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It's Time to Sleep, My Love
As comforting as a soft blanket and warm as a goodnight hug, Eric Metaxas's lullaby It's Time to Sleep, My Love is delightfully brought to life by bestselling artist Nancy Tillman (On the Night You Were Born), whose illustrations celebrate the wonders of the natural world, and the bonds of family.
It's time to sleep, it's time to sleep,
the fishes croon in waters deep.
The songbirds sing in trees above,
"It's time to sleep, my love, my love."
As children prepare for bed, the world around them is also settling down for the night. Animals who live in the jungle, the forest, the sea―all whisper to their babies a soft It's time to sleep, my love.
It's Time to Sleep, My Love is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
It's time to sleep, it's time to sleep,
the fishes croon in waters deep.
The songbirds sing in trees above,
"It's time to sleep, my love, my love."
As children prepare for bed, the world around them is also settling down for the night. Animals who live in the jungle, the forest, the sea―all whisper to their babies a soft It's time to sleep, my love.
It's Time to Sleep, My Love is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
34 pages, Board Book
First published September 30, 2008
About the author
Nancy Tillman
43 books312 followersNancy Tillman created her first book, "On the Night You Were Born," to convey to children at an early and impressionable age, "You are the one and only ever you." Since then, Nancy has written and illustrated several bestselling books. She also illustrated It's Time to Sleep, My Love, with Eric Metaxas. Together, Nancy's books have sold in the millions. A former advertising executive, Tillman now writes and illustrates full-time.
Whether she is creating books that remind children of their own unique wonder, or teaching life lessons through an accident prone cat named Tumford, all of Nancy's books feature one important message. You are loved. She lives in Tualatin, Oregon.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/nancyt...
http://nancytillman.com
http://nancytillmanblog.com
Whether she is creating books that remind children of their own unique wonder, or teaching life lessons through an accident prone cat named Tumford, all of Nancy's books feature one important message. You are loved. She lives in Tualatin, Oregon.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/nancyt...
http://nancytillman.com
http://nancytillmanblog.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
October 16, 2019
The artwork has a dreamlike quality. The art, the soft poem, everything is doing its best to lull the child asleep. It might work more on the adults than the kids. It’s a very bright and positive book. It’s time to sleep - amen.
The nephew still enjoys animals, so he liked that part of it, but he hated the story. He asked what that was. I said it’s a poem to go to sleep. He told me that it was stupid and a very bad story. He hated it. Of course he did. He gave it 2 stars because he thought the animals were cute. Sincere storytelling can’t be boring if he’s going to like it. I don’t think he likes too sweet either. Good to know.
The nephew still enjoys animals, so he liked that part of it, but he hated the story. He asked what that was. I said it’s a poem to go to sleep. He told me that it was stupid and a very bad story. He hated it. Of course he did. He gave it 2 stars because he thought the animals were cute. Sincere storytelling can’t be boring if he’s going to like it. I don’t think he likes too sweet either. Good to know.
February 16, 2020
This was a book read to children at the library I volunteered at when it was reading time. A librarian read it out loud but the kids and I didn't really enjoy it. The pictures were just okay, and we all found the words lyrical but boring. Honestly the pictures are why I gave it two stars. There are definitely better bedtime stories to read out there.
January 8, 2011
This is a lovely book to read as a bedtime story but, because toward the end it talks a lot about dreams to come, not ideal for children who fear nightmares.
The story is in rhyme and there are many gorgeous paintings, of nature, its animals going to sleep, including a couple of paintings where a human child is asleep with the animals. All the paintings are calming and soothing, except for one I wondered about when prey is being addressed by predator, but young kids are not likely to pick up on that.
It’s a very reassuring book, and the last line of the book, on a page of its very own, is the line: “You are loved.”
It was a tad mushy for my adult sensibilities, but I’m sure I would melt if I read it to a very young child. It’s a sweet book for parents to read to their toddlers, preschoolers, and babies.
The story is in rhyme and there are many gorgeous paintings, of nature, its animals going to sleep, including a couple of paintings where a human child is asleep with the animals. All the paintings are calming and soothing, except for one I wondered about when prey is being addressed by predator, but young kids are not likely to pick up on that.
It’s a very reassuring book, and the last line of the book, on a page of its very own, is the line: “You are loved.”
It was a tad mushy for my adult sensibilities, but I’m sure I would melt if I read it to a very young child. It’s a sweet book for parents to read to their toddlers, preschoolers, and babies.
