Stop That Yawn! by Caron Lewis - ESSENTIAL

Stop That Yawn! by Caron Levis, illustrated by LeUyen Pham. PICTURE BOOK. Antheneum Books, 2018. $18. 9781481441797

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Granny is putting Gabby Wild, a young girl of color, to bed, but Gabby begs Granny to take her away from Sleepytown. They take off on a flying motorcycle bed and land in a city with the lights on full watt and a carnival going. On the ferris wheel, Granny caves and lets a yawn escape. The yawn takes over the entire town until finally it reaches the reader and then Gabby herself. 

It is a shame that seeing a granny of color was something I can’t recall having seen in a picture book before. I’m glad that more and more readers will see themselves and their family members in books. The colors in the book are a bit burnt and subdued and may not immediately draw in young readers, but the illustrations have enough details that I think most will enjoy the aesthetics by the end.   

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher