cover image A Bedtime Kiss for Chester Raccoon

A Bedtime Kiss for Chester Raccoon

Audrey Penn, illus. by Barbara L. Gibson. Tanglewood, $7.95 (16p) ISBN 978-1-933718-52-1

In a twist on the fear-of-the-dark story, Chester Raccoon, in his first original board book, goes to bed when the sun comes up. "There's nothing to fear in the afternoon," assures his mother. But the sunlight and shadows remind him of "six foot spiders in baggy pants," a bug-eyed crocodile, and a bear. A hug and kiss from his mother finally helps him to sleep, dreaming about catching fireflies. It's a tricky thing to make broad daylight seem spooky, but readers may still see their own bedtime fears in Chester's overactive imagination. Ages 1%E2%80%934. (Aug.)