Kalman’s paintings accompany the words to “Stay Up Late,” the Talking Heads song.
“Kalman’s paintings accompany the words to “Stay Up Late,” the Talking Heads song. The action in this book is all in the pictures. A girl and boy somewhat cruelly entertain themselves by preventing their baby brother from sleepingyanking and tossing him, pulling his hair, blasting him with music: “He’s just a little plaything/ Why not wake him up?” Meanwhile, adults are shown drinking, dancing, daydreaming or napping, but not paying much attention to the children. Kalman uses a pseudochildish composition and styleimaginative and energetic, with lots of inventive asidesbut her art has a mean-spirited edge that takes its cue from the lyrics: “We want to make him stay up all night.” This book has a definite appeal for hip adults, but it’s not for the literal-minded child.” – Publisher’s Weekly