June 8, 2013
This is an excellent bedtime story. The meter is soothing and it's honestly just the sweetest book! My daughter loves it and I love reading it to her :)
January 14, 2020
In this soothing bedtime book from author Eric Metaxas and illustrator Nancy Tillman, a gentle rhyming text - "The songbirds sing in trees above, / It's time to sleep, my love, my love... / So go to sleep, my sleepy child, / the tiger whispers in the wild" - is paired with somewhat surreal mixed media artwork, that successfully evokes a dreamlike landscape. Sleepiness - feeling sleepy, gently commanding that the listener "go to sleep" - is repeatedly invoked in the narrative, which also emphasizes the enfolding nature of a parent's love.
Nancy Tillman is a name that one immediately associates with early "reassurance" type picture-books - her On the Night You Were Born seems to have been very well received - and I somehow had the idea that she was the author here, rather than Eric Metaxas. Perhaps because it is her name listed at the top? In any case, I appreciated It's Time to Sleep, My Love, even though its style of artwork - digitally created, and then embellished with textural elements - isn't really my 'cup of tea,' because I think it succeeds as a sleepy-time book.
Nancy Tillman is a name that one immediately associates with early "reassurance" type picture-books - her On the Night You Were Born seems to have been very well received - and I somehow had the idea that she was the author here, rather than Eric Metaxas. Perhaps because it is her name listed at the top? In any case, I appreciated It's Time to Sleep, My Love, even though its style of artwork - digitally created, and then embellished with textural elements - isn't really my 'cup of tea,' because I think it succeeds as a sleepy-time book.
February 25, 2011
I really wanted to love this book and it came recommended by some good friends here but it ended up being just okay for me. The test is sweet and reassuring at bedtime but nothing especially original. The illustrations are creative and I liked the variety of animals incorporated, but some of them just felt a little weird and disjointed to me--like how some are of just animals and their babies, then some are of animals with little humans. Well, maybe I was just in a funky mood as I really liked On the Night You Were Born and am usually in agreement with the friends who recommended this to me. Read some other glowing reviews here and don't take my lukewarm one as the only perspective.
November 12, 2021
When my two-year old granddaughter who lives on the opposite coast from us asked for a bedtime story during our last visit, I picked this up from her table of new holiday gifts. As I read the words, the lovely verses and beautifully creative illustrations, she snuggled in more, her eyes quieted, and she also flowed with the pages.
It was magical. It is a magical book. There are unfamiliar phrasing, pictures of wild animals, a young girl sleeping next to those animals in some of the pictures, and yet it works so well in the young child's world.
It is an excellent gift book to take with you on your next visit or to send. This is like Goodnight Moon, destined to be a classic, read repeatedly by grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles, or by other children in the family -- whether s/he can read or not.
Just a note if you look for the book: This book has two authors, Eric Metaxas and Nancy Tillman (author/illustrator).
It was magical. It is a magical book. There are unfamiliar phrasing, pictures of wild animals, a young girl sleeping next to those animals in some of the pictures, and yet it works so well in the young child's world.
It is an excellent gift book to take with you on your next visit or to send. This is like Goodnight Moon, destined to be a classic, read repeatedly by grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles, or by other children in the family -- whether s/he can read or not.
Just a note if you look for the book: This book has two authors, Eric Metaxas and Nancy Tillman (author/illustrator).
April 2, 2013
Just awful. Syrupy, saccharine verse, accompanied by digitally manipulated photos that look like 'how to' illustrations from Dummies' Guide to Photoshop v. 2.5 (CD-ROM edition).
This is the kind of book that inspires fury at the injustice in the world. One imagines Tillman and Metaxas as long-con grifters, having money-fights in the back of a limousine as they spend 15 minutes writing and illustrating their next best-selling plate of tripe.
Metaxas, incidentally, has a parallel career as a right-wing pseudo-intellectual, and author of biographies that are quickly discredited by genuine scholars.
I apologize for the snark and harshness, but I am truly offended by this crassly commercial money-grab. There are so many genuinely beautiful and sweet books that you could read to your kids; please don't waste valuable, irreplaceable minutes of your one and only life on this sorry waste of paper.
This is the kind of book that inspires fury at the injustice in the world. One imagines Tillman and Metaxas as long-con grifters, having money-fights in the back of a limousine as they spend 15 minutes writing and illustrating their next best-selling plate of tripe.
Metaxas, incidentally, has a parallel career as a right-wing pseudo-intellectual, and author of biographies that are quickly discredited by genuine scholars.
I apologize for the snark and harshness, but I am truly offended by this crassly commercial money-grab. There are so many genuinely beautiful and sweet books that you could read to your kids; please don't waste valuable, irreplaceable minutes of your one and only life on this sorry waste of paper.
February 4, 2011
I have read many of Eric Metaxas’s works through Rabbit Ears Productions,
a popular children’s series during the 80s and 90s. Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon one of his recent works that is written in poetic format! “It’s Time to Sleep, My Love” is a poetic children’s book by Eric Metaxas along with illustrations by Nancy Tillman and it is about how both humans and animals are telling their children to go to sleep. “It’s Time to Sleep, My Love” is a great children’s book for children who love reading about sleep during their bedtime stories.
Wow! I never would have imagined that I would read a bedtime poem so eloquently written as this book was! Eric Metaxas has done a splendid job at writing this book as it is truly cute and inspiring while letting many children know about the true meaning of sleep. Eric Metaxas made this book truly memorable by describing everyone sleeping through poetry and my favorite quote in this book is:
“It’s time to sleep, my love, my love.”
Just that refrain alone is enough to make the audience feel the magic of dreams through this story and I also loved the way that the phrase “my love” always pops up because it is extremely cute to read over and over again and that phrase helps the audience realize how all the animals and humans loved their children whenever they give them a good night. Nancy Tillman’s illustrations are just beyond beautiful as all the animals and humans look so realistic yet dream-like at the same time. What I really loved about Nancy Tillman’s illustrations is how realistic they are the illustrations look like photos of real trees and lakes and I loved the way that there are shadows below the trees and how the humans and animals’ reflections show up so clearly in lakes. I also loved how the illustrations sort of emit a light glow as the glow makes the illustrations extremely dreamy.
The only reason why I gave this book a four star rating instead of a five star rating is because even though I thought that the writing was lovely, it did not feel well drawn out, meaning that there could have been more said about the beauty of dreams and going into more detail about what sleeping is like to children. Also, even though I thought that the phrase “It’s time to sleep, my love” was cute, it seems like it was overused in this book and it just got so repetitive afterwards.
Overall, “It’s Time to Sleep, My Love” is a truly cute little story about sleeping and it will be a great read for children during their bedtime. I would recommend this book to children ages three and up since there is nothing inappropriate about this book and it will easily put toddlers to sleep during bedtime.
a popular children’s series during the 80s and 90s. Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon one of his recent works that is written in poetic format! “It’s Time to Sleep, My Love” is a poetic children’s book by Eric Metaxas along with illustrations by Nancy Tillman and it is about how both humans and animals are telling their children to go to sleep. “It’s Time to Sleep, My Love” is a great children’s book for children who love reading about sleep during their bedtime stories.
Wow! I never would have imagined that I would read a bedtime poem so eloquently written as this book was! Eric Metaxas has done a splendid job at writing this book as it is truly cute and inspiring while letting many children know about the true meaning of sleep. Eric Metaxas made this book truly memorable by describing everyone sleeping through poetry and my favorite quote in this book is:
“It’s time to sleep, my love, my love.”
Just that refrain alone is enough to make the audience feel the magic of dreams through this story and I also loved the way that the phrase “my love” always pops up because it is extremely cute to read over and over again and that phrase helps the audience realize how all the animals and humans loved their children whenever they give them a good night. Nancy Tillman’s illustrations are just beyond beautiful as all the animals and humans look so realistic yet dream-like at the same time. What I really loved about Nancy Tillman’s illustrations is how realistic they are the illustrations look like photos of real trees and lakes and I loved the way that there are shadows below the trees and how the humans and animals’ reflections show up so clearly in lakes. I also loved how the illustrations sort of emit a light glow as the glow makes the illustrations extremely dreamy.
The only reason why I gave this book a four star rating instead of a five star rating is because even though I thought that the writing was lovely, it did not feel well drawn out, meaning that there could have been more said about the beauty of dreams and going into more detail about what sleeping is like to children. Also, even though I thought that the phrase “It’s time to sleep, my love” was cute, it seems like it was overused in this book and it just got so repetitive afterwards.
Overall, “It’s Time to Sleep, My Love” is a truly cute little story about sleeping and it will be a great read for children during their bedtime. I would recommend this book to children ages three and up since there is nothing inappropriate about this book and it will easily put toddlers to sleep during bedtime.
November 22, 2008
Exquisite! The gorgeous illustrations enrich the susurrous verse, lulling the listener into peaceful sleep and gentle dreams. I wish my children were very young again so that I could make reading this to them a nightly tradition.
February 13, 2017
5+ stars – Children’s Books
I love reading this to my baby. The words are lyrical and calming and the illustrations are truly beautiful. My son pats the page with the giraffe every time, so I guess it has his early approval as well.
I love reading this to my baby. The words are lyrical and calming and the illustrations are truly beautiful. My son pats the page with the giraffe every time, so I guess it has his early approval as well.
June 2, 2015
love this book read it to Baby Elizabeth so cute.
April 25, 2020
Enjoyed the online reading by Queen Isabella from Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament in Scottsdale, Arizona.
July 6, 2017
My sister knows I love art-type books and pulled this one out for me. The cover is just gorgeous while doesn't really convey any idea of what the story is behind the covers if you aren't going to snoop it out on the summaries that are provided.
When I had a chance to open it though I found a rhyming poem as the text - one that is repetitive but also without any true plot behind it. It was only after looking the book up on GR that I found it is suppose to be an actual lullaby so apparently it isn't one that I have ever heard of either.
The real treasure of the book is the beautiful illustrations as they cover the seasons although specifically sticking with winter and through various environments as the world wraps down. The ones I truly didn't enjoy were the ones with the children and the animals together since even though it is suppose to be dreamy it just isn't right for me.
Definitely a book left to the reader's preferences.
When I had a chance to open it though I found a rhyming poem as the text - one that is repetitive but also without any true plot behind it. It was only after looking the book up on GR that I found it is suppose to be an actual lullaby so apparently it isn't one that I have ever heard of either.
The real treasure of the book is the beautiful illustrations as they cover the seasons although specifically sticking with winter and through various environments as the world wraps down. The ones I truly didn't enjoy were the ones with the children and the animals together since even though it is suppose to be dreamy it just isn't right for me.
Definitely a book left to the reader's preferences.
August 21, 2009
As children prepare for bed, the world around them is also settling down for the night. Through the seasons, animals who live in the jungle, the forest, and the sea all whisper to their babies, and to yours, a soft refrain: "It's time to sleep, my love." www.hcpl.net
Excellent!
Excellent!
February 15, 2018
Another great Nancy Tillman style book. The combination of children and wild animals interacting throughout the story is one of my favorite parts of her books. A sweet story to read to your little one before they go to sleep. The story provides a sense of soothing rhyme.
June 29, 2009
This is a nice, soothing bedtime book with gorgeous illustrations. Great for reading aloud to children as they relax and go to sleep.
October 25, 2011
Beautiful...
September 4, 2025
I really like the smooth, melodious stanzas, but the illustrations aren't quite enough of my style to give it the three or four stars I would like.
Ages: 3 - 7
Here’s a few of our bedtime favs: watch my reel!
Content Considerations: nothing to note.
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Ages: 3 - 7
Here’s a few of our bedtime favs: watch my reel!
Content Considerations: nothing to note.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.
I have an Instagram account that’s pretty bookishly unique too!
July 21, 2011
I was surprised to discover that this is the clean edit of Adam Mansbach's Go the F k to Sleep. Thank goodness the night I read it to my son he took this version to heart and I didn't have to coerce him into drifting off.
February 19, 2018
Nancy Tillman is made absolute favorite children’s book author. All of her books and beautifully illustrated and written with such love. These books make me feel like I am empowering my little angel every time I read them.
March 11, 2018
This is my very favorite book to give to new parents! It's such a sweet story, and the illustrations are gorgeous. Don't limit children to the simplistic illustrations that most children's books use. They deserve great storybook art just as much as adults do.
July 9, 2010
Absolutely beautiful!
October 6, 2011
Soothing text for bedtime and gorgeous illustrations!
June 21, 2017
The words rhym so clamly and set the mood to bed... After a few protest, now my daughter pick up the book every night for me to read at bed time!
April 8, 2018
4.5 stars
December 24, 2018
The artwork is lovely. Text is mainly the same for all pages but can imagine it can be very relaxing if read to your child.
November 6, 2019
There are so many wonderful (and some not so wonderful) goodnight books. This one fits in the wonderful. Simple, calming and provides plenty of opportunities for hugs and kisses.
February 1, 2021
Elliot loves this library book. We read it during bedtime and nap time. It’s very calming, with the phrase from the title repeated a lot. The illustrations are beautiful; they’re a mix of realistic animal and nature paintings with a touch of the whimsical, such as a child sleeping on a panda, another one sleeping on a swan, and a hot air balloon with wild animals floating off (dreams arriving in “sleep’s balloons”) but it’s just so darling, it works! I had no idea Eric Metaxas (who I know from his Christian biographies) wrote children’s books! I will search for more!
January 29, 2020
One of my new favorite children's books. When we have a child, reading this book will most likely be our nighttime ritual.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews