Before We Sleep

by Giorgio Volpe, Paolo Proietti (illustrator), Simon Vance (reader)

Qualche volta può succedere di accendere un rapporto così importante per la nostra vita che anche solo le circostanze che si frappongono tra noi e il fatto di poterlo vivere ci possono sembrare insopportabili. La volpe e il ghiro di questo albo illustrato sono legati da una amicizia così, che non vorrebbero fosse interrotta da niente e nessuno. Una storia delicata e tenera sui sentimenti totalizzanti che si riescono a vivere nel cuore dell'infanzia e sul significato e il valore degli affetti. Età di lettura: da 4 anni.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Friendship, Childrens, Nature, Fiction

Audio CD

First published October 9, 2018

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be adding this sweet, simple, gorgeous book to my own collection! The illustrations are sweet and captivating and the story about 2 friends so gentle. I loved it!

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming!

[Eva Lavrikova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Krásne ilustrovaný nežný príbeh o priateľstve, o tom, ako sa nám nechce v spánku opúšťať to pekné, čo máme, keď nespíme, aj o tom, že tu pre seba vieme byť aj v týchto chvíľach. Ideálne pre deti, ktorým sa nechce povedať dobrú noc, lebo im je dobre.

[Katey Flowers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, simple, rather gentle story about two unlikely friends.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/24/2023 - Lovely illustrations. Some of the dialogue didn’t seem to match the images, but otherwise a good story.

[Max at Completely Full Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

The very first illustration in this book, with a slightly muted rainbow of delicate leaves in a gray forest, grabbed my eyes and glued them to the page. This gentle, soothing story recounts the beautiful friendship between two animals (who, as other reviewers note, are not gendered in the story) and the frustration of one, Little Red the fox, as Hazel the dormouse prepares to enter hibernation.

The writing in this story has a slightly old-fashioned sensibility that brings to mind books from one’s own childhood. And yet, it also brings a distinctly childlike perspective to the story as well. And the illustrations remain gorgeous from start to finish—one illustration of the inside of Hazel’s burrow, constructed out of an old teapot, is worth printing out and framing.

The last spread of the book did give me pause—either it is meant to be subversive or I am completely misunderstanding it. But overall, this is a beautiful, delicately crafted story of nature and two friends within it.

Click here to see the full review on my blog!

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's almost winter, and animals will hibernate. A red fox tries to keep his dormouse friend awake.

A lovely just-before-bedtime story.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated, endearing friendship story. Originally published in Italy.

[Franci · Rating 5 out of 5]

#23 of 2023

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

By Giorgio Volpe and @pallo_illustrations

Published by @redcometpressbooks

Thank you to @blue_slip_media for sharing this gentle and enchanting story.

Little Red, the fox, and Hazel, the dormouse, are best friends. They spend their days playing hide-and-seek among the grasses and frolicking in the leaves. Sadly, though, things are about to change. The grasses are changing from green to copper, the leaves are becoming crisp and brown and Hazel is becoming sleepy. Little Red realizes this means winter is coming and soon his very best friend will hibernate, leaving him alone.

This endearing story, with the muted, dreamy illustrations will grab your heart. You’ll feel the two friends’ joy as they play, Hazel’s sleepiness as she curls up inside her cozy teapot, Little Red’s hope that perhaps this year Hazel’s nap will be a short one and most of all the love they have for one another. It’s a perfect bedtime story for your little ones, especially for those who might need assurances you’ll be there when they wake up. This book, one of the very first published by a new publisher, @redcometpressbooks (You’ll want to keep an eye on this publisher. I’m looking forward to what they publish next!), is out on September 7th. It’s one you’ll want to preorder and add to your family library forever shelf.

[The Silvan Reverie | Sarah Street]

A gentle and soothing bedtime read paired with lovely soft-toned illustrations. A fox and doormouse are best friends and the fox is worried about being lonely while the doormouse hibernates for winter. Children will resonate with the feeling of missing a friend, though the doormouse in the story is confident and calm about its need to hibernate and that it will see the fox again. I will say that for American readers, children might be confused by the hibernation aspect -- since mice in the winter here can be seen in the snow. The ending to this also felt a little abrupt and unresolved. The fox tells the doormouse a story and they both fall asleep together outside. And that's it. Did the doormouse not get to its house in time? Is the fox hibernating too? Just a little bit unresolved.

**Note: I was given a review copy of this book by the publisher. Opinions are my own.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations steal the show in this quiet book about hibernation and the changing seasons. I absolutely adore the muted colors and the small details - like the dormouse's little teapot home. They add to the sleepy feel of this book that pair well with a story of hibernation and winter approaching. Together they would also work well as a bedtime story. This is a sweet late autumn story.

[Ugnė Lukošienė · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tobula!!! Iliustracijos atimančios žadą ir sunku pervesti puslapius, norisi žavėtis kiekviena detale... labai graži istorija apie draugystę ir meilę. Gale norėjosi nubraukti ašarą...

[Alex Baugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little Red, the fox, and Hazel, the dormouse, are best friends and there is nothing they enjoy more that a good game of Hide-and-Seek. And now that fall have come, Little Red thinks it will be even more fun as he will now blend in to the beautiful rich amber, burned orange, and chestnut brown of the autumn forest.

But fall also means that Hazel will soon have to hibernate snug in her burrow for the winter, and that means a long, lonely winter for Little Red. And even though Hazel tries to reassure Little Red that she will be back in spring and ready to play some more, he tries to think of ways to keep her awake for the winter. If only the sun would stay high in the sky so that winter wouldn't be so cold. or maybe Little Red could tickle Hazel to stay awake?

