Scaredy Squirrel at Night is a silly book about a serious subject: Being afraid to go to sleep. It's notable because it is well-suited for older children who might be facing down their sleep demons, those who are ready to chuckle at their fears as shared by a squirrel who will go to any lengths to combat the dark forces of the night - dragons, ghosts, fairies, unicorns, vampire bats, and polka-dot monsters among them. Every page of this goofy book, which jumps from informational charts of "side effects of sleepless nights" to supply lists and maps of Scaredy Squirrel's Rube Goldberg-like traps, settling finally on the fact that all of Scaredy Squirrel's friends want to see him well-rested and happy.

There's nothing that keeps this book from being suitable for younger children who might be afraid of the dark, but its harmless tone, the visual jokes throughout, and the language level will make it most savory for older children (six-, seven-, or eight-year-olds) needing to shake off their fears. Scaredy Squirrel is also featured in a whole series of adventures by Melanie Watt, although we haven't seen any of them.

You can pick up Scaredy Squirrel at Night from Amazon for under $12 - 32% off of the $16.95 hardcover price. - Jennifer