A 2026 CHILDREN'S BOOK COUNCIL HOT OFF THE PRESS SELECTION

A sweet, lyrical bedtime story about baby animals falling asleep on the African savanna, perfect for lulling animal-loving kids to sleep and teaching them about wildlife.

When little giraffe falls asleep,

she folds into a pretzel

and lays her head on a perfect pillow.

It’s nighttime on the savanna, and ten little animals are drifting off to sleep. Little cheetah runs her tiny motor, and little crocodile rests behind a fence of teeth.

With sweet lyrical text from award-winning author Stephen R. Swinburne and adorable illustrations by Carolina Grosa, your sleepy child will meet baby animals of the African savanna, including little elephant, cheetah, crocodile, giraffe, ostrich, lion, hippo, rhino, and flamingo.

More than an adorable bedtime story, Sleepy Savanna weaves fun animal facts into a soothing read-aloud, making it both educational and calming. It’s the perfect bedtime board book for animal lovers and trips to the zoo, or a sweet baby shower gift.

Available in English and Spanish!

Steve Swinburne is the author of over 40 award-winning nonfiction children’s titles, picture books, and board books. One of Swinburne’s absolute favorite things about writing for kids is that he gets the chance to visit schools and talk about the power of reading and books and nature. Carolina Grosa is an illustrator currently based in Italy. She finds inspiration in the endless silence, channeling the rural isolation into her work. She majored in visual communication and illustration at the European Institute of Design (IED) in Turin and also studied in the CSC School of Animation. Her artwork has graced the pages of children’s books from some of Italy’s top publishers.