Resigned to that ways of nature, Little Red suggests he tell Hazel a bedtime story before she sleeps for the winter. But before he utters a word of his story, both Hazel and Little Red are soon sound asleep, Hazel in her burrow, Little Red wrapped around it.

I loved the beautifully layered and textured illustrations that really capture the lovely colors of fall, the crunching sounds of playing among dried leaves that have fallen from the trees, and the cold bareness of winter that follows.

This is a sweet bedtime story about friendship but I think it is really more than that. It's also about separation anxiety, something that kids can experience in all kinds of ways. It might be the separation from parents going to school, or the separation of a friend during holidays and vacations when one friend might to away for the summer and the other is left behind. It makes this a good story for talking about how kids can hold on to the person who is temporarily absent from their lives.

I did feel the ending was a little ambiguous, but when I read it to my young readers, it led to a discussion about why some animals hibernate and others don't, they decided that Little Red would probably do what a fox does to survive the winter, but return to Hazel's burrow to feel close to her.

This book was gratefully received from Barbara Fisch at Blue Slip Media

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! Our book today Before We Sleep by Giorgio Volpe and Paolo Proietti, a soft and sweet tale of fall friendship.

Little Red the fox is excited for the change of seasons that brings fall – it means autumn colors to hide in and crunchy leaves to play with. The only thing that makes the fall even more fun is the time spent with Red’s best friend, Hazel the dormouse. The pair spend a marvelous fall frolicking and playing hide-and-seek. Yet as the air grows colder, Little Red begins to fret; soon winter will be here, and Hazel will go into hibernation, leaving Red all along until spring. Trying to think of ways to keep Hazel from hibernating, Red resorts to asking if Hazel will try to stay awake this year, but the dormouse gently replies that when spring has come again, they will be back together. Until then, they can enjoy the time they have by appreciating their best friend.

Very sweet. This Italian import explores themes of friendship, even through separation, in a gentle, tender, yet surprisingly honest fashion. And while the ending feels a little abrupt, it does leave the reader with the implication that even while Hazel hibernates, Red will be okay, if a little lonely, until spring. The text, with translation by Angus Yuen-Killick is filled with language that paints a beautiful autumnal story, and cleverly and subtly chooses not to gender either of the main characters. The soft, smoky lines of the pencil art is cozy yet moody, and captures the tone perfectly. The length is perfect for a storytime, and JJ enjoyed it, even if she also felt the ending was a little unexpected. This is a different kind of tale, but one no less meaningful for it, and we liked it. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!

[Roben · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are lovely! Little Red tell that winter is on its way. The leaves are changing colors and the days are colder. Little Red loves to play hide and seek with best friend, Hazel, who is a dormouse. And the red and brown leaves help Little Red fox hide! But Little Red knows that soon Hazel will go to sleep for the winter and this makes Little Red sad. Is there some way to keep Hazel from sleeping? But wise Hazel knows that she must sleep throughout the winter. One last story before a long sleep - with reassurances that the friends will be together again in the spring.

[Lou Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book I hope to own for myself one day. It was a very beautifully illustrated book about the friendship between a fox and a mouse. Whilst I did indeed grow up on the fantastic mr.fox, I preferred the details in this book. The art was stunning and I loved how the mouse is called Hazel. The friendship between the two main characters was sweet and refreshing.

Sometimes it's nice to return to childrens books and find things we don't always get in the books made for our age category.

The butterfly, the fox, the moon- this book has so many beautiful characters, so well drawn.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was devastatingly cute. Mostly the illustrations of the cute little friendship between Fox and Mouse, and the darling color palette of orange, green, and muted greys. This was such a cozy book for fall: Fox is sad that it's autumn because that means soon his friend mouse will have to hibernate and they can't play. Little mouse in his striped pants is just too cute.

[Sarah Colwill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Red Fox and Hazel, a door mouse, are preparing for the change of seasons in the forest. Little Red Fox is hoping that Hazel will not sleep so long this year and tries to keep his friend awake. In the end, they fall into a peaceful sleep together. The muted fall colors bring you into the forest and will leave you appreciating the beauty of friendship.

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful story of two unlikely friends approaching winter and hibernation for one, loneliness for the other. Love the art, a different fall palette: cooper, burgundy, amber, and chestnut. Great ending - I want to curl up for a story too! The teapot house is too cute. And don’t forget to look at the case cover art as well.

[Pi]

Ilustracje są śliczne, mięciutkie, delikatne i mają piękną paletę kolorów, ale sama historia, choć urocza, to trochę bez puenty. Tzn. niby puenta jest, ale jakaś tak słaba. Mimo to trzeba pamiętać, że ukazana w niej relacja jest śliczna, a pozycję tę warto poznać chociażby ze względu na same ilustracje.

[June · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe a 3.5 for the illustrations. The ending felt abrupt to me.

A fox and a mouse enjoy the fall, but the fox tries to think of ways to keep his mouse friend awake so he is not lonely during the winter.

[Norshakila Makmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a lovely refreshing book about two best friends, the fox and the dormouse. when i first saw the book, i immediately thought fox character would be the stereotypical sly and cunning, but it wasn’t and i was pleasantly surprised!

[Jennifer Miera · Rating 2 out of 5]

Abrupt ending kind of leaves the reader hanging.

[Viviana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Art 4-5 stars

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Red is sad that Hazel has to hibernate. So, he wants to tell her a story before she does.

[Chickenlips422 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the illustrations, but did not like the ending.

[Tadas Supronas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Graži, tik kiek liūdnoka istorija apie du draugus: peliuką ir lapiną.

[Inga Narijauskienė · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nuostabios iliustracijos.

[Katelynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable story. Cottagecore vibes.