Review: Stop That Yawn! by Caron Levis, Illustrated by LeUyen Pham

STOP THAT YAWN!

by Caron Levis

Illustrated by LeUyen Pham

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Picture Book

48 pages

ages 4 to 8

Pack your toothbrushes, but leave your pajamas and pillows behind for this bedtime story. And whatever you do…DON’T YAWN!

Gabby Wild has had enough of bedtime. Yawn, curl, snuggle, snore—what a bore!

So instead of tucking in, she jets out—with poor Granny in tow—to a place where beds are for bouncing, hushes are shushed, and it’s never too late for ice cream. But sometimes, even when you grit your teeth and seal your lips, it’s impossible to stop that…YAWN!

There’s a yawn on the loose! Can Gabby stop that yawn from spreading the snooze, or will it be lights out for Never Sleeping City? 

 MY TIDBITS

This is a fun trip into imagination with lots of energy and a very addictive yawn to pull into the world of dreams.

Gabby Wild is ready for an adventure...not bedtime. When Grandma tries to tuck her in, they shoot off into an adventure instead to Sleepytown. Here, life is excitement pure with shows and dance and lights galore. But when one person yawns, the problem begins. Gabby must stop that yawn before it causes the entire Sleepytown to want to go to bed.

Boredom is not a word in these pages. Instead the adventure is wild, fantasy packed and quick paced the whole way through. Set up more in comic style, the illustrations let imaginations fly. The balance between the text and the illustrations holds the story and allows young listeners the possibility to glance through the story on their own and still understand what is happening. Especially the granny is fun to watch as she joins in the race to stop sleep.

While the story keeps an exciting pace the whole way through...which might not appear to invite to sleep...when that yawn hits, so does the slow down. Yawns are contagious, which makes this book end on a fun note. Even luring the listener in.

Young listeners (and slightly more sure readers) ages four and up will find giggles and fun in these pages.


And here they are...

The Author...
Caron Levis grew up in the city that never sleeps (a.k.a. New York City), yet confesses that even as a baby she slept through the night. Caron has an LMSW from Hunter College and an MFA in creative writing for children/YA from The New School, where she now teaches and advises. Caron never tires of visiting schools to work with kids using her books, drama, and creative writing to encourage social, emotional and literacy skills. Things she'll always stay awake for include great theater, star gazing, and turtle watching. Visit Caron online at CaronLevis.com.

The Illustrator...

LeUyen Pham has been an insomniac her entire life, so she wouldn't mind a trip to Sleepytown. The good thing about not being about to sleep is that she has more time to draw and paint. She is the creator of more than ninety books for children, including the New York Times bestseller for Grace for President, written by Kelly DiPucchio, the Princess in Black series by Shannon and Dean Hale, and her own A Piece of Cake, and The Bear Who Wasn't There. She lives and yawns with her husband and children in Los Angeles. Visit her online at LeUyenPham.com.