The colors in this book are just stunning. I love the brightness of the artwork. Finn really enjoyed this book, probably because it reminded him so much of himself. He does anything he can not to go to sleep. I really enjoyed reading it and the imagination of the book.

This is such a cute book, following Miyuki and her grandfather through their loving tradition of reading bedtime stories together. Miyuki loves to delay going to bed and her reasons are hilariously creative! My daughter loved looking at the images as well as hearing the ideas Miyuki had, and even tries to use a few of them on me! This book has stunning illustrations and it a wonderfully poetic story. Highly recommend this book!

This is an absolutely gorgeous book with brilliant illustrations to engage you and pull you into this charming story. My daughter fights her sleep so this book is perfect for her, she loves having books read to her and I can see this being a firm favourite. 5 stars

This is an extremely gorgeous book! So many different patterns used, yet they don't clash at all! The execution is so clean and absolute. So beautiful! If illustrator Seng Soun Ratanavanh is on a platform I have an account for (Twitter, Bēhance, and Pinterest), I would follow her in a heartbeat. Highly recommended for the splendid artwork!

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a beautiful and brightly colored book. The pictures were very bright. It was a cute story and just the right length for bedtime.

#NetGalley

“Miyuki, it’s time for bed.”

“But, Grandfather, I must water my vegetables.” “All right,

Miyuki,” Grandfather sighed.

“Water your vegetables, and then it’s time for bed.”

Miyuki may well be creating a Canopy for the Queen but she is the Queen of Stalling. This beautifully illustrated children’s bedtime book is a French import with Japanese culture as its theme. Having lived in Japan, it’s imagery is a reminder of the years my family and I spent there. Miyuki is one of my favorite names too. There is such a gentle tenderness, a patience in her grandfather and this illustration in particular moves me.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-time-for-bed-miyuki-shoe-bed.jpg (the photo is included in the blog review)

(Image copyright Seng Soun Ratanavanh, 2018, text copyright Roxane Marie Galliez, 2018. Courtesy of Princeton Architectural Press.)

My daughter used to stuff her little feet into shoes just like the one that becomes Miyuki’s bed in the above photo, long after she outgrew her favorite pair. The mushroom, the details in all of the illustrations are perfection. I miss fun, sweet illustrated children’s books.

Like most children when it’s time to wind down, Miyuki’s imagination is running wild, her energy is contagious and lucky for her, Grandfather is more than willing to go along on her journey, accomplishing her many tasks. His soft sighs are the only tell that he is worn out. It really isn’t time for bed, no way, not yet.

The carp streamers (windsocks) known as Koinobori, that she sits upon in one of the illustrations dominate the towns during Children’s Day in May. I remember the beautiful colors the first time we saw them, isn’t it lovely, a day to celebrate children? This book is a nod to nature and it’s elements too. Lily pads, dragonflies, frogs, snails for travel, tiny birds, ants hard at work… its perfect imagery for a little one’s mind before entering dreamland. Growing up in the late 70’s and early 80’s children’s books had the best illustrations, I am so happy to see such artistry dedicated to the young today.

I am going to find a copy in French too for my grown children, it’s very sweet!

Out today!

Princeton Architectural Press

Grandfather is trying to get Miyuki to bed, but she keeps thinking of very important things that must be done before she can sleep.

I think the artwork for this can be somewhat described as an Asian-influenced art deco wonderland. It is magical and whimsical. The artwork definitely is a huge part of the allure to the story. The imaginativeness of the tasks that Miyuki comes up with that need to be done also get perks. I can totally see a child thoroughly wrapped up in their play world insisting these things need to be done, but I pretty much guarantee that 90% of them won’t be found in any other bedtime book. Miyuki’s grandfather is patient and totally willing to jump into her world to get things done…and eventually then get her to bed. He’s a smart one with just enough youth still in his heart to be able to imagine with Miyuki. If bedtime stories seem to be getting repetitive and dull, give this one a try. Also a good one for grandfathers and granddaughters to read together. And definitely pick it up for the artwork and the imagination regardless of your age.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Beautifully illustrated tale of a little girl, bedtime, and a very patient grandfather

Time for Bed, Miyuki is a gorgeous picture book with vibrant and whimsical creations wandering across the page. Miyuki is reluctant to go to bed, so she presents her grandfather with all the reasons that she cannot go to bed. One at a time, each excuse is patiently, gently, and lovingly considered and dealt with. As ants crawl across the page and a frog peeks from a wooden pail, Miyuki and her grandfather construct a canopy for the Dragonfly Queen and her court, water her vegetable garden, gather a snail family, cover the cat, dance the last dance of the day, and complete her bedtime ablutions. Yet another bedtime ritual must occur before Miyuki can find it in herself rest, but her grandfather patiently performs his role.

This story is sweetly told, and everyone understands that grandparents give in to requests quite a bit more easily than parents do, but perhaps there’s more to the story than that. But then again, children (and grandparents) can be incredibly creative when it comes to reasons for not climbing into bed and surrendering to sleep.

Time for Bed, Miyuki reads like a poem flowing from page to page. The amazingly detailed watercolor and colored pencil drawings include classic Japanese symbols and items from carp kites to bento boxes, intricate patterns, and bright, vibrant color schemes. Miyuki and her grandfather wear typical Japanese outfits in bright patterns. Adding to the story is the whimsy of scale as they ride kites, sport wings and dance atop mushrooms and gigantic vegetables. While Miyuki may bathe in what looks like a realistic bathroom with the exception of a cloud or two, her grandfather tucks her into a bed that’s a shoe resting on a tree stump in a room carpeted with mushrooms and lit by delicately bent stems of lilies of the valley.

