Bedtime Stories is a new column that will highlight Children’s Books with a diverse, global perspective.
Forgetful sisters Siba and Saba are always losing something. Sandals, slippers, sweaters — you name it, they lost it. When the two sisters fall asleep each night, they dream about the things they have lost that day. Until, one night, their dreams begin to reveal something entirely unexpected…
Sleep Well, Siba & Saba, written by Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl and illustrated by Sandra van Doorn, is a gently rhyming and alliterative story with dreamlike illustrations that highlight the author’s Ugandan heritage.
I don’t think it would come as a surprise to anyone with a child in their lives that things often get lost. Sometimes those things are expensive and sometimes those things are the sippy cup that you swear they were holding just five seconds ago. It can be a bemusing process for a parent to accommodate. As such, this story of two forgetful but devoted sisters is sweetly familiar and completely heartwarming. Isdahl and van Doorn together weave through references to numbers, colors, textures, patterns, and to Uganda, making sure that there is something to catch the imagination of children of many ages, but also plenty of invitations to learn more. And I, even as an adult, find myself wondering what I can discover by following the breadcrumbs through the sister’s lives and dreams. Most powerful is the fact that this isn’t just a story about childhood, but the story of growing up, even if it is just a little bit of growing up. It’s incredible to see each sister discover a thing that will take them forward into their futures and onto new amazing adventures.
Sleep Well, Siba & Saba is an utter delight to explore and the perfect tale to read a child to sleep. Suitable for children ages 4-8.
