A Story for When You're Wide-Awake and Definitely NOT Tired
October 21, 2019
A nap is a terrible thing to waste. So when a very stubborn pigtailed girl named Annalise Devin McFleece refuses to take one (“NOOOOOO!”), even after her desperate father has taken her on a hopefully soporific stroller ride in the warm sun, a gentleman on a park bench offers, “If she won’t take a nap, may I have it please?” Soon, “every single creature in the whole park had decided to take a nap”—even the lamppost pigeons are snoring. But with no one for her to “fuss, fume, scream, or shriek at,” Annalise’s lids grow heavy until she realizes that there are no naps left for her. Maybe a friendly cat has a nap to spare? It may take a few beats for Grabenstein’s (Shine!) idiomatic twist to sink in, but once it does, the idea that naps are opportunities to be eagerly seized is an amusing reframing. Espinosa (Islandborn), whose cheery, gently ironic drawing style may remind readers of Crockett Johnson’s, draws outdoor nappers of every stripe—from a bucket drummer snoozing on top of his instruments to a hairstylist and client enjoying 40 winks in the middle of a blow dry. Ages 3–7.
December 1, 2019
Can a book about napping be a lively story? Why, yes. Meet Annalise. Middle-grade novelist Grabenstein, perhaps best known for the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series, turns to picture books in this story of a spunky toddler who prefers shrieking to napping. Her weary father pushes her through town in a stroller, hoping it will lull her to sleep. The two discover that the townspeople, one by one, are more than happy to "take" Annalise's nap in her stead. Everyone stops in their tracks to get some shut-eye while Annalise is "the only one in the whole wide sleepy world who would not fall asleep." When she's finally ready to, she can't; "all the naps had already been taken!" Cue more shouting: "I WANT TO TAKE A NAP!" Grabenstein writes chummily, often directly addressing readers ("Do you know anyone like that?"). The book's display type plays with font size and color to accentuate Annalise's wails, and Espinosa fills the retro illustrations, reminiscent of mid-20th-century classics, with funny details, including snoozing pigeons, fish, and ducks. Preschoolers will find the defiant protagonist's protests a little bit thrilling and 100% funny. Delightfully, the front endpapers feature a large, red "WAAAAAH!"; the closing ones, a small, blue "Shhhh" after the girl has finally, mercifully closed her eyes. Annalise and her family have pale skin; Espinosa depicts a diverse group of townspeople who will gladly take her naps for her. Screamingly fun. (Picture book. 3-8)
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January 1, 2020
PreS-Gr 1-Most toddlers desperately need a nap but will do anything in their power to avoid one, and Annalise Devin McFleece is no exception. Her parents try to get her to take a nap, but Annalise fusses, fumes, and screams so loud that the entire neighborhood knows that she was NOT napping. Her desperate father decides to take her on a walk through the neighborhood in her stroller. He begs her to nap as he pushes her through the hustle and bustle of the neighborhood, but stubborn Annalise continually says no and keeps her eyes wide open. They run into a man lying on a bench, who asks if he can have Annalise's nap if she doesn't want to take it. Soon, everyone in the neighborhood realizes just how sleepy they feel and everyone begins to fall asleep; the dog walker, the baker, the construction workers, the police officers, even Annalise's father. Everyone is asleep except for Annalise, which, in true toddler fashion, makes her so angry because everyone has something that she doesn't. Annalise exclaims, "I want to take a nap" and finally, she does. Very detailed illustrations paint the picture of an entire community dozing, including a hairstylist asleep while his blow-dryer is on and a waiter fast asleep while still holding a hot bowl of soup. VERDICT Recommended for picture book collections and families with young children who will relate to the very real struggle for naps.-Kristen Todd-Wurm, Middle Country Public Library, NY
Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
December 1, 2019
Preschool-G Baby Annalise fusses, screams, and shrieks so loudly that the construction workers jackhammering the sidewalk below her window complain about the noise. Sleepy? asks her father. NO! So he takes her for a soothing stroller ride. When he begs her to take a nap, a gentleman sitting on a park bench says that he'll take it instead. Others are willing, too, and soon every person and creature in sight is asleep, except one. The sound of their snores makes even Annalise sleepy, but all the naps are taken. A cat gives her one and, finally, she falls asleep. Known for the Mr. Lemoncello series, Grabenstein offers a mildly amusing tale of a strong-willed child who changes her mind, and Espinosa contributes a series of lively illustrations featuring expressively drawn characters. Comical details, such as the steaming soup bowl held aloft by a waiter sleeping on the ground, add to the fun. Adults will relate to the drooping parents' fatigue, while kids will recognize Annalise's stubborn determination. Questions within the story help make this an interactive read-aloud experience.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)