Bedtime Is Canceled

PreS-Gr 2—Two precocious children start a rumor that bedtime is canceled, and the rest of the town is gullible enough to believe it. It starts when Maggie comes up with the notion and her older brother writes it down. Their parents don't fall for it, so the note gets tossed. But it is caught by the wind, blows out the window, and lands on a reporter's desk. When "BEDTIME IS CANCELED!" becomes front-page news, a stunned Principal Nancy enforces the law in spite of the unhappy parents who are throwing tantrums in the flower beds. Social media and TV spread the word and kids throughout the area enjoy a wild rumpus all night long. The next day, mischievous Maggie and her brother snicker at the bleary-eyed adults. Unfortunately, the worn-out teachers are so busy napping that they let the students out of school later than usual. Maggie and her brother put an end to the game, to the relief of adults everywhere, but they are not out of ideas yet-Neyret's digital art includes full-page pictures and rough-edged spot illustrations that show reaction shots and the consequences of the siblings' naughty plot. An amusing additional purchase.—Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT