Although its winsome raccoons recall the badgers of Bedtime for Frances
, this sweetly ironic tale reverses parent/child roles. To little raccoon Sally’s dismay, her energetic parents will not let her get to sleep. Modarressi (Yard Sale
) relays the family’s conversation in sprightly rhyme: “ 'The night is still young!/ Come play,’ they both said./ 'Stay awake, Sally./ Don’t go to bed.’ ” Indeed, Cat in the Hat
fans may hear echoes of that book’s Sally and the misbehaving Cat. Comical gouaches picture the manic dad with his laptop and mom with her newspaper, with a “Dining Out” headline underscored by a picture of a trash can. Later, Sally stares from their treehouse window as the fun-loving adults exhort her to “dance in the yard!/ Stay awake, Sally./ It isn’t that hard.” As Sally begs them to turn out her light, the parents try classic stalling tactics: “ 'Would you care for some water?’/ 'Are you sure you’re well-fed?’/ 'Shall we check for a monster under your bed?’ Finally, the child puts her foot down and the antic insomniacs relent. Modarressi’s soft-hued illustrations of the pear-shaped party animals conjure goodwill toward the whole raccoon family. Ages 4-up. (Oct.)
