Whenever Ava can’t sleep, she counts sheep. But Ava takes so long to fall asleep, it’s the sheep that are growing tired-until finally, they quit! When the sheep promise to find a replacement that Ava can count on, chaos ensues as chickens, cows, pigs, hippos, and more try their hand at jumping over Ava’s fence. Finding the perfectly peaceful replacement for sheep might not be so easy after all. With irresistibly adorable art, this delightful take on a familiar sleep tactic is sure to become a bedtime favorite.

What Kind of Book is Can't Sleep Without Sheep

What Questions Should I Ask My Child

Do you ever have trouble falling asleep? What do you do to help yourself fall asleep? What else could Ava have counted to help her fall asleep?

Reviews

Mr. Staccato

6.00

Marmee

5.50

After you read this adorable bedtime book, you definitely will not take counting sheep for granted! Super cute premise, adorable illustrations and a great lesson to be appreciative of those helping you, be they real or imaginary. This book also gets points from me for having a diverse main character .

B is for Bookworm

5.25

Thank you to all the sheep who let us count them as we fall asleep! I thought this book was very fun and a great, light-hearted bedtime book. Plus there's a great message of being thankful and telling others you appreciate them. :)

School Library Journal

Critic

Kim T. Ha

Can't Sleep Without Sheep will quickly become a bedtime favorite and a can't-sleep-without book.

Kirkus

Critic

Full review

. . .a gently humorous book that families will undoubtedly come to count on as well.

Book Lists That Include This Book

Books about diversity

Books about sleep

Books about counting and numbers

The Creatives Behind the Book

Author

Susanna Leonard Hill

Susanna is an award winning children’s author who has authored 15 children’s books with 10 more forthcoming over the next two years. She was born in New York City and attended Brearley School, then graduated with a degree in English and Psychology from Middlebury College. Later she received her M.A. and M.Ed. from Columbia University. She spent many years teaching dyslexic students, and she has been writing stories ever since the second grade, when she wrote her first story, The Girl and The Witch. Her books have earned awards including New York Times Bestseller, Junior Library Guild Selection, Amelia Bloomer Project Feminist Books For Youth, Booklist Children’s Pick, Children’s Book of the Month, Parents Magazine #1 Board Book 2017, and Gold Mom’s Choice Award. In addition to authoring children’s books, she is a mother to five, a teacher, and a lecturer.

Illustrator

Mike Wohnoutka

Ever since Mike can remember he knew he wanted to be an artist. His dad, who was an engineer at the Hiway Department, would bring home reams of paper that had hiway plans on one side and were blank on the other. He would be so excited to have all that paper to draw on and would fill each sheet with race cars, snowmobiles, baseball players, super heroes - everything he was interested in. In high school his art teacher, Mr. Chase, encouraged Mike to pursue art as a career. This, along with a scholarship, led him to the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia. Since graduating with a B.F.A. in Illustration, Mike has illustrated over 20 books for children. He has worked with various clients including Random House, Dutton Children’s Books, Clarion Books, Holiday House, Scholastic Books, Bloomsbury Publishing, Walker &amp;amp; Co., Hyperion Books, Sterling Books, Cricket Magazine Group, General Mills, 3M, and Peaceable Kingdom Press.