Oh, Are You Awake? by Bob Shea, illustrated by Jarvis

Oh, Are You Awake? by Bob Shea, illustrated by Jarvis. Candlewick Press, 2024. 9781536226584 

Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5

Format: Hardcover picture book

What did you like about the book? Penguin is ready to settle down and dream, but Lion wants a story.  Each time Penguin begins to dream, Lion makes noise that interrupts.  Penguin’s dream of candy is interrupted by the “crash bang” of drums, a dream of flying on a unicorn is interpreted by a dinosaur with a “crunch crunch” of potato chips, and a puppy train dream comes to a crashing end with a “boing boing” as Lion jumps on a trampoline.  Finally,  Penguin gives in and tells Bear a story that begins “There was once a very sleepy penguin, who was best friends with a not-so-sleepy lion.”  Soon both friends are fast asleep.  The digital illustrations supply the characters with plenty of expression and humor. Blurry pastel watercolor-like backgrounds perfectly convey Penguin’s dreams.   The text is color-coded, with Penguin’s lines in black and Lion’s lines in blue, making it easy for young readers to follow the conversation.  Readers will fall in love with sleepy Penguin and his exuberant, not-so sleep best friend.  

Anything you didn’t like about it? No

To whom would you recommend this book? Hand this to readers who love the antics of Mo Willems Pigeon series or the Mother Bruce books by Ryan T. Higgins.

Who should buy this book? Public libraries, elementary school libraries, preschools

Where would you shelve it? Picture books

Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? Yes.  This is a fun addition for a story time theme of friendship or bedtime.

Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City and State: Catherine Coyne, Mansfield Public Library, Mansfield, MA

Date of review: April 26, 2024