While you're sleeping by Mick Jackson. Illus. by John Broadley

Night time. Time to snuggle down under the covers, think briefly about tomorrow and drift off to the land of sweet dreams.

But night is not a time of peace and quiet for all. There is much that happens. Weather changes, animals hunt and there are many many workers who ensure that the wheels of modern life keep turning, and on the other side of the world children are going about their daytime life.

With its highly detailed imagery, which are fully explored in the excellent teachers' notes, this book introduces the young reader to another world which exists side by side with their own.

This world of the night-time worker will either acknowledge what they already know because they have a family member who works then (and thus they see their own lives in print), or expose them to a whole new concept helping them to understand how the world works and appreciate those who make it so. Either way, it opens up a realm of possibilities to explore from children sharing their own experiences to investigating what causes night and darkness. Starting with a focus on things that are close to the child, it gradually encompasses a broader perspective to show that there is always much life and activity happening somewhere, and even though they might be asleep another child will be sitting in class. Perfect for this year's CBCA Book Week theme.

This is an original concept that will capture the imagination with its intriguing cover - why is there a bed floating over the town? - and the calm, undramatic text will soothe and comfort.

Themes: Sleep, Bedtime, Imagination.

Barbara Braxton