Jibberwillies At Night - Hardcover

RACHEL VAIL wrote Jibberwillies at Night in September 2001. "Lots of people had Jibberwillies right then," Ms. Vail says. "It was hard to know how to cope. So we took turns catching each other's Jibberwillies in our buckets. And it helped.” Ms. Vail lives in New York City with her husband and two sons. Her bucket is always ready.

PreSchool-Grade 2—Katie tells readers right from the get-go that she is one happy kid. She loves to play with her friends, cuddle with her parents and little brother, and just twirl through life. That is, until she goes to bed. Most nights she can "comfortable" herself right to sleep, but other nights the Jibberwillies come. This is not a new subject but the treatment here is altogether fresh. In Heo's delightful artwork, the Jibberwillies are not frightening; they are more odd-looking than anything else. Their name might sound shivery but it doesn't conjure up awful ogres hovering over the bed. Katie tries to make them go away but it just doesn't work. Mommy comes in and, with Katie nearby, catches the creatures in a bucket and tosses them out an open window. This acknowledgment of a child's fear and allaying it makes for a positive and reassuring message. Well written and artfully designed, this is a sound choice for any collection. Pair it with Ed Emberley's Go Away, Big Green Monster! (Little, Brown, 2005) to be sure the Jibberwillies are gone for good.—Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
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