I Cannot Sleep

by Ann Louise Ramsey

Written and illustrated by Ann Louise Ramsey, "I Cannot Sleep" is a children's picture book celebrating the joy of life's simple pleasures as seen through the heart of a dog.

It's time for bed, but Honey the Cocker Spaniel cannot sleep. Her imagination is just waking up and so begins her fun-filled adventures of doing all those favorite things she loves to do. "I fly...I dance...I swim...I sing and find success in all these things!" proclaims Honey..."while lying here secure in bed" she adds, laughing out loud. Honey is a small dog with BIG imagination and the more she thinks, the more she does and..."FUN is the goal!"

Laugh along with Honey as she bounces down "trail and hall, all for the love of a tennis ball" and sings "for free" along with the birds in the park. For this happy dog, it is the simple pleasures in life that give her joy – a great reminder for us all.

An added bonus is the variety of birds incorporated into the book's illustrations. Then at the back of the book there is a pictorial list of "Birds in the Book" which serves as an educational and fun way to introduce children to the world of birds by matching up the bird pictures with those in the story.

40 pages, Hardcover

First published February 24, 2013

Reviews

[Peggy Tibbetts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honey the fun-loving Cocker Spaniel is back! We first met Honey in “Just Be You” where she discovered the joy of being herself. In her new adventure, Honey shares her Recipe for Joy. One night when she has trouble falling asleep, Honey’s imagination takes flight as she re-lives the joy and fun she experiences every day. Through Ann Ramsey’s action-packed verse readers feel all the excitement Honey feels as she chases the tennis ball, swims, dances, and sings her way through life. Ann’s amazing and delightful digital illustrations show the many moods and antics of this lovable little dog. As a special treat, bird watchers should keep their eyes open for Honey’s feathered friends on each page. A gallery at the end of the book identifies each bird with its picture in the story – a great teaching tool! Fall in love with Honey all over again in “I Cannot Sleep.”

[Shannon McGee · Rating 5 out of 5]

uthor Ann Louise Ramsey has written a story about her cocker spaniel, Honey. Honey is full of energy after a big day she has trouble sleeping. Honey thinks about how fun and joyful her day was until she falls to sleep.

The cover of the book is what caught my eye. Inside I Cannot Sleep has the some real photographs with photoshop backgrounds, to make a unique story. The story is cute and has an extra treat inside that including finding images of real birds in the book. So not only is it a story but there is also a game of I Spy with birds.

There is really nothing I would change with this book. Well except for a longer book. That is the way I feel with most good children books. I Cannot Sleep is cute, pretty and colorful.

[Marcie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the identification of the birds and I can see some kids using it like an eye spy.