cover image What This Story Needs Is a Hush and a Shush

What This Story Needs Is a Hush and a Shush

Emma J. Virján. Harper, $9.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-06-241528-8

In this bedtime-themed companion to What This Story Needs Is a Pig in a Wig, Virján’s scarlet-bouffanted pig is trying to go to sleep but, as in the previous book, she’s promptly joined by a slew of animals: “This bedtime also needs a bark, a quack, a honk, a coo,/ a ribbit, a meow, a neigh, and a moo,” the not-so-helpful narrator informs her. Virján’s bright illustrations, outlined in black, telegraph the pig’s annoyance and the other animals’ innocent cheerfulness as they pile into her bed (the horse, having planned ahead, even has a sleep mask). It’s good-natured rhyming fun that eventually has the pig finding a quiet night’s sleep somewhere unexpected. Ages 4–8. Agent: Edite Kroll, Edite Kroll Literary Agency. (Jan.)