by Roz Chast
First published 2023
Nellie Bee Nightly has a problem with bedtime. She went to sleep last night, so why should she need more sleep ever again? Around her, everything else shows signs of exhaustion. The popcorn lacks energy to pop. The nightstand slouches over because it cannot stay upright. But Nellie feels completely awake and ready for adventure. She draws a mustache on her goldfish. She suspends her bed from the ceiling and installs a swimming pool where it used to sit. While the world grows drowsy around her, Nellie insists she will never feel tired. This creates a funny standoff between a determined little girl and the natural need for rest. The story captures the familiar battle between children who want to stay up and the inevitable pull of sleep.
Genres: family-life, humor, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: determined-protagonist, found-family
40 pages · Hardcover · Roaring Brook Press