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Shushybye Books and CD Sets Review by Heather Randall
Stephen SyattIllustratorFrank Caruso
The Shushybye Company
SSA Communications
15260 Ventura Boulevard
Suite # 1730
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
866-748-7492
http://www.shushybye.com
Shushybye Books and CD Sets are created to encourage preschoolers to go to sleep quickly. With a television series, books, CDs, a radio show, clothing, and toys, Shushybye aims to make sleepy time a special time of day.
The concept of Shushybye is built around a fantasyland where dreams are made. Snoozles, Dozie, and Zeez are the main characters who prepare the dreams and place them in dream boxes. Dream boxes are placed on a train and delivered to children as they sleep. Dreams can only be delivered to children who go to sleep in time for the delivery, so it's crucial that children obey their parents and go to sleep without a fight.
I received two book and CD sets, titled Shushybye Sleepover Surprise and Close Your Eyes. I also received two CDs, titled Shushybye and Goodnight and Close Your Eyes featuring The Shushybye Dream Band.
Shushybye is designed for preschoolers and is best suited for the younger crowd. The book and CD sets allow children to read along while listening to the narrator. A whistle is blown to indicate when to turn the pages. Glow-in-the-dark covers lend a fun detail to the books. The goal is for the books and CDs to be used throughout the day, not just at bedtime. You'll find several upbeat songs on the CDs that are intended to build an eagerness for bedtime throughout the day. Lullaby songs are more restful in sound, and they are placed toward the end of the CDs. This product is not designed solely for homeschoolers but for any preschooler in general.
I like the colorful illustration style of Frank Caruso. The characters themselves are adorable. As for the CDs, the music is a mix of several genres that could be enjoyed by adults as well. Shushybye and Goodnight is my favorite of their songs.
Personally, I wouldn't buy this product due to the emphasis on magic and fantasy. It wouldn't be a good fit for families who avoid wizards, magic, and fantasy. Think along the lines of Care Bears or Rainbow Brite. It's gently done but is still a little too much fantasy for my taste. If you aren't bothered by these elements and you are as desperate as I've been to get a preschooler to sleep, then you might give Shushybye a try. In that case, rest assured that the quality of the materials is very good.
