The Prince's Bedtime

I love a children's book that can end up surprising me with the ending, so I won't spoil it for you. The Prince cannot fall asleep at night, so the King and Queen send out a royal proclamation asking for help for the Prince's insomnia. Similar to the fairy tale of the Princess who couldn't laugh, all kinds of common folk come forward in a quest to "cure" the prince. The cook bakes him "before bedtime" cookies and the maid makes hot milk, the dancers try to exhaust him with endless dancing, and the physician prescribes a medicine that makes of course, everyone sleepy except the Prince.

Finally an old lady comes to the castle door and of course, why didn't I think of this solution sooner!

The rhyming text is both clever and catchy- "If anyone knows how to make the Prince rest, please come at once to the royal address."

The illustrations by Miriam Latimer are colorful and whimsical. This book would appeal to any child age 4 to 7 and would be an especially good gift for the youngster who is having a hard time drifting off to sleep at night.