Yawns are sneaky.
They can creep up on you when you least expect them.
Yawns aren’t the only things that are sneaky. So is this light-hearted and funny bedtime book. It is also incredibly clever. And boy, do I love a clever book! It is a book that could easily be read over and over again without getting tiresome.
You get drawn into this story quite easily. You start reading with a sense that the narrator is on your side. You’re given warnings and lots of tips to help you quell a yawn: Look away when someone else yawns; Stay away from huggable and cozy items; Avoid bedtime stories and sleepy-time songs. Like me, you’ll probably start reading this story feeling quite confident and in control, but beware of the clever tactics in this book- both literary and visual.
The story, the voice, the language, and the illustrations have all been well thought out. Illustrations feature characters with large, exaggerated mouths that are wide open. Talk of pajamas and cuddly toys gets you thinking about bed. Yawns are described with exactness; your mouth starts making the motions of a yawn as you read aloud to your children and before you know it you’ve been hoodwinked and you’re yawing. This book is proof that yawning is most certainly contagious.
But trickery and psychology aside, this is a brilliant book to read. It’s well-written and clever, and snippets of humor are subtly placed within the text. Best of all, although disguised as an anti-bedtime book, it gets you sleepy and in the mood for bed.
This book is aptly titled, I Dare You Not to Yawn. Are you up for the challenge? Do you think you can suppress a yawn while reading this book? Let me just warn you that I’m yet to come in under three yawns when reading this book to Cam. (Just thinking about the book gets me yawning; I’ve yawned five times while writing this review).
Yawn or not, I’m certain this book won’t disappoint you.
Book Details
Author: Hélène Boudreau
Illustrator: Serge Bloch
ISBN: 978-1406343656
Format: Hardback
Publisher: Walker Books Ltd, April 2013
