Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Blair offers viewers a fantastical nighttime adventure. Because "Watson wasn't sleepy," he worries about what might be hiding under the bed or in his closet. Suddenly, a beam of light appears from beneath his covers, and when he crawls underneath he finds himself in a tent filled with stars. The stars illuminate a path, which Watson follows into a forest. "And since Watson wasn't sleepy," he joins a band of strange creatures (after being reassured that they wouldn't harm "someone brought to them by the stars") traveling along the path. Small inset images of the boy slowly dozing off belie the refrain that compels each page-turn ("And since Watson wasn't sleepy") until the "very, very sleepy" conclusion. Digitally colored pen-and-ink illustrations in subdued nighttime hues follow all the narrative twists and turns; the crosshatched illustrations of imaginative creature-filled escapades recall classic Sendak. Equal parts magical and soothing, the story could serve as a wonder-filled read-aloud or a calming bedtime tale. (c) Copyright 2023. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Bedtime shenanigans take on a comforting tone in this tale of epic adventuring under the sheets. As a jammies-footed, tan-skinned kid stares unblinking into the night, the narrator informs us, “Watson couldn’t sleep.” Fretting about the nasties and beasties that might lurk in the dark, he desperately wishes to be “anywhere else but here.” Only then does Watson notice the glow beneath his covers. Investigating more closely, he discovers an entire world. And whether he encounters pathways winding into mysterious woods or friendly monsters running a trolley, the text reads, “And since Watson wasn’t sleepy…” and on he goes. Soon it becomes clear to readers (if not Watson himself) that he is growing increasingly exhausted with each new discovery. The great triumph of the book, then, is not the final tower that Watson scales but the pillow that cushions his head when his adventures come to a close. Watson is like a 21st-century Little Nemo, his Slumberland just a duvet away. Dynamic pen-and-ink crosshatchings against a palette of deep navy blues and dusk-colored purples suffuse Watson’s story with an appropriately mellow bedtime feel, never becoming too dark or bleak. Tone is Blair’s strength, and kids will enjoy following Watson’s twisty paths with their fingers. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Nighttime fears begone! They prove no match for a vibrant imagination and the occasional cool monster. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Publishers Weekly
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Worried about possible monsters at bedtime, a boy takes refuge beneath his quilt and discovers beneath it not only stars, but a winding path through an expansive land. The journey that ensues makes for a classic bedtime adventure, complete with a mysterious forest, friendly monsters, and a trolley ride “through an ancient city,/ along treacherous cliffs,// and over the sea to a tiny island/ with a very tall tower.” With each twist, a refrain—“And since Watson wasn’t sleepy...”—explains the pale-skinned protagonist’s decision to proceed even farther. Fatigue increasingly overcomes the child nevertheless—Watson is so droopy-eyed upon arriving at the tower that he can barely climb its spiraling stairs, before tucking in for a good night’s rest, even amid text hinting that the monsters may still lurk. Digitally colored with midnight hues, Blair’s closely worked pen and ink drawings frequently take a long-distance aerial perspective, emphasizing the maze-like aspect of Watson’s explorations. It’s dream-inspiring bedtime fare that emphasizes a child’s solo arc toward self-soothing and, eventually, sleep. Ages 4–8. (Apr.)

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Blair serves us a gentler take on Where the Wild Things Are in his blue-toned tale of a sleepless boy’s nighttime adventure. With thoughts of tentacles and closet monsters dancing in his head, Watson’s round eyes are as open as can be, despite him being tucked into a cozy bed. Just as a wish to be “anywhere else but here” flits through his head, a light glows from beneath his blanket. He tentatively lifts the blanket and discovers an entirely new world, its pillowy, star-studded sky propped up by long sticks. The stars illuminate a winding path, which Watson—cat stuffie in hand—begins to follow because he’s not sleepy after all. Odd, charming details unfold as Watson wanders through the slumberland, cast in teals, mauve, and deep indigo and shaded with crosshatching, where he discovers a forest populated by strange (but friendly!) creatures. The journey becomes increasingly fantastic as the boy ventures on, becoming ever more tired in the process. Eventually, he crawls from beneath the night tent and back into his bed, where he falls immediately to sleep. The artwork in this imaginative bedtime tale will captivate little ones with its peculiar, dreamlike details. It also sidesteps being scary, offering comfort in the wonders that the night can bring.