Mama kangaroo sings a medley of nursery rhymes and songs to lull Cooper, her baby kangaroo, to sleep. Somewhat awkward alternative lyrics are offered for the familiar melodies of "Rock-a-Bye Baby," "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," "Mary Had a Little Lamb," and more. Munsinger's trademark watercolor and ink illustrations picture Mama and Cooper lounging, cuddling, and, eventually, snoozing on a comfy couch. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Cooper is a small kangaroo who can't get to sleep. When mama kangaroo responds with her own pastiche of "Rock-a-bye Baby" ("There's a pig sailing/ in a small boat/ Going so slowly/ Floating along"), Cooper realizes he's onto a delaying tactic and asks for more homemade songs; his request to "Please sing the one about the sky that I like" is met with a version of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" that celebrates the shapes of clouds. This homegrown Tin Pan Alley finally closes up shop for the night, but not before Cooper offers up a reengineered lullaby of his own: a sheep-counting variation of "Lullaby and Good Night." Numeroff strikes just the right balance of silly and sweet as she injects fresh thinking into six musical chestnuts, and her easy-to-learn ditties make it simple for parents and children to serenade one another at bedtime. As always, Munsinger's anthropomorphized animals are quietly marvelous, exuding tenderness, sly comedy, and astute observation. Readers of all ages will take one look at the initial image of the insomniac Cooper and want to know more. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

A baby kangaroo named Cooper is in his jammies awaiting a bedtime song. So mama sings one that'll be familiar to little ones everywhere, set to the tune of Rock-a-Bye Baby, and it goes a little something like this: There's a pig sailing / in a small boat / Going so slowly / Floating along. When Cooper's mama is finished, the little joey is still wide awake and requesting more songs. The interludes between each ditty can feel forced I think that song was very nice. / Now do you know any songs about mice? but the six lullabies themselves are a ton of fun and make for a nice accompaniment to bedtime. Like Cooper, kids may want to have the last solo of the evening. Munsinger's warm, accessible illustrations depict cozy single-page scenes of the kangaroos cuddling, interspersed by double-page spreads of the lullabies, some comprised entirely of energetic spot illustrations. This offering by a well-known duo is sure to become a well-worn, well-sung favorite.--Kelley, Ann Copyright 2010 Booklist

Despite his mama's inviting, warm pouch, Cooper, a young kangaroo, is having trouble falling asleep. He requests a few lullabies. So his mother does some inventive thinking and comes up with a few variations on themes: There is a nice turn on "Rock-a-Bye Baby," and another on "The Farmer in the Dell." "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" gets a modest noodling, and, strangely, perhaps the best is "Jingle Bells": "Daddy bear, baby bear, / Dancing everywhere / They dance all day / Until it's night / And then they brush their hair! / Oh, dance all day / Dance all night / Dance until you doze / Daddy and his baby bear / Can dance up on their toes." As mother starts drifting into her own dreamland, young kangaroo is still firing on at least three cylinders. Finally, he succumbs, and everyone can get some sleep. The text is dear in the extreme but has enough warmth not to be saccharine, but Munsinger's artwork lifts the work to a higher ground. She can capture a look--on the first page, Cooper looks absolutely blasted, fighting slumber like Wellington fought Napoleon--as surely as George Stubbs caught horses. As lullabies go, the familiar tunes with the new lyrics may just keep sleepyheads entertained enough for a few go-rounds, and sleep can wait. (Picture book. 4-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.