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Arlo: The Lion Who Couldn't Sleep
This beautiful, meditative book about a lion who can't sleep is an excellent bedtime read for reluctant sleepers.
Arlo is a very tired lion, and he's tried everything to get to sleep. But the grass is too prickly, the trees are too noisy, and his family wriggles awfully too much. Goodness! How is an exhausted lion ever to get a wink of shuteye? Luckily, owl has a few tricks up her sleeve, and Arlo couldn't be happier to give them a whirl.
This gentle and humorous bedtime story has a calming message of mindfulness and centeredness that's beautifully complemented by gorgeous watercolor, acrylic ink, and pencil art from Kate Greenway Medal-winning author-illustrator, Catherine Rayner.
Arlo is a very tired lion, and he's tried everything to get to sleep. But the grass is too prickly, the trees are too noisy, and his family wriggles awfully too much. Goodness! How is an exhausted lion ever to get a wink of shuteye? Luckily, owl has a few tricks up her sleeve, and Arlo couldn't be happier to give them a whirl.
This gentle and humorous bedtime story has a calming message of mindfulness and centeredness that's beautifully complemented by gorgeous watercolor, acrylic ink, and pencil art from Kate Greenway Medal-winning author-illustrator, Catherine Rayner.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published October 6, 2020
2 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Rayner
54 books81 followersSee also Catherine Rayner for works on the Bronte sisters
Award winning author and illustrator Catherine Rayner studied Illustration at Edinburgh College of art. She fell in love with the city and still lives there with her husband, young son and a handful of creatures: Shannon the horse, Ena the grey cat and a goldfish called Richard.
She finds huge inspiration in her pets and often uses them as models, frequently asking Ena to pose so that she can study her posture and movement. Then she translates sketches of Ena into characters such as dragons and hares, not to mention moose and bears! But it was creatures of a wilder kind that inspired her first picture book, Augustus and His Smile - Catherine spent hours and hours watching and sketching tigers (in freezing temperatures) at Edinburgh Zoo.
Winner of the 2009 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal for her second book Harris Finds His Feet, Catherine has now been shortlisted four times for the award. She was also awarded the Best New Illustrator Award at the Booktrust Early Years Awards in 2006 and was named one of Booktrust’s ten Best New Illustrators in 2008. In 2010, she was the inaugural illustrator in residence at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. In 2012 Catherine’s book Iris and Isaac won the UKLA Children’s Book Award and the Dutch edition of Solomon Crocodile has been selected as PICTURE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2014 in The Netherlands by the CPNB.
Award winning author and illustrator Catherine Rayner studied Illustration at Edinburgh College of art. She fell in love with the city and still lives there with her husband, young son and a handful of creatures: Shannon the horse, Ena the grey cat and a goldfish called Richard.
She finds huge inspiration in her pets and often uses them as models, frequently asking Ena to pose so that she can study her posture and movement. Then she translates sketches of Ena into characters such as dragons and hares, not to mention moose and bears! But it was creatures of a wilder kind that inspired her first picture book, Augustus and His Smile - Catherine spent hours and hours watching and sketching tigers (in freezing temperatures) at Edinburgh Zoo.
Winner of the 2009 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal for her second book Harris Finds His Feet, Catherine has now been shortlisted four times for the award. She was also awarded the Best New Illustrator Award at the Booktrust Early Years Awards in 2006 and was named one of Booktrust’s ten Best New Illustrators in 2008. In 2010, she was the inaugural illustrator in residence at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. In 2012 Catherine’s book Iris and Isaac won the UKLA Children’s Book Award and the Dutch edition of Solomon Crocodile has been selected as PICTURE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2014 in The Netherlands by the CPNB.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
October 8, 2024
The pictures are lovely, but I was bored by the lion's bout of insomnia and annoyed by the meditation lullaby a helpful owl sings him.
July 18, 2021
Lovely. It's gentle and reassuring yet there's also an almost lively quality to some of the illustrations, too. Perfect for those needing a soothing read at bedtime. I'm sure every parent reading this can relate to that illustration of Arlo looking utterly EXHAUSTED ;-) and every child has had the experience of struggling to relax and fall asleep, too. Little Owls' advice when you're struggling to sleep is nice:
"Think about the places where you'd like to be,
the things that you'd do there and what you might see.
Relax your whole body, slow your breathing right down,
imagine you're sinking into the soft ground.
