerf never paid the $50 from the bet.
Helen Palmer Geisel died in 1967. Theodor Geisel married Audrey Stone Diamond in 1968. Theodor Seuss Geisel died 24 September 1991.
Also worked under the pen name: Theo Le Sieg
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 583 reviews
April 29, 2017
Ironically... a sleeper book!
GOOD NIGHT, DR. SEUSS!
A yawn is quite catching, you see. Like a cough.
It just takes one yawn to start other yawns off.
I dare you to read this charming tale and not yawn!
It’s true! I yawned and I am not shamed to admit it!
Obviously that’s the very idea of the story, to help kids to sleep, and
…well…
...mmh…(yawn)…
…ZZZZZ…
…ZZZZZ…
…ZZZZZ…
…ZZZZZ…
…ZZZZZ…
GOOD NIGHT, DR. SEUSS!
A yawn is quite catching, you see. Like a cough.
It just takes one yawn to start other yawns off.
I dare you to read this charming tale and not yawn!
It’s true! I yawned and I am not shamed to admit it!
Obviously that’s the very idea of the story, to help kids to sleep, and
…well…
...mmh…(yawn)…
…ZZZZZ…
…ZZZZZ…
…ZZZZZ…
…ZZZZZ…
…ZZZZZ…
June 17, 2024
A book about sleep - what a curious thing! After reading this book what dreams will it bring? (Sorry, I just couldn't resist). Find that as I get older I appreciate the good doctor more and more! His ability to engage you with his writing and art is very unique; I think his books hold a lot of wisdom for adults willing to learn from him - again.
June 19, 2011
Warning: This book should be read in bed! It's such a cute book, even though there's not really a point except to point out all the creatures sleeping, and implying the reader should be sleeping too! What I love about it is it's classic Dr. Seuss, and it's great! How in the world did this man not only draw these fabulous creatures, but the funny names and the story lines?
Anyone who thinks he is not the best thing since sliced dough
Needs to be run over by the Hoop-Soup-Snoop Group,
So I'm bothering telling you so,
Because they are not in the loop!
Anyone who thinks he is not the best thing since sliced dough
Needs to be run over by the Hoop-Soup-Snoop Group,
So I'm bothering telling you so,
Because they are not in the loop!
July 15, 2023
This delightful book is a must for all young children and parents.
Filled with wonderful characters and wonderful stories, starting with the news that `Has just come in from the County of Keck
That a very small bug by the name of Van Vleck
Is yawning so wide you can look down his neck'
It deals with a castle half way between Reno and Rome, Two very nice Foona Lagoona Baboona, and the folly of a goose and moose drinking each other's juice. It will take the little ones minds off to faraway dreamy and tranquil destinations before easing them off to sleep. It was certainly one of my childhood favourites, and one of the first books I remember.
Filled with wonderful characters and wonderful stories, starting with the news that `Has just come in from the County of Keck
That a very small bug by the name of Van Vleck
Is yawning so wide you can look down his neck'
It deals with a castle half way between Reno and Rome, Two very nice Foona Lagoona Baboona, and the folly of a goose and moose drinking each other's juice. It will take the little ones minds off to faraway dreamy and tranquil destinations before easing them off to sleep. It was certainly one of my childhood favourites, and one of the first books I remember.
February 17, 2013
I wish I was in this book.
October 22, 2012
It's not good book to read at bedtime. Every time there was word "sleep" or made allusion of going to sleep, I was interrupted with: "I'm not going to sleep!" Kaito was extremely annoyed with this book and I was annoyed with tongue twisters.
December 29, 2007
If I have to read this book one more time, my head is going to explode. I give it five stars because my daughter dearly, dearly loves it.
You know what I like about Dr. Seuss? Sometimes it's not about "teaching" anything—it's just about enjoying a good, toe-tapping rhyme, and my child can't get enough of him. I don't mind when stories have a message, but sometimes the joy of the story is sacrificed for the sake of the message, and that's no way to learn love of reading. This is a largely meaningless story, but boy does she love it.
You know what I like about Dr. Seuss? Sometimes it's not about "teaching" anything—it's just about enjoying a good, toe-tapping rhyme, and my child can't get enough of him. I don't mind when stories have a message, but sometimes the joy of the story is sacrificed for the sake of the message, and that's no way to learn love of reading. This is a largely meaningless story, but boy does she love it.
