What You Never Knew About Beds, Bedrooms, and Pajamas

by Lauber, Patricia

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Gr 2–5—Focusing on sleeping customs through the ages, Lauber begins with the Stone Age and moves up to the 1700s, but includes some more contemporary facts as well. She also corrects common myths, such as the idea that ancient Egyptians reposed on headrests to keep their hairdos neat (not true, since they wore wigs). Manders's engaging artwork varies between full-page and spot illustrations. The humorous asides from characters in the comic-style pictures will entertain youngsters as they get the full impact of people snoozing in very different ways. All of this history is put into context at the end, where the author draws parallels between slumber habits in the past and current practices. One of the examples is sleeping outside, which was done in the Stone Age and that we now call camping. Overall, a winning look at history.—Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ

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