Time for Bed, Miyuki
Time for Bed, Miyuki book cover

Time for Bed, Miyuki

Hardcover – Picture Book, September 18, 2018

Price
$14.49
Format
Hardcover
Pages
26
Publisher
Princeton Architectural Press
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1616897055
Dimensions
8.9 x 0.5 x 11.95 inches
Weight
13.8 ounces

Description

""[I]t is the illustrations that steal the show. Ratanavanh uses plenty of bold color combinations, textured landscapes, and larger than life proportions to create dreamy scenes punctuated with Japanese patterns and motifs. These drawings of dreamlike fantasies are sure to inspire the imaginations of young readers." – The International Examiner, ""Roxane Marie Galliez and Seng Soun Ratanavanh’s gentle, gloriously colorful and imaginative Time for Bed, Miyuki also deals with cycles - the cycles a child might pass through on her way to sleep. While this is a bedtime book, it also honors the schedules children set for themselves before bed. Miyuki’s grandfather, wise and patient, allows Miyuki time for her own rituals of readying body and mind. He confirms his granddaughter’s agenda, rather than supplanting it with his own. Together they gather the snails, prepare for the Dragonfly Queen’s arrival with water carrots, turnips and radishes, cover the cats in a cozy blanket, dance, bathe and of course, most important, enjoy a bedtime story." - The New York Times Book Review"Time for Bed, Miyuki is a visually stimulating book that suspends time for just a few moments. It prolongs the routine bedtime ritual, morphing it from mundane habit into festive and pleasant inspiration. Time for Bed, Miyuki contains the type of rich and vibrant pretend play-life one hopes is inherent in every child."-NY Journal of Books"The striking artwork brings Miyuki’s imagination to life with wondrous, bright colors that curiously set a dreamy stage for this gorgeous bedtime story that also highlights intergenerational family bonds." - The Children's Book Review"Celebrating the loving care of nature, the indulgent feeding of a child's imagination and the unbreakable bonds of family, Time for Bed, Miyuki is sure to inspire sweet dreams."-Shelf AwarenessOutstanding Merit, Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year "Eye-catching, detailed artwork illuminates a sweet story about a girl, her grandfather, and an elusive bedtime. Natural elements such as the sun, flowers, a nightingale, and more appear in watercolor-and-colored-pencil illustrations full of fine, luminous details that immerse readers in their world. Clever readers will appreciate the story within a story and imagine what they might do in Miyuki's shoes. A gentle story about bedtime that sweetly captures the importance of nature, family, and childhood in Japanese culture." - Kirkus Reviews"Illustrator Seng Soun Ratanavanh’s art and palette are some sort of wonderful otherworldly dream. Time for Bed, Miyuki is an enchanting, poetic tale to settle down with at the end of the day. One of our favorites published this year."-Avery Augustine A graduate of the School of Fine Arts in Paris, Seng Soun Ratanavanh is an illustrator and painter based near Paris, France.Roxane Marie Galliez is a prize-winning writer, poet, and children's book author. She has a doctorate in the history of ancient civilizations and traveled the Pacific Islands for several years as a researcher and journalist. She lives near Saint-Etienne, France.

Features & Highlights

  • Outstanding Merit, Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year
  • “The striking artwork brings Miyuki's imagination to life with wondrous, bright colors that curiously set a dreamy stage for this gorgeous bedtime story that also highlights intergenerational family bonds.” —
  • The Children's Book Review
  • “… gloriously colorful and imaginative” —The
  • New York Times
  • Book Review
  • A beautifully illustrated story for any young reader whose imagination peaks at bedtime, from award children’s book author Roxane Maria Galliez, with stunning Japanese-inspired artwork by Seng Soun Ratanavanh.
  • Miyuki doesn’t want to go to bed—there are just too many things to do! She needs to water the vegetables, gather snails, and prepare for the arrival of the Dragonfly Queen. Luckily, her patient grandfather follows along on her adventures, gently encouraging her to go to sleep.   In this beautiful intergenerational story about family, nature, and love, young children and their parents will find a welcome companion for their own bedtime journey.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(120)
★★★★
25%
(50)
★★★
15%
(30)
★★
7%
(14)
-7%
(-14)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

Beautiful Japanese-design-influenced illustrations engage and delight young and old

I love beautifully illustrated children's books and this book is one of the loveliest. As others have eloquently described the illustrations are totally delightful and engaging for children and adults. I gave the book to my 5 year old grand daughter and watched closely as her mother read it to her: my grand daughter looked intently at the illustrations and listened attentively. Each page has much going on with elements of nature, childhood, origami, Japan, and fantasy. While there is much going on, it's harmoniously brought together by the elements of design that flow though out. A charming bedtime story text with My only regret is that I did not find the language flowed as beautifully as the illustrations, but the structure and message are clever so overall I recommend this book whole heartedly.
5 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Patience at bedtime helps little ones relax and prepare for sleep.