As you fall into calmness, so comfortable and deep,
your mind will rest and you'll drift off to sleep."
"Think about the places where you'd like to be,
the things that you'd do there and what you might see.
Relax your whole body, slow your breathing right down,
imagine you're sinking into the soft ground.
As you fall into calmness, so comfortable and deep,
your mind will rest and you'll drift off to sleep."
November 10, 2020
I read this, like the big kid that I am, because I related to the concept of restlessness and insomnia. The watercolor illustrations flow as smoothly as the words, complementing the book's usage at bedtime or as a way to help a child relate to mindfulness tactics.
March 24, 2022
Gorgeous art and such a loveable character - the story is a little basic/short but overall a super sweet bedtime story for youngsters. The song was a little repetitive - idk how easy it would be to actually sing it though 👀
July 18, 2021
Very simple and soothing. No big plot tension to get in the way of reading this at bedtime. Gorgeous art that you'll have to look at in the daylight.
Rayner is on auto-read for me. ;)
Rayner is on auto-read for me. ;)
April 4, 2022
It has a song to sing twice. That’s definitely a huge win in this house, not to mention that it’s teaching excellent mindfulness sleep skills.
December 21, 2023
The paints and colours used in the book were so beautiful and soft 🥰
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2020
Great for Pajama Storytime!
August 18, 2021
Libro perfecto para la hora de dormir. Es una historia sobre una lechuza que le canta a un León que no consigue dormir. Los padres pueden hacer la voz suave y lenta, así funciona perfecto para hacer dormir a los hijos.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2020
This is the perfect bedtime story. It is breathtakingly beautiful, the words are patient and calm, and the refrain is a wonderful mindful meditation anyone struggling to sleep can use. It is the story of a lion who is having trouble sleeping. He meets an owl who, being an expert at sleeping when everyone else is noisy and the sun is beaming, teaching him her secret. Catherine Rayner has long been one of my favorite children's book author/illustrators. Her books are consistently stunning, graceful, and full of heart. They leave the reader with a contentment whether they immersed in her gentle humor or with books like this one, her bedtime calm. ARLO THE LION is a delight and a wonderful addition to her catalog of books.
June 30, 2021
Five-star fabulous! Gorgeous illustrations of lion and owl and their habitat make this magical story of an unusual friendship come to life as both protagonists help each other overcome insomnia. The soporific rhyme of the sleep incantation is so soothing that it’s likely to induce slumber for both child and adult as well as day and night sleepers. This one earns my vote for the 2020 Caldecott Medal.
March 29, 2024
Hey there, fellow exhausted parents and sleep strugglers, you don’t want to miss this bedtime tale that'll have you nodding in solidarity and chuckling at the antics of our sleep-deprived hero!
First off, let's talk about the illustrations—they're a burst of color and whimsy that whisk you away to a lush jungle filled with quirky critters and vibrant landscapes. Each page is a feast for the eyes, making bedtime stories an absolute delight.
Now, onto Arlo. Poor guy just can't catch a break when it comes to getting some shut-eye. Everything disturbs him - the grass is too prickly, the earth is too hard, the trees too noisy, the desert too quiet, the sun too hot, the night too cold… You can't help but empathize with his struggle. We've all been there, right?
But fear not, because Arlo's journey takes an unexpected turn when he encounters Owl, the wise old songbird of the jungle. Owl's gentle song guides Arlo through a series of relaxation techniques and imaginative exercises, helping him drift off into dreamland. It's a heartwarming moment that adds a touch of magic to the story.
However, I must admit, while Owl's song is sweet and soothing, it did veer into repetitive territory, causing a few bedtime squirms from my girl. Some parts may test young readers' patience…
As Arlo drifts off to sleep, his dreams take him on a wild journey through the jungle, where he imagines all the exciting places he'd like to explore. It's a testament to the power of imagination and the joy of dreaming.
There are a few other fun turns in the story where they need to sing the song a few more times. In conclusion, it's a charming bedtime story that celebrates friendship, imagination, and the power of a good night's sleep. While some parts may drag a bit, and the repetitive song may lose younger readers' interest, the message of finding comfort and solace in unexpected places shines through. So cuddle up with your little ones and enjoy this enchanting tale before drifting off into dreamland.
First off, let's talk about the illustrations—they're a burst of color and whimsy that whisk you away to a lush jungle filled with quirky critters and vibrant landscapes. Each page is a feast for the eyes, making bedtime stories an absolute delight.
