I DARE YOU NOT TO YAWN

Those sneaky, sneaky yawns—just one and it’s lights out for you.

In this clever, appealing offering, Boudreau describes what happens when a yawn hits: “your arms stretch up, your eyes squish tight, your mouth opens wide, your tongue curls back, and—mmm…rrr…yarwwrrrrr—a yawn pops out.” Moms never fail to spot them, and soon enough, it’s time for pajamas, goodnight books, lullabies, and tucking into bed with hugs and kisses. If one doesn’t wish to fall prey to these consequences, then the following rules should be observed: Don’t, for any reason, look at anyone else who is yawning, and avoid, at all costs, stuffed animals, pajamas, cozy blankies, books about sleepy baby animals, songs about sheep-counting and images of sleepy baby orangutans. The funny, melodramatic prose is cleverly extended by Bloch’s cartoonlike illustrations that emphasize the emotions of the little boy who is desperately trying not to yawn. He looks absolutely distraught when put to bed, hilariously focused and determined as he runs away from snuggly, yawn-inducing items, and finally, happily asleep on the final page. The boy’s cat appears in many of the illustrations, mimicking his behaviors and emotions to great comic effect.

Just the ticket for nap-time or bedtime sharing.