Arlo by Catherine Rayner is a wonderful bedtime story that is enhanced by gorgeous illustrations and a gentle singsong cadence that is sure to lull little ones off to sleep.

Arlo the lion just cannot fall asleep, and everyone knows that lions, more than most, need their sleep! Frustrated with his predicament, Arlo meets Owl who shares the secret to reaching a peaceful slumber.

This is a beautiful story that is sure to become a nighttime favourite. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Arlo the lion is fatigued! He has tried everything to get to sleep but...

“The grass was too prickly, and the earth was too hard.…The sun was too hot, but the night was too cold.”

What is an exhausted lion to do to be able to curl up and drift off to sleep? He is frustrated, very, very weary and all alone on this dark and never-ending night.


He has an encounter with a nocturnal owl that helps him with his insomnia problem. She quietly sings a calming song to him that will grant him a deep and restful slumber.

“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.”

Will Arlo take her wise advice and finally get the peaceful shut-eye that he is longing for?

The illustrations are gorgeous. They are vibrant, colourful and mesmerizing. This a perfect bedtime story to be shared just before turning off the light. I highly recommend this book! It's a winner.

I really enjoyed this story. It was short and simple and great for kids. I’m not a parent, but I can imagine the songs being perfect for helping children find ways to relax and fall asleep. The artwork is a really unusual style, at first I wasn’t sure but it definitely grew on me and I loved the scenery when they’re imagining where they’d like to be.