Now, onto Arlo. Poor guy just can't catch a break when it comes to getting some shut-eye. Everything disturbs him - the grass is too prickly, the earth is too hard, the trees too noisy, the desert too quiet, the sun too hot, the night too cold… You can't help but empathize with his struggle. We've all been there, right?
But fear not, because Arlo's journey takes an unexpected turn when he encounters Owl, the wise old songbird of the jungle. Owl's gentle song guides Arlo through a series of relaxation techniques and imaginative exercises, helping him drift off into dreamland. It's a heartwarming moment that adds a touch of magic to the story.
However, I must admit, while Owl's song is sweet and soothing, it did veer into repetitive territory, causing a few bedtime squirms from my girl. Some parts may test young readers' patience…
As Arlo drifts off to sleep, his dreams take him on a wild journey through the jungle, where he imagines all the exciting places he'd like to explore. It's a testament to the power of imagination and the joy of dreaming.
There are a few other fun turns in the story where they need to sing the song a few more times. In conclusion, it's a charming bedtime story that celebrates friendship, imagination, and the power of a good night's sleep. While some parts may drag a bit, and the repetitive song may lose younger readers' interest, the message of finding comfort and solace in unexpected places shines through. So cuddle up with your little ones and enjoy this enchanting tale before drifting off into dreamland.
July 2, 2021
Arlo: The lion who couldn’t sleep is a beautiful new bedtime story from Catherine Rayner.
Arlo is a tired lion, but he just can’t get to sleep. He feels many things, for him the grass is too prickly and the earth too hard. Children will be able to identify with the irritations they may sometimes feel at bedtime, just like Arlo. Fortunately, Arlo isn’t the only creature awake, and before long Owl gives him some advice on how she is able to sleep during the day.
The song that owl sings to Arlo is a beautiful one, and I could imagine my children remembering the refrain on their own one day. As Arlo thinks about the places where he’d like to go we can imagine him “bounding up mountains, wading in rivers and climbing enormous trees.” But it’s when he imagines himself needing a rest, cuddled up with his cosy, snoring family that he finally drifts off to sleep.
It’s all too common for children to feel tired but just not be able to fall asleep, and so they will identify with how Arlo feels. There is also the gentle encouragement that, like Arlo, they too will wake feeling happy and full of energy again. The friendship between Arlo and Owl is central to the story too, as Arlo also helps her to fall asleep and then later they sing her song together to the lion pride.
In addition to the sweet story that will no doubt become a favourite at storytime, your child will fall in love with the hero of this book – a stunning golden and brown lion named Arlo. The illustrations in Arlo are strikingly beautiful and little ones will delight in exploring the pages of the story, Arlo’s beautifully scruffy textured mane will make them reach out to touch this lion and when he smiles it will soon be reflected on their own faces.
If your child is a fan of the popular The Go-Away Bird picture book by Julia Donaldson and Catherine Rayner, they will enjoy spotting the go away birds in the beginning of the story too.
Arlo is a tired lion, but he just can’t get to sleep. He feels many things, for him the grass is too prickly and the earth too hard. Children will be able to identify with the irritations they may sometimes feel at bedtime, just like Arlo. Fortunately, Arlo isn’t the only creature awake, and before long Owl gives him some advice on how she is able to sleep during the day.
The song that owl sings to Arlo is a beautiful one, and I could imagine my children remembering the refrain on their own one day. As Arlo thinks about the places where he’d like to go we can imagine him “bounding up mountains, wading in rivers and climbing enormous trees.” But it’s when he imagines himself needing a rest, cuddled up with his cosy, snoring family that he finally drifts off to sleep.
It’s all too common for children to feel tired but just not be able to fall asleep, and so they will identify with how Arlo feels. There is also the gentle encouragement that, like Arlo, they too will wake feeling happy and full of energy again. The friendship between Arlo and Owl is central to the story too, as Arlo also helps her to fall asleep and then later they sing her song together to the lion pride.
In addition to the sweet story that will no doubt become a favourite at storytime, your child will fall in love with the hero of this book – a stunning golden and brown lion named Arlo. The illustrations in Arlo are strikingly beautiful and little ones will delight in exploring the pages of the story, Arlo’s beautifully scruffy textured mane will make them reach out to touch this lion and when he smiles it will soon be reflected on their own faces.
If your child is a fan of the popular The Go-Away Bird picture book by Julia Donaldson and Catherine Rayner, they will enjoy spotting the go away birds in the beginning of the story too.
