From School Library Journal
PreSchool-K - This bland visual rendering of one of Joel's popular ballads takes what should be a universal declaration of love between a parent and child and turns it into a narrow, limiting sentiment. The lyrics hint at an impending separation between a father and daughter, which he tries to soften with his heartfelt declaration of his unending love, comparing its limitless boundaries to a song that goes on and on. The words are beautiful and can be read aloud easily. The illustrations, however, deaden the overall impact. Depicting stiff and posed figures saying good night and then traveling on a sailboat off into the night, the pictures are nothing more than a literal interpretation of the words, not an expansion of them. A CD is included, but even that doesn't make the package worth the purchase. - Jane Marino, Bronxville Public Library, NY Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Book Description
Time to close your eyesAnd save these questions for another dayGoodnight my angelNow it's time to sleepAnd still so many things I want to say.With words as tender as a kiss on the cheek, Billy Joel reassures readers young and old that the love between a parent and child lasts forever, even if families are separated. Dreamy paintings of a father and daughter illustrate the profound ways that small moments -- like tucking a child into bed -- affirm parents' devotion to their children.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In his first book for children, Grammy and Tony Award-winning performer Billy Joel expresses the deep bond between parent and child as a beautiful lullaby.

This poignant bedtime book is inspired by the lyrics Billy Joel wrote to his own daughter, Alexa, when she was seven years old. It captures the quiet beauty of the father-daughter relationship as a father puts his daughter to bed and promises to always in her heart.

Illustrated in lustrous pastel colors by award-winning artist Yvonne Gilbert, this book captures the same enduring emotions as the original musical performance by Billy Joel. An exclusive audio CD of the song is included for read-along and bedtime listening.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Joel's first children's book pairs the lyrics of a song he wrote for his daughter with British artist Gilbert's (A Dictionary of Fairies) closely focused, textured colored pencil artwork introducing a father and his cherubic daughter. As the man tucks the child into bed, Joel's words offer reassurance: "I promised I would never leave you./ And you should always know wherever you may go,/ no matter where you are, I never will be far away." The sugary images take fanciful flight after the child closes her eyes: she and her father appear in a sailboat ("Remember all the songs you sang for me when we went sailing on an emerald bay") and, in another moonlit scene, the girl opens her arms to a swarm of butterflies ("Goodnight, my angel, now it's time to dream. And dream how wonderful your life will be"). In a confusing visual accompaniment to the line "Someday your child may cry, and if you sing this lullabye,..." the same girl snuggles with a woman (presumably her mother), yet the song lyric would seem to refer to the youngster's own future child. The book will appeal more to parent than child (a final illustration depicts the lass sleeping as her father's fingers stroke her cheek). Featuring a soft pastel palette, Gilbert's idealized images of the long-lashed heroine and luminous landscapes echo the unabashedly sentimental strains of Joel's song. The singer performs this soothing tune on a CD tucked into a plastic envelope on the inside back cover. All ages. (Oct.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature - Meredith Kiger, Ph.D.

It is too bad the dust jacket does not explain the circumstances surrounding the writing of this song by Billy Joel. According to his own explanation elsewhere, he was inspired to write it in response to his impending divorce from his daughter Alexa's mother. The story makes much more sense as he tries to communicate to his daughter what she means to him and how that will never change. Since so many children experience this event or know someone who has been affected, it seems natural and comforting to know that nothing will change their relationship. The illustrations seem a bit static, but they try to portray the dream-like quality of the song. A CD with Joel's touching rendition of the song is included which gives even more meaning to the book. 2004, Voyages, Ages 4 to 6.

School Library Journal

PreS-K-This bland visual rendering of one of Joel's popular ballads takes what should be a universal declaration of love between a parent and child and turns it into a narrow, limiting sentiment. The lyrics hint at an impending separation between a father and daughter, which he tries to soften with his heartfelt declaration of his unending love, comparing its limitless boundaries to a song that goes on and on. The words are beautiful and can be read aloud easily. The illustrations, however, deaden the overall impact. Depicting stiff and posed figures saying good night and then traveling on a sailboat off into the night, the pictures are nothing more than a literal interpretation of the words, not an expansion of them. A CD is included, but even that doesn't make the package worth the purchase.-Jane Marino, Bronxville Public Library, NY Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews