Sitting on a Zinnia & Other Sweet Dreams

No need to fear the dark when lights out is the gateway to uproarious adventure. Bedtime is the best part of the day, a girl muses as she drifts off to a succession of fanciful destinations. Some are Zen-like: serenely sitting, yoga-style atop a prairie flower. Most are laugh aloud absurd, involving waltzing fettuccini, underwear clad monkeys, marshmallow wigs and bathtubs full of pigs. Bell, a longtime teacher, taps a deep well of imagination, carrying young readers to silly, kid-pleasing places. Williams-Ng, contributes a whimsical style that compliments and elevates the text. A few of the illustrations, the cover choice in particular, shine in their showcase of the artist's skill. Delightfully ridiculous.