Denise Fleming has a wonderful way of incorporating craft that young children can incorporate into their writing. Time to Sleep is one of my favorite for fall. Denise creates a rhythm that children enjoy and can interact with. The theme allows you to connect this book with science concepts as well: seasons and animal habitat. Time to Sleep creates background knowledge for kindergarten, first, and second graders. In regards to intermediate grades, Time to Sleep can be a model for making a book about a content area concept for a younger grade. The structure also provides a way to link one concept to the next.
Savorings in reading and for writing for Time to Sleep:
- repeating line – each animal states at the end of the scene “But first I must tell…” and names the next animal
- circular text – begins with the bear and ends with ladybug telling bear
- hibernation – characteristics of fall weather are sprinkled in within the conversation.
- alliteration (“Snail was slowly slithering …. It is time to seal your shell and sleep.“)
- onomatopoeia (“Scritch, scratch, scratch.”)
- varied sentences – length and types (Turtle blinked. “Winter?” “Yes, winter,” said Skunk. “It is time for you to dig down deep and sleep.“)
Posted by MaryHelen 
Book Savors 