Little Bo Peep Can't Get to Sleep

by Erin Dealey, Hanako Wakiyama (Illustrator)

When Little Bo Peep can't get to sleep, her mother suggests counting sheep. But Peep can't count her sheep because she's lost them. Her brother, Little Boy Blue, who scared off the sheep in the first place, warns Peep she'll be in big trouble if she tells Mom and Dad. Ages 3-7.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Poetry, Nursery Rhymes, Animals, Fiction, Fairy Tales

40 pages, Hardcover

First published February 8, 2005

About the author

I write in many genres, from board books to YA. I am thrilled to announce SQUIRREL DRAWS BIG FEELINGS (Illus. Luciana Navarro Powell / Beaming Books coming in April 2026.

Other bookes include:
JUST FLOWERS (Illus. Kate Cosgrove / Sleeping Bear / 2024) A 2025 Junior Master Gardeners' Growing Good Kids award recipient.

The HALF BIRTHDAY BOOK (Illus. Germán Blanco / Genius Cat Books / April 2023 )

CHRISTMAS AHOY! (Illus. Kayla Stark / Sleeping Bear Press / July 2023)

DEAR EARTH...From Your Friends in Room 5 (Illus. by Luisa Uribe / Harper Collins) . #ClimateAction *In Paperback Feb. 2023

PETER EASTER FROG (Illus. by G. Brian Karas /Caitlyn Dlouhy books/ Atheneum/S&S)

SNOWGLOBE WISHES (Illus. by Claire Shorrock / Sleeping Bear Press) got a shiny KIRKUS starred review: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re... “The feelings of community and togetherness are palpable.” ❄️

GRANDMA'S FAVORITE; and GRANDPA'S FAVORITE (Kane Miller/ illus. by Luciana Navarro Powell), now available from Kane Miller via the Usborne Books and More web site will be released to Indies and B&N this year--and there are Spanish editions as well!

K IS FOR KINDERGARTEN (Sleeping Bear Press; illus. by Joseph Cowman) is perfect for current kinders and teachers AND those who need something to DO while waiting for Kindergarten to start.

BABIES COME FROM AIRPORTS (Kane Miller/ illus. by Luciana Navarro Powell--And spoiler alert: NO, they don't. See p. 2.) is a kid's-eye view of international adoption--from the paper work, researching heritage, and ALL the waiting, to that first hello.

DECK THE WALLS (Sleeping Bear/ Illus. by Nick Ward) is about the kids' table at a holiday dinner --and a fun sing-along for school celebrations.

My picture books with Atheneum/S&S, GOLDIE LOCKS HAS CHICKEN POX, and LITTLE BO PEEP CAN’T GET TO SLEEP have taken me to school visits as far south as Brazil and as far north as Tok, Alaska.

I'm a Language Arts/ theater teacher with decades of classroom experience and head the theater department of Sugarloaf Fine Arts Camp. My plays for young adults are published through Uproar Theatrics. As a member of the Area3WP, I taught writing workshops for teachers and students of all ages. If you're wondering why I look familiar, I'm the former RA for SCBWI CA North/Central, and have presented at SCBWI, reading associations, school library associations, and the PK1 Conference.
If you’re still reading this (thanks!), you can find my full bio and Writer’s Rap at https://erindealey.com/ and on Bluesky, X, Insta, FB, LinkedIn, and Pinterest: @ErinDealey.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Bo Peep can't count sheep to help her fall asleep because she lost her flock that day! Unable to sleep with worry for the sheep, and angst over whether she out to tell her parents she lost them, Bo thinks back over the day and how her brother Little Boy Blue and others (all nursery rhyme characters) helped her look for the sheep. Will the sheep come home, wagging their tails behind them? And will Bo Peep 'fess up to her parents?

A cute enough story, one that should benefit children wrestling over guilty consciences, though at times I felt the inclusion of all those nursery rhyme characters was a bit forced, as was the rhyme pattern. Overall, though, the effect is fairly smooth and charming and the illustrations (while not as endearing as those in
The Best Pet of All) are adorable with a retro vibe and fit the story.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute book. It uses a lot of the Fairytale rhymes to help Bo Peep find her sheep so she can get to sleep. :)

[Jennifer Ho · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it to my class and they enjoyed the book because of the familiar nursery rhymes' characters they encountered.

[Aspasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who has tossed and turned at night due to worrying and anxiety can identify with Bo Peep!

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the hippest kid's book ever. It's like art deco meets Mother Goose.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute and fun story expounding in the rhyme of Little Bo Peep. When she can't fall asleep, her parents tell to count her sheep. But her sheep are lost because of her brother, Little Boy Blue 😂. Great ending.

[kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

ugh, not a fan, poorly written, forced

[The Transmuted Tree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red 5th

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever book! And I love the lesson it teaches in the end

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little Bo Peep can't sleep because she is feeling guilty and worried...she can't find her sheep. Little Boy Blue blew his horn and scared her sheep and she is afraid to tell her parents. This is a cute rhyming book that continues Bo Peep's story...and she learns a valuable lesson about being honest and trusting her parents. This weaves in several other nursery rhyme characters. My 4 yo daughter really liked it.

[Jenna's Mom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little Bo Peep lost her sheep and is afraid to tell her mom and dad about it. They finally come home and she tells her mom and dad what happened. They tell her that it's good she told the truth, but that she really should have told them when it first happened. Jenna (3) enjoyed this book.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this gem on a trip to the library with my nieces and nephew a few years ago. I ordered it, and now Daniel has discovered it. The writing is clever and sweet, and the illustrations superb.

[Cana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mommy says: Kinda campy! Illustrated (including font choices) like the 1960s Little Golden Books. Little Bo Peep comes across many other nursery rhyme characters in her quest to fall asleep.

[Monica Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could have been cuter.