Just So Stories

Walker Books Australia

September 2024

ISBN13:9781760658953

Australia RRP:$19.99

New Zealand RRP:$24.99

Strangely enough, I just had a conversation with a friend over lunch this past week about children’s first sleepovers. Her older grandchild has slept over regularly while the little sister was having her first experience this weekend [as I write this 24/11]. I commented that my girls slept over at my mum’s often from the time they were little. It was really like a second home for them. And my grandchildren slept over at my place since they were little as well.

In fact, The Kid not only lived with me, with her mum, until she was 4 but thereafter came almost every weekend. I did the same when I was a child – either at my grandparents’ house (they lived two doors up) or at my cousins’ place (two blocks away).

For some little people it is a big new experience. Is it because kids now can be less resilient I wonder? or because parents are more reluctant to let go of some? I don’t know the answer to that, but for me and in my experience, this is a new thing. But yes, I get it.

Kids often have anxiety problems and these can manifest in many different ways. So it stands to reason that some who have not yet had the experience of a night away from home, might get trepidatious, even if it’s with their much-loved grandparents. So it is with Sleepy Sheepy. Nothing Grammy and Grampy do seems to make a difference. The blankets are too scratchy. The pyjamas don’t match [didn’t bring his own PJs??], and so on.

Until G&G hit on reading Pa Sheepy’s favourite lambhood book. Given that it’s Goodnight Moon [that ubiquitous oft-touted title from the US which most of us find so tedious and so boring that it would stultify anyone – sheep or other species], I think it’s just as well Grampy thought of baking late-night cookies to compensate. Some cookie-munching, some dancing and finally, Sleepy Sheepy is ok with sleeping in a different bed, and even starts to be ok with the scratchy blankets.

I honestly can’t say it’s my favourite PB of the year, but I am sure there will be Smalls who find it not only amusing but will be only too eager to share tales of their own sheep-overs. I’m giving it a 3 🐑🐑🐑 for readers from around 3 to 6.