Hello, and welcome to the next (and final) stop on the No More Naps! blog tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours! Thank you for stopping by, and don't forget to enter the giveaway at the bottom!
Author: Chris Grabenstein & Leo Espinosa (Illustrator)
Pub. Date: February 4, 2020
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Pages: 40
The #1 New York Times bestselling middle grade powerhouse of Lemoncello fame brings his wit and humor to a pint-sized audience in his picture book debut that turs the universal dilemna of getting kids to sleep on its head.
It’s time for a nap but, just like stubborn toddlers everywhere, Annalise Devin McFleece won’t have anything to do with bedtime. Dad tries to encourage sleepiness by pushing her around the park in her stroller. Along the way, they pass a man sitting on a bench, dog walkers walking dogs, a boy on a skateboard, kids playing ball, a girl practicing her juggling, and others. Each of them thinks that taking a nap is a great idea and if Annalise Devin McFleece doesn’t want hers, they’ll happy take it. And one by one, everyone falls asleep…except Annalise Devin McFleece. But when she’s finally ready for her nap, all the naps are taken! Is there anyone who has an extra nap to spare?
With every turn of the page, the busy city scene becomes more and more quiet…except for Annalise Devin McFleece.
Will she ever take a nap?
“Preschoolers will find the defiant protagonist's protests a little bit thrilling and 100% funny…. Screamingly fun." —Kirkus Reviews
“The idea that naps are opportunities to be eagerly seized is an amusing reframing." --Publishers Weekly
“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.” — Booklist
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I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.
I've lost count of how many times I've read this book! I read it to the girls when it arrived (I like to get their reactions to books meant for them), and they've asked me to read it over and over again. I think it's because they can relate to the main character, since they never want to take naps themselves. They're clearly exhausted, but will fight me tooth and nail to stay awake. I rarely cave to their demands (although it does happen occasionally), since they're little terrors by 5 PM when they haven't had one.
No More Naps! shows two parents that are totally and understandably exhausted. When a baby doesn't sleep, no one can rest (try this with twins, I dare you). It's a miserable existence for everyone involved. I really loved that the author chose to tell this story from the child's perspective (or at least shows her point of view), and explained how she was feeling through sounds and actions instead of verbal communication. Annalise only knows one word -- no -- and it's one she uses often and without reservation. My girls could relate to her emotional state, and even tried to explain to me how she was feeling and why. It was a great conversation starter (for three-year-olds anyways).
I also really liked that it wasn't just two parents trying to find ways to get their child to take a nap. It showed a community and how they were affected by a child's unwillingness to sleep. Her cries could be heard for miles (crazy, right?), and the people in her vicinity were tired of her hollering and frequent fussing. In a way, the author used reverse psychology to make Annalise want to take a nap. She was uninterested in even trying to sleep until she no longer thought she could. When the world was asleep, there was nothing interesting to see, so she wanted to do what everyone else was doing. Brilliant!
Although, now it will be harder to trick my girls into taking their naps. ;)
The little twist at the end was cute and really rounded out the story. I think the author creatively captured the essence of a small child, and demonstrated how their emotions could rule their actions. Annalise was tired but didn't want to sleep. She didn't want to miss anything, but in the end still felt like she was being left out. It was a lovely story that I've enjoyed reading on repeat the last week or so. The girls actually sleep with the book in their beds (they take turns with it), and I have to remember to put it away before I go to bed. I'm not going to fault my kids for wanting to read (even when it's late at night), but I will move the books so no one is uncomfortable while they sleep, and to make sure no one damages the pages as they roll around during the night (books are our friends, so we treat them with care).
I'm starting to ramble... Basically, if you have small children, even those that are slightly older than the main character, I would highly recommend this book. It puts a fun spin on naps, and lets children know that they're not the only ones out there trying to avoid sleeping for a few hours during the day (it's a universal theme amongst youngsters, this aversion to sleeping during the day). I think knowing that other kids struggle with naps, helped mine to understand that it's a necessary evil right now. We'll see how long that lasts!
The illustrations are phenomenal and really did this story justice. It was a simple concept that ended up being really effective. It vaguely reminded me of Madeline, and how that television show was drawn (showing my age, right?). It felt familiar and comfortable, but was totally unique to this book. I have no complaints about this one! No More Naps! was incredible.
About Chris: CHRIS GRABENSTEIN is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of ESCAPE FROM MR. LEMONCELLO'S LIBRARY, MR. LEMONCELLO'S LIBRARY OLYMPICS, THE ISLAND OF DR. LIBRIS, WELCOME TO WONDERLAND: HOME SWEET MOTEL and many other books, as well as the coauthor of numerous fun and funny page-turners with James Patterson, including I FUNNY, HOUSE OF ROBOTS, TREASURE HUNTERS, and JACKY HA-HA. Chris lives in New York City with his wife, J.J., two cats, and a dog named Fred. You can visit Chris at ChrisGrabenstein.com.
About the Illustrator
LEO ESPINOSA is a New York Times bestselling illustrator and designer from Bogotรก, Colombia. His work has been featured in a variety of publications, products, animated series and gallery shows worldwide. His short list includes The New Yorker, Wired, Esquire, The New York Times, The Atlantic, Nickelodeon, Hasbro, American Greetings, and Facebook. Leo's award-winning illustrations have been recognized by American Illustration, Communication Arts, Pictoplasma, 3x3, and the Society of Illustrators. In addition, he has given multiple lectures and workshops at schools and institutions such as Parsons School of Design and Pratt Institute as well as serving on the faculty of the Rhode Island School of Design. He lives with his family in Salt Lake City, Utah. Visit him at studioespinosa.com or follow him on Twitter @veloespinosa, Instagram studioespinosaworks.
Photo-Leo Espinosa's self-portrait from NO MORE NAPS
LEO ESPINOSA is a New York Times bestselling illustrator and designer from Bogotรก, Colombia. His work has been featured in a variety of publications, products, animated series and gallery shows worldwide. His short list includes The New Yorker, Wired, Esquire, The New York Times, The Atlantic, Nickelodeon, Hasbro, American Greetings, and Facebook. Leo's award-winning illustrations have been recognized by American Illustration, Communication Arts, Pictoplasma, 3x3, and the Society of Illustrators. In addition, he has given multiple lectures and workshops at schools and institutions such as Parsons School of Design and Pratt Institute as well as serving on the faculty of the Rhode Island School of Design. He lives with his family in Salt Lake City, Utah. Visit him at studioespinosa.com or follow him on Twitter @veloespinosa, Instagram studioespinosaworks.
Photo-Leo Espinosa's self-portrait from NO MORE NAPS
Giveaway Details:
3 winners will receive a finished copy of NO MORE NAPS, US Only.
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
2/3/2020 Ziggy's Reading Corner Excerpt
2/4/2020 BookHounds YA Excerpt
2/5/2020 Texan Girl Reviews Excerpt
2/6/2020 She Dreams in Fiction Review
2/7/2020 ChristenKrumm Review
Week Two:
2/10/2020 Savings in Seconds Review
2/11/2020 momfluenster Excerpt
2/12/2020 fictitious.fox Review
2/13/2020 Novel Novice Review
2/14/2020 Do You Dog-ear? Review
2/4/2020 BookHounds YA Excerpt
2/5/2020 Texan Girl Reviews Excerpt
2/6/2020 She Dreams in Fiction Review
2/7/2020 ChristenKrumm Review
Week Two:
2/10/2020 Savings in Seconds Review
2/11/2020 momfluenster Excerpt
2/12/2020 fictitious.fox Review
2/13/2020 Novel Novice Review
2/14/2020 Do You Dog-ear? Review
"My girls could relate to her emotional state, and even tried to explain to me how she was feeling and why. It was a great conversation starter (for three-year-olds anyways)."
ReplyDeleteHaha! Brilliant! This was one funny review, especially with all the real-life references. And it sounds like a funny and useful little book.
If I receive a children's book for review, I like to let people know what my monsters thought about it too. It's a story meant for them, so I think their perspectives are relevant and helpful. :) I'm happy the review was fun!
DeleteThat sounds cute. I remember my daughter not wanting to take a nap but would fall asleep playing with her toys under the table. lol
ReplyDeleteMy son always fell asleep in the floor! I would quietly put a blanket over him and just let him sleep, haha. Kids are crazy! ;)
DeleteThis sounds so cute!! I love the illustration on the cover :)
ReplyDeleteThe entire book was wonderfully illustrated! :)
DeleteThis sounds like an adorable read. I love that it shows how the community is impacted and that this story is told from the child's perspective.
ReplyDeleteYes! It wasn't just parents trying over and over again to get their child to go to sleep, but a community working together to sort of "trick" the girl into wanting to nap on her own.
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