At first, I was not sure what to think of the book called, Let’s Get Sleepy! There are cats chasing a mouse on the cover of Tony Cliff’s book. Not usually a good sign for the mouse. However, this mouse seems to be enjoying the chase. Um… okay, now what?
Now what leads to opening the book and reading about a cat waking up early and ready to go. Mama Cat says I guess Sleepy is no longer around and the little cat says that yes, Sleepy the Mouse is gone. But they, along with their siblings and friends, decide to go find Sleepy. They are going to get Sleepy. Cue obvious pun that might go over the kid’s heads, but adults, get ready to groan with the horribleness of this clever and fun pun. The cats in question head out on adventure a few pages are bare, little in the way of details, then it hits like a ton of bricks! The messy, detailed, wonderful Find Sleepy Page happens. We find ourselves in space, with dinosaurs, on the beach and many more places. You can find Sleepy on each page and while looking, see all the wonderful and silly things the cats are up too as well. And in the end, maybe they do not catch Sleepy, but you know they are going to catch sleepy.
This “Where’s Sleepy” is for slightly older children, but the picture book format is for the younger crowd. The book is just a delightful showing of what kids do all day. The imagination overflows on the pages and the fun can be, and is, had by all. Know your own reader to see if this format works for them as a story, but most ages will enjoy the “hide and seek” aspects of the “hidden” picture aspect.