August 2, 2025
Summary (if you care about spoilers for children's books, skip to the next section)
Arlo can't sleep, he's too cold, or too hot, or the dirt is too hard (sounding familiar, toddler parents?). An owl offers to teach him her relaxation technique that she uses to manage to sleep during the hot, bright day. She sings a little song about relaxing her body and her mind and Arlo goes right to sleep. The next day, he wakes her up to tell her it worked, then he has to sing the song to her to help her fall asleep. At the end of the book, the owl sings the song with the lion's whole family before they go to bed.
Illustrations
So pretty and such a distinctive style.
Fun factor
I'd say it's meant to be more aww than haha
Is it supposed to teach children something?
How to relax so they'll fall asleep
Bottom line
Totally worth getting. I love a good bedtime book that doesn't end with the child sleeping in the parents' bed when they can't sleep. I'm more of a fan of bedtime books that emphasize that nighttime is for sleeping or, like this one, teach kids how to relax so they can fall asleep.
Arlo can't sleep, he's too cold, or too hot, or the dirt is too hard (sounding familiar, toddler parents?). An owl offers to teach him her relaxation technique that she uses to manage to sleep during the hot, bright day. She sings a little song about relaxing her body and her mind and Arlo goes right to sleep. The next day, he wakes her up to tell her it worked, then he has to sing the song to her to help her fall asleep. At the end of the book, the owl sings the song with the lion's whole family before they go to bed.
Illustrations
So pretty and such a distinctive style.
Fun factor
I'd say it's meant to be more aww than haha
Is it supposed to teach children something?
How to relax so they'll fall asleep
Bottom line
Totally worth getting. I love a good bedtime book that doesn't end with the child sleeping in the parents' bed when they can't sleep. I'm more of a fan of bedtime books that emphasize that nighttime is for sleeping or, like this one, teach kids how to relax so they can fall asleep.
September 17, 2024
Sweet story about an Owl who teaches a lion how to get to sleep by singing a song. The song is essentially a guided meditation that is repeated a few times through the book, and would be a great rhyme to repeat to little ones to help them relax their bodies and get to sleep - eventually hearing it in their heads and doing it themselves!
"Have a good stretch from your nose to your toes. Do a little wriggle, let your eyes gently close.
Relax your whole body, slow your breathing right down. Imagine you're sinking into the soft ground.
Think about places where you'd like to be, the things that you'd do there and what you might see.
As you fall into calmness, so comfy and deep, your mind will rest and you'll drift off to sleep."
We see the song work for Arlo the lion, then for the Owl when Arlo sings it to her, and then for the whole lion pride. Catherina Rayner's gorgeous and soft illustrations along with the text are just perfect for a calming bedtime book.
"Have a good stretch from your nose to your toes. Do a little wriggle, let your eyes gently close.
Relax your whole body, slow your breathing right down. Imagine you're sinking into the soft ground.
Think about places where you'd like to be, the things that you'd do there and what you might see.
As you fall into calmness, so comfy and deep, your mind will rest and you'll drift off to sleep."
We see the song work for Arlo the lion, then for the Owl when Arlo sings it to her, and then for the whole lion pride. Catherina Rayner's gorgeous and soft illustrations along with the text are just perfect for a calming bedtime book.
December 2, 2020
Beautiful illustrations and a story that kids who have trouble sleeping can relate. It also touches on aspects of nocturnal and diurnal animals. There is a page where the owl sings the song once again, but the text of the song isn't included on that page. You would have to flip back to the previous page. The book utilizes mindfulness concepts to help the lion fall asleep and similar could be utilized for children as well, especially if you have a lion and/or owl stuffed animal(s). Thank you to Peachtree Publishing Company for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
January 6, 2021
Arlo - a young lion - just can't get to sleep. Maybe he's an over-thinker? He just can't seem to get settled. Friend owl flies in with a song that should help center Arlo with a bit of visualization. It works! Then Arlo returns the favor for friend Owl the next day.
This is a good book to explore if your little one is having trouble falling asleep. I think everyone has days where they just can't let go of the day and go to sleep - it's always good to know it's not just you. Arlo and Owl have trouble sleeping also!
This is a good book to explore if your little one is having trouble falling asleep. I think everyone has days where they just can't let go of the day and go to sleep - it's always good to know it's not just you. Arlo and Owl have trouble sleeping also!
