Under the Sleepy Stars

As diurnal animals go to sleep in the forest, an owlet asks his mother about how animal parents care for their young. Shaw quickly establishes a calm, lulling mood through the back-and-forth of the owls’ conversation. “Mama, who sings a song/ until Mouse falls asleep?” the owlet asks. “The crickets sing high notes./ The bullfrogs sing deep,” the mother responds. Harry’s pastel-hued illustrations have a soft, moonlit glow as she shows a cuddly mother bear hugging her cub, an adult deer kissing her offspring, and other quiet scenes of animal affection. While the book doesn’t necessarily distinguish itself from many similar titles, its message about a mother’s unconditional, constant care comes through clearly. Ages 2–5. (Sept.)