January 13, 2016
I don't know why, but I don't know how many times I yawned when reading this book?! :-O
Whatever it be, it's a good sleep book.. ;)
Whatever it be, it's a good sleep book.. ;)
April 23, 2018
I found this one to be a very dull read. Then again, maybe that was the idea all along. This is definitely not one of the man's best books.
August 16, 2019
I loved this one! Made me want to go to bed in the middle of the day. Goodnight, guys!💤💤💤💤💤💤💤💤💤💤💤💤💤💤💤
December 18, 2013
Look I didn't like Dr. Seuss that much when I was a kid, and I don't like him that much as an adult, and I don't like reading this aloud to my 4-year old cos, like every Dr. Seuss book, it goes ON AND ON AND ON. I like the sound of Seuss's rhymes, he has a great sense of rhythm and cadence and all that, but jeez why do all his stories have to go on for so long? I don't think I've ever read a Dr. Seuss book that I didn't want to end 20 pages before it actually ended.
Maybe there will be some intermediate age where I get into this or Izzy does, or Asha does, I dunno. I feel kinda bad giving this 2 stars cos it's clearly quality, I mean it's better than 90% of the dreck that constitutes "children's books." But in my heart I don't like it and what are Goodreads stars if not a window into the HEART AND SOUL OF A MAN
Maybe there will be some intermediate age where I get into this or Izzy does, or Asha does, I dunno. I feel kinda bad giving this 2 stars cos it's clearly quality, I mean it's better than 90% of the dreck that constitutes "children's books." But in my heart I don't like it and what are Goodreads stars if not a window into the HEART AND SOUL OF A MAN
May 7, 2021
It's Just The Thing For Bedtime Reading.
January 9, 2021
Perhaps, since I grew up with Dr. Seuss's books, over the decades they've started to lose their charm for me? I found Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book too repetitive, and a bit lengthy.
Maybe the tedium is the point, if you're trying to coax a stubborn little one into sleep?
One page did have an unusual charm, and felt totally relatable:
A Jedd is in bed,
And the bed of a Jedd
Is the softest
Of beds in the world.
It is said.
He makes it from pom poms
He grows on his head,
And he's sleeping right now
On the softest of fluff,
Completely exhausted
From growing the stuff.
Completely exhausted after doing it all myself. Yep, I feel that.
Maybe the tedium is the point, if you're trying to coax a stubborn little one into sleep?
One page did have an unusual charm, and felt totally relatable:
A Jedd is in bed,
And the bed of a Jedd
Is the softest
Of beds in the world.
It is said.
He makes it from pom poms
He grows on his head,
And he's sleeping right now
On the softest of fluff,
Completely exhausted
From growing the stuff.
Completely exhausted after doing it all myself. Yep, I feel that.
March 26, 2023
"This book is to be read in bed"
August 28, 2021
4 stars & 4/10 hearts. Such a humorous, light, funny before-bed book! My siblings and I all enjoyed it.
They do it each night. And quite often I wonder
How they do this big job without making a blunder.
But that is THEIR problem.
Not yours. And not mine.
The point is: They’re going to bed.
And that’s fine.
They do it each night. And quite often I wonder
How they do this big job without making a blunder.
But that is THEIR problem.
Not yours. And not mine.
The point is: They’re going to bed.
And that’s fine.
August 3, 2012
I've read this book at least 20 times, and I have never read it without crying at the end.
October 20, 2017
When read aloud to someone, or even to yourself, it works every time. ( At least for me)
Zzzzzs every time with this book of rhyme.
Zzzzzs every time with this book of rhyme.
March 18, 2015
My favorite Seuss book, by far.
July 23, 2020
This book actually made me yawn multiple times while reading it
September 13, 2020
Noch nie so oft bei einem Buch gähnen müssen. Absolut süße Geschichte mit wunderbaren Illustrationen. Love it
May 6, 2019
Great children’s picture book! Loved it!
September 2, 2025
This book was wonderful and absolute joy to read. I may or may not have yawned three times from my read. Smiles and joy I get from reading this will make the rest of my day hopefully filled with bliss.
Currently reading
January 16, 2026
Review to come...