July 28, 2024
The illustrations aren't my favorite but the lines about how to fall asleep are magic.
"Will I ever sleep again?" asked Arlo the lion. And the Owl said "Of course you will... I sleep through the day when it's bright, noisy, and hot. Shall I tell you how? And the Owl began to sing....
Think about the places where you'd like to be, the things that you do there and what you might see.
Relax your whole body, slow your breathing right down, imagine you're sinking into the soft ground.
As you fall into calmness, so comfortable and deep, your mind will rest and you'll drift off to sleep.
"Will I ever sleep again?" asked Arlo the lion. And the Owl said "Of course you will... I sleep through the day when it's bright, noisy, and hot. Shall I tell you how? And the Owl began to sing....
Think about the places where you'd like to be, the things that you do there and what you might see.
Relax your whole body, slow your breathing right down, imagine you're sinking into the soft ground.
As you fall into calmness, so comfortable and deep, your mind will rest and you'll drift off to sleep.
October 19, 2020
I found this so comforting and the illustrations so heartwarming. Arlo the lion is illustrated with a scraggly mane and a sweet face--he looks so friendly. He struggles to fall asleep until an owl teaches him a song that helps him. The song is very mindfulness-focused, though I can see it working for storytimes if done in an interactive way (the kids get to calm down their bodies, imagine places they would like to be, etc)
November 22, 2021
This is a short and sweet book about a lion and an owl who work together to get Arlo the lion a good night's sleep. The owl teaches Arlo a song to help him go to sleep. It works really well and Arlo even teaches it to his other lion friends and helps them go to sleep very quickly! I gave this book 5 stars because it would be a very good bedtime story for kids. I love the illustration style and the feeling you get while reading. This story is very sweet and enjoyable.
July 8, 2021
Arlo the lion couldn't sleep. No matter how hard he tried it just wouldn't happen, and he was so very tired. One night Arlo met someone who sleeps during the daytime, and who taught Arlo how to relax his mind and body for sleep. It worked!
This beautifully illustrated story shows the reader what can be done to help sleep come.
This beautifully illustrated story shows the reader what can be done to help sleep come.
May 4, 2022
A beautifully illustrated book that follows the story of Arlo, the very tired lion who can’t seem to fall asleep. That is until he meets owl who sings him to sleep and tells lion to imagine the places he wants to go. Arlo manages a perfect sleep so goes off to tell owl but wakes him up in the process so now arlo sings to get owl to sleep
October 16, 2020
A beautiful story with stunning illustrations. Arlo the lion can’t sleep until he meets Owl who sings him a song which helps. This would be a good story to read to young children at the end of the day or after lunch to calm and relax them. There are themes of friendship and considering others.
December 29, 2020
It's hard for Arlo to go to sleep and since "everybody knows that lions need a lot of sleep," Arlo is very tired! Fortunately, an owl sings him a song that teaches Arlo some useful calming techniques to clear his mind and focus his breathing. This is a wonderful bedtime picture book that can be used as part of a night-time routine to settle restless sleepers.
January 1, 2021
Such a sweet story of a tired lion who learns relaxation techniques from an owl who is used to sleeping when it's bright out and others are awake. The scribbly illustrations lend a relaxed warmth to the giant cat and the overall message should resonate with tired toddlers.
February 16, 2021
This is a beautiful book to share at bedtime to help your little one learn how to relax and give them some strategies for falling asleep when they're having a difficult time. I loved the gorgeous illustrations and the clever way of sneaking bedtime advice into an engaging story.
September 10, 2021
Arlo the lion is struggling to sleep but with the help of the owl's song he might be able to.
The pictures are lovely and the repetition of the song (with its aim toward a mindfulness practice) this is a great before bed read-aloud.
The pictures are lovely and the repetition of the song (with its aim toward a mindfulness practice) this is a great before bed read-aloud.
March 3, 2023
Simply one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. It is simply amazing.
Catherine Rayner is an amazing writer and illustrator. She makes her books so simple yet powerful. Her characters are lovable and comforting
Catherine Rayner is an amazing writer and illustrator. She makes her books so simple yet powerful. Her characters are lovable and comforting
August 9, 2024
This lovely book would work equally well for a story time on lions, owls, or bedtime. The watercolor, acrylic inks, pencil and screen printing artwork is large enough to share with a group of children.
September 2, 2020
Gentle, beautifully illustrated bedtime reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews