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Ten Sleepy Sheep
Ten, nine, eight. . . . Rhythmic master Phyllis Root lulls little lambs to sleep to the tune of enchanting pastoral images by Susan Gaber.
"Time to sleep,"
call the mama sheep
in the grass knee-deep.
Outside in the farmyard, ten lively lambs would rather play than go to sleep. So off they scamper, off they skip. But the sun is sinking, the stars are twinkling, and sleepy eyes can’t stay open. Ten, nine, eight. . . . One by one, ten drowsy sheep drop off to sleep in a cozy country countdown. With lilting, lyrical language and charmingly scenic views of lambs drifting off wherever they may, author and artist have blended the perfect potion to ease even spirited little ones into sweet dreams. Adorning the storybook cover are ten shiny ribbons — a different color highlighting each little sheep.
"Time to sleep,"
call the mama sheep
in the grass knee-deep.
Outside in the farmyard, ten lively lambs would rather play than go to sleep. So off they scamper, off they skip. But the sun is sinking, the stars are twinkling, and sleepy eyes can’t stay open. Ten, nine, eight. . . . One by one, ten drowsy sheep drop off to sleep in a cozy country countdown. With lilting, lyrical language and charmingly scenic views of lambs drifting off wherever they may, author and artist have blended the perfect potion to ease even spirited little ones into sweet dreams. Adorning the storybook cover are ten shiny ribbons — a different color highlighting each little sheep.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published February 9, 2004
31 people want to read
About the author
Phyllis Root
107 books71 followers"Picture books are performances," says Phyllis Root, quoting some sage advice she once received. "They're performances that involve a child--something both of you do. And once I started thinking of them that way, I started getting much looser about making up words and playing around with rhythm."
Phyllis Root picked up an early affinity for colloquial language while growing up in Indiana and southern Illinois, "where people actually say things like, 'I got a hitch in my git-along'!" She decided to be a writer in the fifth grade, but it wasn't until she was thirty years old that she took a writing course with an influential teacher who gave her "the tools" she says she needed. "That's when I figured out that you could learn to be a writer," she says. What followed was a series of rollicking stories that take on a new life when read aloud, among them ONE DUCK STUCK, a one-of-a-kind counting book; KISS THE COW!, an affectionate salute to stubbornness; WHAT BABY WANTS, a tale of increasingly ridiculous efforts to quiet an infant that one reviewer compared to an episode of I LOVE LUCY, and LOOKING FOR A MOOSE, a buoyant tale with a final surprise discovery.
The author does "endless rewriting" before a book is finished, but often starts out by writing her stories in her head, a trick she learned as a time-pressed mother when her two daughters were very young. For example, RATTLETRAP CAR--a joyful celebration of perseverance--began with her playing around with sounds ("clinkety clankety, bing bang pop!") and calling up bits of old camp songs.
A master of rhythmic read-alouds, Phyllis Root exhibits a range many writers would envy. Her counting book TEN SLEEPY SHEEP is as serene and lulling as ONE DUCK STUCK is rambunctious. "Counting sheep isn't always easy," she notes. "Once, while we were farm-sitting, my daughter and I had to chase down two runaway lambs in the growing darkness, then count twenty-seven frisky lambs to make sure they were all safe for the night. Luckily, they were." OLIVER FINDS HIS WAY is a quiet, classic picture book about a defining moment in the life of a small child--getting lost and having the pluck to find the way home. On the other extreme, Phyllis Root takes on no less than the whole universe in BIG MOMMA MAKES THE WORLD, a powerful, original, down-home creation myth that received rave reviews and won the prestigious BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Award. Most recently, Phyllis Root penned LUCIA AND THE LIGHT, a timeless adventure about one brave girl's quest that was inspired by Nordic lore.
When she's not writing, Phyllis Root teaches at Vermont College's MFA in Writing for Children program. She lives with her two daughters and two cats in a 100-year-old house in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and loves to read (mostly mysteries with female protagonists) or spend time outdoors gardening, camping, sailing, or traveling. "One of the things I've learned about myself," she confides, "is that when I get really stuck and can't seem to get writing, it's because I've forgotten to take time out to play."
Phyllis Root picked up an early affinity for colloquial language while growing up in Indiana and southern Illinois, "where people actually say things like, 'I got a hitch in my git-along'!" She decided to be a writer in the fifth grade, but it wasn't until she was thirty years old that she took a writing course with an influential teacher who gave her "the tools" she says she needed. "That's when I figured out that you could learn to be a writer," she says. What followed was a series of rollicking stories that take on a new life when read aloud, among them ONE DUCK STUCK, a one-of-a-kind counting book; KISS THE COW!, an affectionate salute to stubbornness; WHAT BABY WANTS, a tale of increasingly ridiculous efforts to quiet an infant that one reviewer compared to an episode of I LOVE LUCY, and LOOKING FOR A MOOSE, a buoyant tale with a final surprise discovery.
The author does "endless rewriting" before a book is finished, but often starts out by writing her stories in her head, a trick she learned as a time-pressed mother when her two daughters were very young. For example, RATTLETRAP CAR--a joyful celebration of perseverance--began with her playing around with sounds ("clinkety clankety, bing bang pop!") and calling up bits of old camp songs.
A master of rhythmic read-alouds, Phyllis Root exhibits a range many writers would envy. Her counting book TEN SLEEPY SHEEP is as serene and lulling as ONE DUCK STUCK is rambunctious. "Counting sheep isn't always easy," she notes. "Once, while we were farm-sitting, my daughter and I had to chase down two runaway lambs in the growing darkness, then count twenty-seven frisky lambs to make sure they were all safe for the night. Luckily, they were." OLIVER FINDS HIS WAY is a quiet, classic picture book about a defining moment in the life of a small child--getting lost and having the pluck to find the way home. On the other extreme, Phyllis Root takes on no less than the whole universe in BIG MOMMA MAKES THE WORLD, a powerful, original, down-home creation myth that received rave reviews and won the prestigious BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Award. Most recently, Phyllis Root penned LUCIA AND THE LIGHT, a timeless adventure about one brave girl's quest that was inspired by Nordic lore.
When she's not writing, Phyllis Root teaches at Vermont College's MFA in Writing for Children program. She lives with her two daughters and two cats in a 100-year-old house in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and loves to read (mostly mysteries with female protagonists) or spend time outdoors gardening, camping, sailing, or traveling. "One of the things I've learned about myself," she confides, "is that when I get really stuck and can't seem to get writing, it's because I've forgotten to take time out to play."
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 2, 2020
I read the boardbook. I'm fairly sure that it was not abridged to fit this format. And it's a delight. The concept of counting down is so important, and often overlooked. The pictures are adorable. The illustrator, Susan Gaber, gets big props for giving the lambs colored neck ribbons so we could see which was going to be the next to calm down and fall asleep.
And she gets credit for showing us all that the lambs *are* tired, but *overtired* and too stimulated to fall asleep... as a parent, I learned the importance of bedtime rituals to get the kids to settle before expecting them to be able (never mind willing) to curl up and let sleep come.
This is just a wonderful book and, honestly, could justify its presence in every nursery. Well, this or Ten Little Mice which has ridiculously gorgeous illustrations but not, iirc, the effective 'prediction' feature.
And she gets credit for showing us all that the lambs *are* tired, but *overtired* and too stimulated to fall asleep... as a parent, I learned the importance of bedtime rituals to get the kids to settle before expecting them to be able (never mind willing) to curl up and let sleep come.
This is just a wonderful book and, honestly, could justify its presence in every nursery. Well, this or Ten Little Mice which has ridiculously gorgeous illustrations but not, iirc, the effective 'prediction' feature.
May 3, 2018
Nice counting down story.
It starts with 10 and counts down to 1.
On each page, we have the number, the number word (in the rhyming text on the page), and the appropriate number of sheep (in a farm scene that reflects the text).
At the end, the mama sheep counts one sheep in each of the locations (so, basically saying 1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1=10).
There are lots of details on the pages. For example, each sheep has a different colored ribbon on. You can follow one sheep from the beginning until she falls asleep.
I have quibbles with the illustrations on two pages. On one, the sheep are described as "ambling" and they look more like they're gamboling. On another, the sheep are described as "loping" and they look more like they're walking or strolling.
This works well for both counting and bedtime.
It starts with 10 and counts down to 1.
On each page, we have the number, the number word (in the rhyming text on the page), and the appropriate number of sheep (in a farm scene that reflects the text).
At the end, the mama sheep counts one sheep in each of the locations (so, basically saying 1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1=10).
There are lots of details on the pages. For example, each sheep has a different colored ribbon on. You can follow one sheep from the beginning until she falls asleep.
