cover image Good Night, Oliver Wizard

Good Night, Oliver Wizard

Rebecca Kai Dotlich, illus. by Josée Masse. Boyds Mills, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-62979-337-5

A father helps his restive, cape-wearing, wand-wielding child get ready for bed, reminding him that “even... wizards need to sleep.” Celestial and soporific illustrations echo Oliver’s flights of fancy and anxieties about the “scary things” in his room. Though Oliver stalls, demanding cereal and a story and asking questions galore, his father coaxes him along his bedtime routine, encouraging the child to use his “best and most magical spell” to allay his fears. Dotlich’s phrasing is sometimes awkward—“Light or dark, dark or light, stay away scary things tonight,” goes Oliver’s chant—but in all, this is a gentle, comforting adventure sure to help little wizards settle into sleep. Ages 3–7. [em](Sept.) [/em]