Alexis Deacon is Back

    If you remember the book Slow Loris, it would be just as much for the illustrations as the text. While You Are Sleeping is not the book of the romantic film (with a similar name) but it is appealing to the romantic vision of a child and her stuffed toys.
    I always love having mini sleepover guests because they all say that they didn't sleep a wink. Believe me, I am not putting peas under their mattresses but rather holding back pouring the tequila in their milk. But the reason those little slumbers say that, I think, is because sleeping is one of the obvious manifestations of children's mortality. And as we know, most children are planning to live forever, sleep is reminding them that ultimately they will lose the battle.
    If the illustrations weren't so delicious, this book would not grabbed me as much. But they are. A wonderfully vivid pastel pallet, highlights Deacon's accomplished pencil. The sock monkey is my personal favourite. The storyline has a fascination for children. What goes on while they are sleeping, appeals to them. Imagining that their animals anthropomorphise at night is right up their alley. I think this book is perfect for 5-7 year olds who seem to grapple with the more sophisticated aspects of sleep.