A nighttime seal of approval

Water Beds: Sleeping in the Ocean

by Gail Langer Karwosky; illustrated by Connie McLennan

I haven’t lost much sleep wondering how marine mammals from orcas to elephant seals get a little shut-eye of their own without drowning, but this book has a major “holy sea cow” factor going for it.

Dolphins sleep with one eye open, for example, and harbor seals “hang like bottles.” A little boy in red pajamas sleeps right beside them, helping kids imagine what they’d look like in the same positions.

Karwosky and McLennan do a good job revealing the animals’ secrets, and activities at the back reinforce the lessons. Not to mention it adds ammunition to parents’ arsenal in getting their kids ready for sleepy-time: if a walrus can snooze in the arctic cold, kiddo, what’s your excuse?

Rating: *\*\*\