Russell the sheep by Rob Scotton

Russell the Sheep by Rob Scotton is a book about a sheep with insomnia who tries everything possible to fall asleep, but he is wide awake while all the other sheep are getting a good nights rest. The story itself is very short with little print on each page, making it easy to read in about a minute, however I spent much longer with this picture book due to the fantastic illustrations. It was the illustrations that had the biggest impact on me in this book due to the illustrator's attention detail and texture, the colors used, and the movement and expression conveyed through the art work. The pictures really tell the story, and would probably be just as effective as if there were no words.

The story itself is cute, fun and relatable. I remember many times when I couldn't sleep no matter what I did; either because I just had too much energy or because I was really excited about something that was going to happen the next day. In this way, the story is a mirror into my own world as I can relate to how I felt as a child (and as an adult) when I knew I should be sleeping, and the frustration of not being able to. The book as a whole made me laugh due to the comical places and situations that Russell ends up in when he is trying to find a better place to sleep. The comical nature of the story is enhanced especially by the illustrations.

In terms of the illustrations, if I were to describe how they made me feel in one word, that word would be dreamy. The color scheme of light and dark blues, soft greens, light greys and purples, and white made me feel very calm and relaxed. The texture found in the skies and the landscapes is very soft and flowing, and the technique used to create the sheep is characterized by soft edges that make the sheep look "fuzzy" like a warm blanket. The detail makes the pictures almost 3D and life like, while still creating a cartoon-ey effect. Everything about the illustrations makes the story seem like it takes place in a dreamland, which in my opinion is very appropriate as the story is related to sleeping. Russell on the other hand, is drawn in positions that suggest movement and that make him look restless (ex: on his head, or with his legs flailing about, with his hat in a "ziggy-zaggy" pattern). His facial expressions are lively and show no sign of tiredness, with beedy eyes wide open. The use of line, shape and movementhis in the illustrations creates a contrast in the book between what is happening in the background (ie. the dreamy, calmness of night when all the other sheep are sleeping) and what is happing to Russell at the time (wide awake, energetic activities to try and fall asleep).

The attention to detail in the illustrations also made the book enjoyable. The author/illustrator decided to include humourous details in the pictures that add another level to the story and make it more relatable. For example, you see a grandmother sheep knitting a scarff with the wool from the bottom of her neigbor, revealing his boxer shorts. The sheep have quilts, a tooth brush, a teddy bear, a coffee mug, or a glass with false teeth as they are about to go to bed, and in the morning they have things like "wash and go" body wash, "Sheepy Flakes" cereal and "The Daily Bleat" newspaper. These little details make the sheep seem like real people who do the same daily routines that people do. The story is obviously fictious, but these elements give the reader a fun way to relate to what is happening and put themselves inside the story.


Russell the Sheep could easily be used in a primary class for a read aloud, as practice for early readers, as part of a health lesson on daily routines, or as part of an art lesson on elements of design.