Charlotte Jane Battles Bedtime

PreS-Gr 3—Charlotte Jane the Hearty was endowed with "formidable oomph" from the day she was born. Her days are filled with swashbuckling adventures, treasure hunts, and Fantastic Feats of Daring, but despite her pirate parents' exhortations, she has no interest in sleep. When at last Charlotte is victorious in her pursuit to stay awake all night, she finds that in the morning she is feeling less than hearty, and her oomph has "weighed anchor." A hunt for it ensues, with Charlotte's parents searching everywhere imaginable, but it is the child who ultimately finds the missing oomph in the comfort of her own featherbed. "Charlotte Jane's hearty dreams…were rip-roarers!" This charming, clever tale about the merits of a good night's sleep features a youngster brandishing a bounty of pluck. The use of dialogue and strong vocabulary results in a well-paced story that flows elegantly from beginning to end. The whimsical watercolor illustrations—accompanied by digitally created textures to add depth—are captivating, and perfectly complement the text. A generous helping of humorously entertaining pirate speak makes this an enjoyable choice for readers and listeners alike.—Debbie Lewis, Alachua County Library District, FL