June 4, 2025
u r silly if u think I'm not gonna log the kids books I read to campers this summer
February 28, 2024
Zzzzzzzzzzz
Grrrrrrronk mimimimi
Grrrrrrrnk mimimimi
Zzzzzzz
Slep
Grrrrrrronk mimimimi
Grrrrrrrnk mimimimi
Zzzzzzz
Slep
August 20, 2015
Now that my internet is back on and had a day to ponder about this book I am actually glad that I sticked to my guns and didn't change the rating for this book. I was conflicted whether to give it 4 or 5 but this is definitely 4 star material. For me when it comes to this book I didn't get that enthusiastic feeling when reading Dr. Seuss books and I believe its because I didn't actually care about the characters or the dialogue.
This bug called the Van Vleck starts to yawn and then it becomes contagious for the people around the bug. When they start yawning, it starts to spread and the creatures who normally follow routine are now quickly heading off to bed and falling asleep. As more creatures and people start to fall asleep, the sleepers of the world are now being recorded by the Audio Telly O-Tally O-Count. This book is meant for being read at night when your child is heading to sleep and probably I would have cherished it more if I had this at night.
I didn't feel any sentimentality when reading this book and I believe many would love and cherish this book if their parents or loved ones read them bed night stories. I do not remember my parents reading any bed time stories when I was child and I feel like I missed a part of a typical childhood. As a child I would either fall asleep rather quickly without any assistance or my parents would put on a movie for me and I would knock out within 15-30 minutes. I would still recommend this book for children and I believe they would love it if you read it to them as they headed off to bed.
This bug called the Van Vleck starts to yawn and then it becomes contagious for the people around the bug. When they start yawning, it starts to spread and the creatures who normally follow routine are now quickly heading off to bed and falling asleep. As more creatures and people start to fall asleep, the sleepers of the world are now being recorded by the Audio Telly O-Tally O-Count. This book is meant for being read at night when your child is heading to sleep and probably I would have cherished it more if I had this at night.
I didn't feel any sentimentality when reading this book and I believe many would love and cherish this book if their parents or loved ones read them bed night stories. I do not remember my parents reading any bed time stories when I was child and I feel like I missed a part of a typical childhood. As a child I would either fall asleep rather quickly without any assistance or my parents would put on a movie for me and I would knock out within 15-30 minutes. I would still recommend this book for children and I believe they would love it if you read it to them as they headed off to bed.
March 28, 2014
This is one of my all-time favorite picture books! I remember just studying the whimsical pictures for hours as a child, imagining myself living in the world Dr. Seuss created. This “sleep book” tells invites the reader (presumably a small child being read to in bed) to learn about how all of the mystical creatures in the “County of Keck” are preparing for their slumber. Dr. Seuss uses a very decodable style, with plenty of rhyming made-up phrases to accompany the many illustrations of yawning and sleeping creatures. This decodable style and the ratio of lots of pictures to little text are what make this a picture book.
I would integrate this into a classroom during a lesson or unit on rhyme or even phonemic awareness. It is a book that would be appropriate for all ages, because the depth of the humor and cleverness used by Dr. Seuss is enough to entertain even adults. However, I would presume it would be most useful for elementary students, grades K-5.
I would integrate this into a classroom during a lesson or unit on rhyme or even phonemic awareness. It is a book that would be appropriate for all ages, because the depth of the humor and cleverness used by Dr. Seuss is enough to entertain even adults. However, I would presume it would be most useful for elementary students, grades K-5.
February 6, 2010
While this book may be read at any time of day, the book concludes by advising the reader to only read this book at night. Yet another classic by Dr. Seuss that reinforces the beloved tongue-twisters, repetitive words and made up phrases! I read this book to bed the other night and am not ashamed to admit. Dr. Seuss is simply the best.
November 17, 2016
I never read this one as a kid and recently got it after reading Dr. Seuss's Sleep Softly Book to my boy about a thousand times (not complaining, as I love it!). He's almost 8 months old but that's not quite mature enough to have a sufficient attention span for this book. For now, I'm sticking to the Nursery Collection, but I got a good chuckle from reading The Sleep Book.
May 16, 2017
Absolutely clever and cute.
I really want to read this to my kids before they go to sleep.
*sigh*
I really want to read this to my kids before they go to sleep.
*sigh*
Displaying 1 - 30 of 583 reviews