A great story reflecting on a child's line of reasoning and argument. Miyuki has string of excuses, or reasons, for not going to bed. Her grandfather is patient and wise until she finally exhausts her reasons and succombs to her tiredness.
4 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Rising sun symbol present in book

Did a single East Asian person review this book before it was published? In the last page of this book, there is a rising sun clearly depicted in the top left corner. For those of you who may not be aware, the rising sun is the symbol and on the flag of imperial Japan. It was heavily in use by the Japanese during WW2 and is affiliated with Japanese colonization of South Korea and China. It is an extremely offensive symbol, especially to Koreans (who were subject to extreme cruelty during the Japanese colonization in the early 20th century) and is pretty much equivalent to a swastika.
3 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Rising sun symbol present in book

Did a single East Asian person review this book before it was published? In the last page of this book, there is a rising sun clearly depicted in the top left corner. For those of you who may not be aware, the rising sun is the symbol and on the flag of imperial Japan. It was heavily in use by the Japanese during WW2 and is affiliated with Japanese colonization of South Korea and China. It is an extremely offensive symbol, especially to Koreans (who were subject to extreme cruelty during the Japanese colonization in the early 20th century) and is pretty much equivalent to a swastika.
3 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Rising sun symbol present in book

Did a single East Asian person review this book before it was published? In the last page of this book, there is a rising sun clearly depicted in the top left corner. For those of you who may not be aware, the rising sun is the symbol and on the flag of imperial Japan. It was heavily in use by the Japanese during WW2 and is affiliated with Japanese colonization of South Korea and China. It is an extremely offensive symbol, especially to Koreans (who were subject to extreme cruelty during the Japanese colonization in the early 20th century) and is pretty much equivalent to a swastika.
3 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Beautiful All Ages Book You Won’t Tire of Reading

Beautiful story and with creative artwork that celebrates family, imagination, play, and Japanese culture. My kids, 3 & 7, both love this book, and we never tire of reading it to them.
3 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Sweet story

Beautiful artwork and fun story. Some of the pages feel a little overwhelming because they have SO many patterns!
3 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Beautiful and whimsical

I was attracted to this book for the stunning and whimsical artwork. I also like that the book is about a little girl and her grandfather- a combo that’s a little more unique in the world of children’s literature. The story is simple but endearing and is entertaining enough the hold the attention of my 5 and 3 year olds, though it’s sophisticated enough that they can enjoy it for many years to come.
2 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

My very top pick for picture book of the year!

LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! Time for Bed, Miyuki just jumped to the top spot on my list of best picture books of the year. The story is lovely and the illustrations by Seng Soun Ratanavanh are just beautiful.

There's no deep lesson here, just a sweet, sweet story about a little girl, Miyuki, whose grandfather would very much like her to accept that it is bedtime. Miyuki, though, has far too many things she still needs to do before she could possibly think about going to bed. Her grandfather gamely helps her finish such important tasks as building a canopy for the dragonfly queen's impending visit and dancing the last dance of the day to thank the sun for shining so nicely.

Roxane Marie Galliez has written a story that is simple and charming. The story is both unique yet familiar -- anyone who has tried to put an active child to bed knows this story. I loved the use of repetitive text after each task was finished and the story is just short enough that hearing "one more time!" wouldn't make me cringe.

I'm so thrilled to have been able to read this book as a DRC courtesy of NetGalley and Princeton Architectural Press
2 people found this helpful
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Beyond Charmed!

My son is only 11 months old, but we read this book every night before bed and it's the perfect relaxing story with just stunning illustrations. It could not come more highly recommended. We try to follow a Waldorf curriculum and this is the PERFECT book to go along with that. I'm on a mission to gobble up anything by the artist and the illustrator.
1 people found this helpful