The Counting Sheep by Natashia Curtin

This very funny picture book shows the efforts of four sheepish friends trying to break into the music industry. Each plays a different instrument, and one day they pack the kombi van and head off. The first night as they finish their show, they find the whole audience is asleep. The next night the same thing happens. They consult the reviews on their website and find they are less than complimentary. They ask some of their friends for help. Kylie kangaroo suggests they try hip hop, Alice the cow wants music to Mooooooo to, Mbeka the elephant wants music with a big stomping beat and Tran the alligator wants rock. They try out all the suggests but find all their concerts end in the same way, the audiences are fast asleep. They cancel their next show but a small voice asks them not to leave. Bilby has a problem, one he finds is shared with other animals. None of them can sleep through the night, and so during the day they sleep and miss out on things with their friends, or are called lazy when nodding off during the day. They are all exhausted and want a good night’s sleep and have travelled to listen to the concert.

The band decides to hold the concert, and finds as usual, the audience falls sleep, giving the band a standing ovation in the morning when they wake.

They are so successful that they receive awards from the music industry, because everyone needs good night’s sleep.

This very funny story of a sheep band, will introduce readers a range of music centered words, ideas and phrases through humour and wonderful illustrations putting the sheep in poses never before seen.  Alongside the musical terms are lots of fun with words, The Counting Sheep is not only the name of the band, but the mantra people sometimes use when trying to get to sleep. The endpapers add to the humour, using words with double meanings in the posters promoting the band, I will love ewe, or Stand by your lamb, two of the songs being sung. The lovely double page images of a range of animals asleep in their seats will certainly elicit lots of laughs. Who has ever seen a sleeping reindeer, or elephant or tiger. Each animal is shown in a different image of sleep, some curled up, some obviously snoring, some resting their heads on their hands, but each different from the other. The image of a cow doing a John Travolta pose, and the red carpet at the end when they receive their award are just a handful of the pages to be given further inspection. The detail on the pages will ensure readers will take away information about the music industry, as well a shaving a fun time with the theme.

A perfect book to discuss bigger issues with children: sleep and its importance, how to get to sleep, while taking a look at nocturnal animals.

Themes: Sleep, Sheep, Nocturnal animals, Humour.

Fran Knight