I have quibbles with the illustrations on two pages. On one, the sheep are described as "ambling" and they look more like they're gamboling. On another, the sheep are described as "loping" and they look more like they're walking or strolling.
This works well for both counting and bedtime.
October 12, 2020
This was such a sweet book! Absolutely loved how it was about a mama sheep just trying to put all of her kids to bed. Such a sweet story!
Copyright - 2004
Theme - poetry, counting, the importance of sleep, sheep.
This is such a great book to teach children a simple counting, counting backwards, and it just gives them a sweet book to listen to to relax.
My favorite part of the book were the beautiful illustrations, and the rhymes. Most of the pages had rhymes that were so descriptive, and it really added to the story.
Copyright - 2004
Theme - poetry, counting, the importance of sleep, sheep.
This is such a great book to teach children a simple counting, counting backwards, and it just gives them a sweet book to listen to to relax.
My favorite part of the book were the beautiful illustrations, and the rhymes. Most of the pages had rhymes that were so descriptive, and it really added to the story.
November 6, 2019
I thought okay, could include in bedtime reading for older preschoolers; my 3 yr. old grandson liked and asked to re-read.
okay to count down, but possibly confusing in presentation
Too much new Vocabulary more challenging than ideal
Overall good for one-on-one; probably would not use for group storytime.
okay to count down, but possibly confusing in presentation
Too much new Vocabulary more challenging than ideal
Overall good for one-on-one; probably would not use for group storytime.
October 23, 2019
Excellent book with excellent illustrations of 10 sheep on their journey toward slumber.
October 12, 2024
I am absolutely delighted with some of the counting books that I am finding. So far this is my favorite. Combining my childhood favorite stuffed animals of lambs/sheep with counting, rhymes, new animal vocabulary and a getting ready to sleep book is really great. The pictures are colorful and calm and AppleBlossom enjoys pointing at everything and turning the pages. Much in the way that I enjoyed Counting Christmas, I enjoyed Ten Sleepy Sheep even more.
Candlewick Press books are a delight so far for our shelves and I cannot wait to find more of their books.
*Thanks to Candlewick Press for providing a copy for review.*
Originally posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2...
Candlewick Press books are a delight so far for our shelves and I cannot wait to find more of their books.
*Thanks to Candlewick Press for providing a copy for review.*
Originally posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2...
December 17, 2015
This is a gorgeous little book with a fabulous play on words. Great for bub's language development. It held my 8 month old's attention the whole time. I loved it so much I am going to buy her a copy. We got this one from a local library, a terrific find and will no doubt be a favourite in the future.
October 20, 2023
Read this to a child I was babysitting, she likes it a lot.
Update 10/19/2023: Her little brother loves the book so much he (4 yr old) knew the last page of the book and recited it before I could read it. Aww!
Good, creative rhymes & nice illustrations & good engagement of kids it's being read to
Update 10/19/2023: Her little brother loves the book so much he (4 yr old) knew the last page of the book and recited it before I could read it. Aww!
Good, creative rhymes & nice illustrations & good engagement of kids it's being read to
January 27, 2012
A rhyme prepares the reader for the next number in this count down from 10 sleep book. It also introduces language to lots of animal activities as things wind down for the night. Good story to read slowly for bedtime.
April 15, 2012
Another great counting book for young children. The pictures are not exciting, but it is a great bed to read to Pre-K or Kindergartener at the end of the day or as they are getting ready for nap time.
March 26, 2014
My five-year-old son picked this book out from the library last week.
This book is an adorable counting-backwards-in-rhyme-from-ten book. The rhyming is well done, and the illustrations are flat-out endearing, especially the sleeping sheep.
This book is an adorable counting-backwards-in-rhyme-from-ten book. The rhyming is well done, and the illustrations are flat-out endearing, especially the sleeping sheep.
February 7, 2009
Ten sheep fall asleep 1 by 1.
March 10, 2009
This is a nice nightime counting book. The story is sweet and the illustrations are cute. Birth +
April 17, 2011
A book i would use to read to pre-k, maybe right before their nap time. It integrates numbers in the story buy counting down from ten.
May 24, 2011
Sweet and gentle countdown as ten sheep fall asleep...delicately illustrated and peaceful bedtime story.
August 14, 2012
Not a huge fan of the pictures. Story is good though
September 26, 2015
Poetic and has gorgeous illustrations. My 17-mo old loves the dog, the bees, and the owls. I don't mind reading it a few times in a row.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews