Arlo the Lion Who Couldn’t Sleep

Despite his best efforts, poor Arlo can’t sleep. He tries and tries, but nothing seems to work. While his family slumbers soundly beside him, he begins to wonder if he will ever sleep again. A wise creature of the night swoops down and graciously shares some sage advice with the lion. She sings him a song of relaxation meant to soothe one to sleep, and as he imagines strolling up mountains and scaling the trees, he slowly drifts off to sleep. He awakes with a newfound freshness and excitedly wakes owl to share the good news with her. Discovering he has now awoken her, the tables turn, and the lion gently sings her song to ease her back sleep.

Arlo the Lion Who Couldn’t Sleep is a sweet and embracing picture book perfect for young children who struggle to fall asleep at night. It’s soothing rhymes, soft flow, and encouraging message will help lull them off to sleep. It’s just the right length — 40 pages — for a quick bedtime read. The audience best suited for this lovely story is children ages three to seven. They will likely be mesmerized by the unique illustrations. They resemble detailed sketches that sweep across each page with allure. Of additional note, the compassion displayed by the thoughtful owl sets a strong example for little ones. Arlo’s act of reciprocity does as well, only adding to the value of this timely tale.