Review — Go to Sleep, Gecko!

By Gail Dent, White Elementary
Tucson Unified School District — 1/1/2007

(4Q, 5P, E) This Indonesian folktale supports the science curriculum, as it tells how all living things are interdependent. The gecko in the story can’t sleep because of the fireflies, but they serve a purpose in the chain of life activities. I was a little annoyed that the gecko supposedly says “Gecko” when he’s grumpy, especially since in the note it says the gecko’s nightly call is “Tok-keh.” This seems like a detail the editing should have corrected. However, the first graders enjoyed the story and the book is beautiful with the deep blue backgrounds indicating that it’s night. I recommend it.

Grade Interest Level	E = Elementary M = Middle School (6-8)  (*) especially good	P = Primary (K-3) S = Senior High (9-12) (-) especially poor	I = Intermediate (4-5)
Quality	5Q= Hard to imagine being better written 1Q= Hard to understand how it got produced, except in relation to its P rating
Popularity	5P= Everyone (who reads) was dying to read it yesterday 1P= No one will read unless forced to for assignments

Title Details: Go to Sleep, Gecko!
Author: Margaret Read MacDonald  
Illustrator: Geraldo Valério
Interest Level: GR PreK-2

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