When Sam's mother tucks him in and closes the door, she expects that he will go to sleep, but the young boy's stuffed monkeys come alive instead, and keep him up with their playful shenanigans. Or perhaps they simply reflect and enact his preexisting restlessness? Whatever the case may be, eventually it falls to Sam to lull these active primates to sleep, growing sleepy himself in the process...

Gennifer Choldenko's poetic text in Putting the Monkeys to Bed alternates between more declarative sentences and rhyming refrains, making this a book that reads well aloud. The accompanying artwork by Jack E. Davis is colorful and cartoon-like, capturing the humor of Sam's bedtime experiences in an entertaining way. That said, although I appreciate all the little tricks that Sam employs in order to get to sleep - counting things, telling stories - I'm not sure this provides the calming routine promised on the front dust-jacket flap. That said, it might still make an engaging and humorous bedtime book to share with children who are reluctant sleepers. ( )

Sam wants to sleep but his unruly monkeys won't settle down. Bedtime reading for reluctant sleepers. ( )