Slumbertown

Children often resist the transition to sleep because they want to hold on to the excitement of the day. This is why many children race around, playing or jumping on the bed as parents try to wrestle them into pajamas! Slumbertown, written by Dr. TJ Wray, is a book that reassures your child that the excitement of the day can continue in their dreams. In doing so, Slumbertown normalizes the process of going to bed and sleeping by showing your child that friends, family, and even animals rest at night. Written for babies and young children, Slumbertown's beautiful illustrations and rhythmic narrative prose are designed to calm children and prepare them for sleep. Rest and dreaming become something children (and parents!) can look forward to, rather than resist. Soon to be a classic for young children, Slumbertown is sure to become part of your child's nighttime routine!

Summary

Two young brothers take your child on a whimsical journey of sleep and the endless possibility of dreams. The book begins just before bedtime as the boys help Mama put away their toys for the day and prepare for bath time. After baths, prayers, stories, and cuddles, Mama and Papa say good night and the adventure begins! Slumbertown teaches children that sleep is a natural process and that everyone, families, friends, and even the animals, all look forward to nighttime rest. Indeed, going to bed is presented as the predictable end to the day. and the beginning of new possibilities.

As the story shifts from the waking landscape to the dreamscape, the brothers are met with many wonders! Colorful parrots greet the brothers as they arrive in Slumbertown. Together they explore treehouses, play games, and have kid car races with other children. The boys spy a little red door at the base of an oak tree that leads to a delightful room filled with art supplies and even a kid art gallery! Many shops with tasty treats line the main street in Slumbertown where the boys join other children in a marching band! The adventure ends when the sun rises, and Mama enters their bedroom. The boys awake from their Slumbertown travels, refreshed and ready to greet the new day filled with endless possibilities!

Let's face it, parenting is challenging, particularly at the end of a long day with small children. Seasoned author, university professor, mother of three and grandmother of seven, Dr. TJ Wray knows that the number one concern of most parents is sleep. She understands that getting your baby or young child to sleep is often a struggle. Today, there are all sorts of new theories, ideas, and ingenious inventions floating around that seldom yield lasting results. The problem is that every child is different and what works for one child may not work for another. Even if you invest in fancy self-rocking cradles, room-darkening curtains, and sound machines, you may find that none of these devices work for your baby or young child.

Dr. Wray addresses parents' concerns in her "Note the Parents" in the preface to reading Slumbertown. She outlines a simple, basic bedtime routine for parents and children that includes tips to create a subtle shift from the busyness of the day to the peacefulness of sleep. Part of this process is the reading of gentle, sleepy-time books, like Good Night Moon and now, Slumbertown. This book will allow your child to fall asleep faster while making bedtime a joy for parents and children alike.