Little Critter, Will You Please Go Now!

When I was little, one of my very favorite books was Dr. Seuss's Marvin K. Mooney, Will You Please Go Now! In it, a furry little boy named Marvin is presented with a seemingly endless list of options by which to leave, which I always took to mean going to bed, given the fact that he's an obstinate youngster in his pajamas, though the book never comes right out and says it.

In Mercer Mayer's Just Go to Bed, the title leaves little room for doubt as to what is being asked of Little Critter, who's busy imagining all sorts of exciting adventures for himself. Every time his dad tries to get him one step closer to bedtime, he finds inspiration for another flight of fancy.

With his faithful mouse in tow, he practices his lassoing skills, bedecked in snazzy boots, holster, vest and ten-gallon hat; concocts battle plans, eyes steely under his paper hat; vaporizes robots with his ray gun; engineers a locomotive imperiled by bandits. His imaginative rambles are enjoyable, but what I find really entertaining is the way his dad plays along. Instead of just telling him to go to bed or take a bath, he pays attention to his son's current fantasy and uses it to his advantage.

"It's time for the cowboy to come inside," his dad says. "It's time for the general to take a bath." When that gentle persuasion doesn't cause Little Critter to stir, Mr. Critter dons a saucepan hat and, pretending to be a giant robot, abducts the little space man and plops him in the tub. He wears glasses here, which isn't always the case; I think it makes him more endearing. He does look downright intimidating on a couple of pages on which he hollers at his son in aggravation, particularly when the little tyke dresses up in his adorable bunny suit pajamas (which at least are blue instead of pink) and goes hopping around the living room.

Bedtime needn't be such a traumatic experience. This entertaining book is a great one to fall asleep to, and before the little ones Just Go to Bed, they'll get a good dose of imagination and parental affection, the sort of themes bound to lead to sweet dreams.