Good Night, Sleep Tight

Esther van den Berg (1982) studied illustration at the art academy in Kampen, where she also grew up. At the academy she liked to stand with her fingers in the black ink of one of the printing presses. After a good turn, etchings, linocuts and monotypes appeared on the other side of the printing press.After her graduation she left for the Randstad and worked as a designer. Only eight years after her graduation it started to itch again; she had to start drawing again! Under the name PUIKEPRENT she tried new things as an illustrator. Nowadays Esther largely makes her illustrations digitally. Because of her artisanal education, she is always looking for the right texture and a hand-painted feeling. Her prints are atmospheric, with an eye for detail, often with a wink.

"Residents of Bug Hotel prepare for bed.A perky ladybug named Dot peers directly at readers from the title page and announces she’s “checking to see who is ready for bed,” adding, “are you?” The initial page turn reveals a deliciously detailed, double-page cross section of Bug Hotel, with guests in their respective rooms engaged in evening activities as Dot arrives at the reception desk in time to “make sure all the other bugs are getting ready for bed.” Poised with her pencil and clipboard, Dot first visits Dung Beetle and joins him in a bedtime bath. Next, she finds Stick Bug selecting pajamas and chooses a polka-dot set for herself. As Fly prepares for tooth-brushing, Dot decides to do likewise. “Pill Bug is on the toilet” when Dot arrives (trailing some toilet paper), prompting her to observe “it’s always a good idea to pee before bed” to guarantee a “dry night.” Dot’s last stop is the room of Bookworm, who is of course reading before bedtime. Dot peruses a picture book. Before heading to bed, Dot reviews her bedtime checklist, but the bugs remind her there’s one last thing to do. The bold, colorful, detail-rich illustrations with their nighttime atmosphere and amusing crawly critters involved in their bedtime routines, the reassuring, repetitive “good night, sleep tight” refrain, and the generous physical format ensure rapt reader participation.A delightful guide to a perfect bedtime prep. " - Kirkus Reviews “A gazillion wee details fill this cheery and absorbing picture book about bedtime in a bug hotel.As bedtime storybooks go, the pattern in Good Night, Sleep Tight is comfortingly familiar: a narrator goes through a series of steps before tucking in for the night. The magic here is in the details. Ladybug Dot carries a clipboard from room to room, making sure everyone is on target for bedtime. Has Dung Beetle taken his bath? Check. Stick Bug donned her pajamas? Check. Fly brushed teeth? Check.Dutch illustrator Esther van den Berg, who previously illustrated Such a Library!: A Yiddish Folktale Re-imagined, has a bold and droll artistic style that features bright colors and figures with exaggerated attributes. Readers may want to linger in each guest's room, finding something new and sometimes giggle-worthy with repeated viewings of the digital illustrations. Fly has a framed print of a steaming pile of poop with a couple of flies (relatives, perhaps?) hovering above. Boots rest on a leaf doormat. Dung Beetle's bathtub is a teacup. There's more scatological humor in the bathroom where Pill Bug and Dot pee before bed. A child's illustration of a bearded pirate in a pink dress adorns Bookworm's walls, where Dot looks at books on Bookworm's sardine-can bed.A sweet surprise--one final thing to check off the list before they all go to sleep--brings this fun book to a satisfying close, even if the Dutch-born author missed the opportunity to end with "Good night, sleep tight... don't let the bedbugs bite!"” – Shelf Awareness "Young children will thoroughly enjoy this book. The story is a wonderful reminder of things that should be completed before jumping into bed. The story ending is beautifully stated. Young children will appreciate this delightful reminder of items before bedtime." - ITEEA"This is an adorable little book with wonderfully bright illustrations and a cute storyline! There are so many things to look at on each page, and Esther van den Berg did a wonderful job of bringing her words to life." - Lubbock Public Library"This is a cute story! The illustrations are vivid and super adorable. Dot, the "ladybird" at the heart of the story, is visiting each resident of the bug hotel, to make sure they are getting ready for bed. There are a couple interactions that a more observant child will ask about (like Dot jumping in the bath with the dung beetle, or hopping on the potty next to the pill bug - and then they both leave without washing hands! But little details like that are easy to explain. Overall a cute bedtime story that a parent can use to reinforce routines or introduce new ones." - Alma Public Library"This would be a cute book for an insect or bed time/pajama themed story time. I really enjoyed the gorgeous illustrations!" - Lorain Public Library System