• Age: 3 to 7
• Grade: p to 2
• Reading age: 3 to 7

In this sweet tale of family life from the author of A Stopwatch from Grampa, a boisterous adoptive family welcomes their new baby boy --- who, thankfully, has a unique requirement for sleeping!

When J.J. arrives at his new home, his family is bubbling over with excitement to meet him! The four children welcome their tiny new brother, then, when he falls asleep, Dad asks them to try to be quiet. In no time at all, though, the clamor of family life grows loud with drumming on the table, shouting across the room and chattering to the dog. But to everyone's surprise, J.J. sleeps through it all! Even when the children are running and yelling in his room, J.J. sleeps. “Not much seems to bother this little fella,” says Dad. Well, as they discover, there is one thing that disturbs baby J.J.'s sleep . . .

Author Loretta Garbutt, whose debut picture book, A Stopwatch from Grampa, was named one of Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2020, perfectly captures the small moments of family life that loom large to young children. Here, a family welcomes their newest member, who has been adopted, a situation not often portrayed in picture books. It's a heartwarming story that hits all the right notes: humor, a family focus and a delicious twist --- the baby hates a quiet house! It offers a wonderful opportunity for conversations about what it means to be a family. The illustrations by Erika Rodriguez Medina warmly portray the busyness of the household and the closeness of the family members, along with loads of relatable and funny antics going on around the baby.

LORETTA GARBUTT developed her passion for children’s books while working as a storyteller, bookseller, and reviewer. Her picture books include A Stopwatch from Grampa and And J.J. Slept. Loretta writes from her home in Toronto, Ontario, and believes that finding the perfect words is just as challenging as choosing the perfect colors.

Loretta Garbutt's profile page

ERIKA RODRIGUEZ MEDINA is an art teacher and illustrator, currently living and working in Vancouver, British Columbia. Comfortable with both traditional and digital media, she prefers organic shapes and natural-looking textures, which will find their way in everything she makes. If asked, Erika will tell you that her favorite things to illustrate are expressive characters, grumpy children, and subjects related to plants and nature.

Erika Rodriguez Medina's profile page

A good discussion starter, this poignant, accessible picture book explores grief, the comfort provided by the passage of time, and the way in which memories allow us to keep loved ones in our hearts forever.—School Library Journal, starred review (Praise for A Stopwatch from Grampa)

An excellent and understated portrayal of grief from a child's perspective.—Kirkus Reviews, starred review (Praise for A Stopwatch from Grampa)

This story about loss, grief, and healing is both appealing and accessible.—Cooperative Children's Book Center (Praise for A Stopwatch from Grampa)