Animals Over the Bridge

A bedtime story routine

Children - Picture Book
24 Pages
Reviewed on 02/13/2022
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Kristine Zimmerman for Readers' Favorite

Bedtime can be a challenging time for parents and kids. Animals Over the Bridge: A Bedtime Story Routine by Janine Maxwell is a soothing, rhythmic story that will make bedtime more pleasant. Along with the gentle rhyming jungle story, an accompanying wind-down activity adds value to the story. It is nighttime in the jungle, and various animals make their way home to settle down for the night. Kids will be familiar with most of the animals, the guinea fowl being the exception. Each of the animals moves across the bridge with its own unique motion. As the sky grows ever darker, soon all the animals have found their quiet resting place.

There are many bedtime stories available, but Animals Over the Bridge adds a special and useful twist to the genre. What I find lovely is that the story itself is very calming in its cadence, but adding soothing actions greatly enhances the bedtime ritual. The illustrations are colorful but muted which also supports the relaxing feel overall. Because the number of animals varies, I could see this being used as a counting book as well. Some active creatures mirror the fidgetiness of kids as they get ready for sleep, but as the story progresses, the animals become slower and calmer in their movements. The hippos even do some yawning. Janine Maxwell has created a wonderful story that parents and kids will enjoy. Animals Over the Bridge is a bedtime story that is destined to become a frequent request in many households.