Review: Everyone's Awake by Colin Meloy

EVERYONE'S AWAKE

by Colin Meloy

Illustrated by Shawn Harris

Chronicle Books

Picture Book

48 pages

ages 5 to 8

COMING...

MARCH 3rd!!!

A silly and sublime bedtime book from the New York Times bestselling children's book author Colin Meloy.

Giggle your way to sweet and silly dreams! A simple goodnight routine turns marvelously madcap in this cleverly rhymed picture book. Instead of settling down to sleep, Dad bakes bread, Mom fixes the roof, and Grandma plays cards with a ghost. And between the dog, the cat, Sister, and Brother, there's at least three different wars being waged! A modern classic perfect for read-aloud fun and bedtime alike.

• A wildly fun read-aloud book for families
• A laugh-out-loud book perfect for any child who struggles with getting ready for bed
• Written by the lead singer of the Decemberists, the silly and clever rhymes make Everyone's Awake fun for both parent and child.

Fans of Goodnight Already and Dinosaur vs Bedtime will find Everyone's Awake to be a perfect path to a good night's sleep.

MY TIDBITS

Bedtime will never be the same after reading this book.

It's bedtime, and this little kid is tucked warmly underneath his blankets waiting for sleep to fall in. But how can he with all the ruckus going on? He might be in bed, but everyone else in the family gets a super-duper boost of energy and shoots off into every activity they can think of. The result is wild, crazy, and way beyond what one might suspect.

While the first page or two start out with a lovely calmness, it's only the peace before a wacky and zany storm. Energy explodes from this book as a family doesn't even think of going to bed. Their activities burst the borders of tame imagination as they undertake activities which nobody would even think of doing. And none of them are even related. Most are ridiculous. Some are simple odd. But one thing is clear, this family has jumping beans in their britches and can tackle the world in one night. So hang on for the fun.

The whole thing is written in rhyme, which makes it fun to read aloud. Some of the references will go over the intended audience's head...so, a little explanation might be necessary every now and then. There's so much going on, though, it will take a few read throughs to catch everything. The craziness is wonderfully caught in the illustrations, guaranteeing more than one peek at each page. Of course, giggles are ensured and a few raised eyebrows as well.

It's a fun read and is sure to hook young listeners.


And here they are...

The Author...
Colin Meloy is the lead singer and songwriter of The Decemberists, and the author of several children's books, including the New York Times bestselling Wildwood series. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

The Illustrator...

Shawn Harris is an artist and musician who lives in California's Mojave Desert. He is the illustrator of several award-winning children's books including Her Right Foot and What Can a Citizen Do?