School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-Harry the elephant and his friends Lulu (a lamb) and Ted (a bear) are soft toys, very soft. The three get ready for bed and snuggle up together. Lulu and Ted nod out immediately but sleep doesn't come to Harry. He patiently goes through an impressive repertoire of bedtime rituals from reading a story to running in place to stretching. When he rolls in a ball and unintentionally takes all the blankets, Lulu and Ted wake up. They soothe the restless creature and assure him that "We're here, Harry." The three sit together companionably and quietly, watching the moon through the window. As the elephant dozes off at last, his friends wish him good night and sweet dreams, and curl up around him in bed. Lewis's meticulous illustrations were rendered in colored pencil and pastel, and the vivid, warm textures of the toys are sure to be appreciated by children. The expressive figures are plump and sweet looking, but never saccharine. This is a gentle book with illustrations that hum, and a bedtime story that's as warm as it is irresistible.-Liza Graybill, Worcester Public Library, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Stuffed-elephant Harry can't sleep, although his stuffed bedmates are having no trouble. He tries everything+reading, tidying, exercise+before whipping himself into a worried tizzy. After his friends reassure him, he is finally able to slumber. The story is familiar, but the delicate pastel-colored illustrations will find a captive audience in the preschool set. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Lewis delivers a sweet, slightly melancholy tale of Harry the stuffed elephant, first introduced in My Friend Harry (1995). For Harry, this may be a long night because, although his friends, a lamb and a bear, snooze beside him, sleep eludes him. He realizes he has forgotten his bedtime story, so he peruses his books until his eyes grow heavy--but still no sleep. He fruitlessly tries running in place and cleaning his room. "Maybe I'm not really comfy," he muses as, back in bed, he tosses and turns. He thinks, he worries, and he rolls about, waking his companions. Together they take in the night, sing a song to the moon, and feel the night dew. With a final snuffle, Harry slumbers. Everyone who has a sleepless night now and then can relate to Henry's discomfort and feel warmed as these plush animals nestle under the woolen afghan. The velvety artwork has a dreamy quality, combined with familiar details that will hasten and cushion the fall into sleep. (Picture book. 2-7) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.