Oh So Quiet! - Tapa dura

With every turn of the page, adventurous preschoolers will be delighted by the surprising sounds of many nighttime forest animals.

Two boys are braving their backyard and settling in to sleep in a tent. They have sleeping bags, a flashlight, a deck of cards, and a well-loved blue teddy bear. Everything is quiet and peaceful, until ... the sounds of the night begin in the forest that surrounds them. There is the "Flap! Flap! Flap!" of the bats, the "Squeak! Squeak!" from some playful mice, and a "How-woooo!" from two lovey-dovey foxes. Each time a sound is heard the boys shine the flashlight into the night to reveal the source of the sound and they are eventually relieved to find only a squirrel. But is it really a squirrel? A smelly skunk almost clears the backyard campsite and a smiling brown bear is eager to try out the comfortable looking tent.

Award-winning author Lindsey Craig has used a minimal amount of words that are emphasized by font and page placement and beg to be read aloud with animated voices. The use of a sound and then a turn of the page create the right balance of suspense and comfort/relief for little ones. Combined with the endearing indigo lit illustrations, readers are charmed rather than alarmed when the bear settles in to the tent for a good night's rest as the boys sleep soundly in their bedroom with Daddy--the tent visible from the bedroom window and the bedroom window visible from the tent.

Oh So Quiet is recommended as a read-aloud campfire book--and would be even better when read post-marshmallow roasting.

"The surprising plot twists--and text that's uncomplicated without being boring--will make adults glad to return to this bedtime story with their children. A charmingly clever ode to backyard camping and the fun of spending time in nature, with a good bit of humor rolled into its colorful illustrations."

***Winner***
Kirkus Best Indie of 2016

It's not always easy to get kids outside, but OH SO QUIET! may just tempt the wee ones on an adventure. The nighttime forest comes alive with Daniel Dunkley's indigo lit illustrations. And Lindsey Craig's chant-like text will have children turning the pages to find out what's waiting outside the brave camper's tent. "The forest is so quiet, oh so quiet in the night...UNTIL!" Is it flapping bats? Squeaking mice? Or even a BEAR!?
OH SO QUIET! will make for a giggly read and a favorite camping book for the whole family!