The Greatest Bedtime Story Ever

Pulling out all the “once upon a time” stops, this sideways fairy tale from Sima (Snow Kid) is both dark enough to feel delectably mischievous and silly enough to remain firmly in the laugh zone. Somewhere in an enchanted world, a self-proclaimed “master storyteller” elf suffering from creator’s block stumbles upon the ultimate motivator: an insomniac purple dragon who demands the elf supply nothing less than the greatest bedtime story of all time—or become the bedtime snack. Alongside hammed-up digital artwork that employs radiant storybook colors and theatrical staging, winking text recounts how the elf rises to the occasion, creating a work that is “thoroughly hilarious. But profoundly moving,” and every adjective in between. After riding the tale’s emotional roller coaster, the dragon happily conks out cradling its lamb stuffie. Now all the protagonist needs to do is tiptoe out of the cave and share this literary masterpiece with what will most certainly be an adoring world. The satiric setup and the elf’s glaring ego let everyone in on the joke, making the inevitable comeuppance a shared, delicious gotcha. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Thao Le, Sandra Dijkstra Literary. (June)