Publisher's Weekly Review
There's a back-up on the bedtime beltway in this humorous fantasy about the various visitors to children's slumberland. When Ben, a lad with a loose tooth, toddles off to sleep, a long line of nighttime guests begins showing up in his bedroom. The sandman arrives first, sprinkling good, sweet dreams... of peaches and cream. He's followed by a tough-talking tooth fairy (replete with a large pair of pliers and an anchor tattooed on her forearm), who's running behind schedule. Soon the Thing-Under-the-Bed (which claims to look like whatever gives you the willies), some wailing ghosts and an off-season Santa Claus (Blast those elves! Second time I've fallen for that this year) make the scene. Luckily, Ben has the sense to tell them all to clear off so he can get some sleep. Collins's (What If?) premise is hilarious, even if his tooth fairy sometimes adds too cranky a tone to the mix (and even if she exceeds her customary role by performing tooth extractions here). In addition to having their funny bones tickled, readers will admire Ben's nonchalant bravery in the face of things that go bump in the night. Ages 4-up. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Booklist Review
PreS.^-Gr. 2. After Ben falls asleep with a loose tooth, his bedroom window "crreeaaks" open and in come the Sandman, two ghosts, the Tooth Fairy, the Thing-Under-the-Bed, and Santa Claus. As the night visitors argue about who's doing what, the picture perspective shifts from close-up to overhead to reflect each intruder's point of view. Eventually, the increasing din wakes Ben, who mutters, "Could you all clear off? Some of us are trying to sleep." And the visitors do. The hand-lettered text, with sounds ("Wooooo"; "Rattle, rattle") printed in extra-large, display type, invites children to chime in, and the details in the color illustrations will tickle the picture-book crowd: Sandman wears sneakers; Tooth Fairy has an anchor tattoo and carries pliers; and Ben wears red bunny pajamas. Youngsters will also appreciate the matter-of-fact way that Ben dispatches the nighttime interlopers. --Julie Cummins