If I natter on about the illustrations, it’s only because I wish you could hold this book in your hands and admire the artwork yourself before deciding whether to buy it. That is the disadvantage of online stores, that we cannot leaf through the entire picture book as we would usually do in a brick-and-mortar store, and See Inside is not always sufficient to give us a true look at the book. Picture books are one of my weaknesses and this one is simply amazing. Each picture has so many details to explore and to discuss. It’s just way too much fun as a story, as art, and as a window into Japanese culture.

Highly recommended for those who love childish endeavors, picture books, whimsical artwork, and children’s books. This is a story you can return to again and again.

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from the publisher through NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

Remember those days when you did not want to go to bed and made up excuses to delay bedtime? Well, Miyuki’s excuses are more whimsical than mine ever were! This book was a joy to read and the illustrations were a true visual treat!

Time for Bed, Miyuki by Roxane Marie Galliez follows little Miyuki as she has just one more thing to do before bed. She must water the garden, gather snails, and cover the cat among other things. All the while, patient Grandfather helps Miyuki with her fanciful tasks. This little storybook is full of gorgeous Japanese style artwork. My cubs and I loved the pictures. It wasn't a favourite of mine though, since even our young ones got exasperated with Miyuki's delaying tactics. Dilly-dallying and disobedience aren't something our family tolerates when it's time for bed, and Miyuki looks of an age to know better. I think I'd only recommend this to families I knew had a compatible mindset. It's not for everyone, since it has the potential to give young children the wrong idea about what is acceptable and not.

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Princeton Architectural Press for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a beautifully illustrated, cumulative tale about Miyuki and her Grandfather. There seems to always be one more thing to do before Miyuki can go to bed! When everything is finally done, all that is left if a bedtime story. The relationship depicted between Miyuki and Grandfather is very sweet and the illustrations are magical and vibrant.

Time for Bed, Miyuki is a beautifully illustrated book that shows a young Japanese girl and her grandfather. Miyuki doesn't want to go to bed yet, so she persuades her grandfather to help her undertake tasks in preparation for the visit of the "Dragonfly Queen".
They go to the garden and make a canopy under the cherry trees, Miyuki visits the vegetable garden, we see colorful and meticulous, joyful images of Japanese home life and culture as Miyuki thinks of more tasks to delay bedtime. Until it is finally time to rest. It's a book that will help slow down the evening and put a young child to bed.

Time for Bed, Miyuki is a charming, fantastical story of a girl who doesn't want to go to bed. While that is not an unusual theme for children's literature, this story stands out by its use of amusing fantasy elements (such as a family of giant snails, and creative use of character sizes), as well as the celebration of certain aspects of Japanese culture.

I love the colors in the illustrations, and the way that fantasy is incorporated into reality -- I think it strikes a good balance. Miyuki's grandfather patiently plays along with each of her requests to complete all the different things she must do before bed, but by the end she finally does lie down and go to sleep, making this a great, whimsical bedtime story.

(Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.)

This story is for every child who tries to put off going to sleep every night. Great illustrations - vibrant colors. Loved it!

This sweet and beautifully illustrated book tells the story of little Miyuki, who like children everywhere just won’t go to sleep. At night, she recalls all the things she needs to do (😀) : water the veggies, gather snails and prepare for the arrival of the Dragonfly Queen. Her kind grandfather indulges her while encouraging her bedtime in this lovely story reflective of gentle Japanese culture.

Pub Date 18 Sep 2018

Thanks to Princeton Architectural Press and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine.

#TimeForBedMiyuki #NetGalley

What a precious book. I had a smile on my face throughout as I walked with grandfather and granddaughter through the garden as they prepared (slowly) for bed. A loving grandfather engaging in all of his granddaughters requests to prepare for a magical feast that night. It was sweet, magical and a story that will stick with me.

The art is really cute and colorful, but I don't see many kids I know choosing to read this book over and over again. I feel as if the subject matter is more for adults or maybe the most eccentric kid you know.

This was cute, quick, repetitive, and definitely relatable for any child (or their parent) who just has to do “one last thing” before bed! The illustrations were beautiful and it was easy to love Miyuki and her grandfather. Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!

ime for Bed, Miyuki is a lovely book aimed at younger children (and their caregivers). I was enchanted from page one. The story is familiar to everyone who has ever interacted with a young child. ... "Just one more thing before bed"! Luckily Miyuki's grandfather is the epitome of patience.

There is a concept called 'iterative contextual repetition' (or similar formulations), which basically says that the human brain learns by hearing and repeating the same things over and over and learning things by gradually building lists is a very effective way to learn. There are many examples of cumulative songs/poems/stories such as The 12 Days of Christmas, The Rattlin' Bog, The House that Jack Built, and others. This book uses that format very effectively for the narrative text.

Miyuki's whimsically imaginative before-bedtime to-do list includes a pavilion for the coming visit of the Dragonfly Queen (and her court), taking her snails for a walk, knitting a sweater for her cat, and more. Each activity is accompanied by full page illustrations which are breathtakingly lovely, crisp, and beautifully rendered. This is a wonderful book for children and adults alike and would make a super read-together for bedtime (or library read-along).

Superlative book. Five stars

Stats:
32 pages, release date 18 September, 2018, available in hardcover format.
Author: Roxane Marie Galliez
Illustrator: Seng Soun Ratanavanh
Published by Princeton Architectural Press

Everyone who has put a child to bed will identify with the grandfather trying to get his granddaughter to finish up each one-more-thing before she settles in for the night. The amazing illustrations detail the beautiful and imaginary world that Miyuki must attend to before she goes to sleep.