Arlo the Lion Who Couldn't Sleep

“Rayner’s soothing language effectively sets the stage for addressing a frequent childhood problem. . . The lullaby portion of the story appears in wavy lines, emphasizing its lyric qualities. Rayner’s full-bleed mixed-media spreads skillfully depict the flora and fauna of an African savanna. She makes good use of vivid hues for the sky. . . many will find it a welcome soporific.” —Booklist

“[Arlo] is rendered by the writer-illustrator Catherine Rayner in a liquid, blobby, swirly style, barely held together by strong black outlines, which to my eye underscores just how desperate he is to slip the bonds of consciousness… a pretty wash of a painting. . . shows the lion bleeding into a landscape that itself seems to be bleeding into air — an illustration that looks the way the drift and untethering of falling asleep feels.”—The New York Times

★ “Spellbinding. . . alluringly tranquil. . . Gentle and gorgeous.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review