ALA Booklist (Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2013)

"Yawns are like colds. They spread!" And you don't want to catch one. If you do, your parents will have you jammied-up and shipped off to bed in no time flat. So when the cat or your big sister starts to yawn, there's only one thing to do: "LOOK AWAY!" This picture book, which speaks directly to the audience as an instructional guide of sorts, teaches kids how to avoid the pitfalls of being sent to bed prematurely. Boudreau and Bloch work seamlessly here to deliver the funny; at one point, when the boy has been tucked in and the lights have been turned off, his wide, white eyes beam out from the pitch blackness and the text reads, "How did I get here?" Bloch's signature ink-and-digitally colored illustrations pop on white backgrounds on some pages, while others involve patterned backgrounds and dramatic full-page, mouth-open-wide shots. With lots of yawning sound effects, share this read-aloud at bedtime (although kids will probably be too busy laughing to you-know-what).

Horn Book (Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

One yawn, and "next thing you know, you're being sent upstairs to get your pajamas on!" What follows are suggestions for resisting the yawn's siren song. Of course, the more you think about not yawning, the harder it is to do anything but. Bloch's stylish illustrations amplify the well-paced text's humor while helping to telegraph its thinly disguised subliminal message.

Kirkus Reviews

Those sneaky, sneaky yawns--just one and it's lights out for you. In this clever, appealing offering, Boudreau describes what happens when a yawn hits: "your arms stretch up, your eyes squish tight, your mouth opens wide, your tongue curls back, and--mmm…rrr…yarwwrrrrr--a yawn pops out." Moms never fail to spot them, and soon enough, it's time for pajamas, goodnight books, lullabies, and tucking into bed with hugs and kisses. If one doesn't wish to fall prey to these consequences, then the following rules should be observed: Don't, for any reason, look at anyone else who is yawning, and avoid, at all costs, stuffed animals, pajamas, cozy blankies, books about sleepy baby animals, songs about sheep-counting and images of sleepy baby orangutans. The funny, melodramatic prose is cleverly extended by Bloch's cartoonlike illustrations that emphasize the emotions of the little boy who is desperately trying not to yawn. He looks absolutely distraught when put to bed, hilariously focused and determined as he runs away from snuggly, yawn-inducing items, and finally, happily asleep on the final page. The boy's cat appears in many of the illustrations, mimicking his behaviors and emotions to great comic effect. Just the ticket for nap-time or bedtime sharing. (Picture book. 4-8)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Boudreau (Real Mermaids Don-t Wear Toe Rings) dispenses mock advice for children who want to avoid bedtime with a sly dose of comedy. -There you are, minding your own business, building the tallest block tower in the history of the universe or dressing up the cat when suddenly... a yawn pops out,- she writes. Yawning leads to pajamas, bedtime stories, lullabies, and then-worst of all-lonely darkness. -How did I get here?- ask two eyes in a spread of pitch black. The key to avoiding all of this is to stifle yawns, Boudreau advises. Bloch-s (My Snake Blake) scrawled pen-and-ink drawings-in the school of Jules Feiffer and Quentin Blake-show the threat of -huggable stuffed animals- as a boy bolts, sweat jumping off his forehead, from the yawn-inducing elements of domestic life. The subversive narrator, who so clearly understands the indignity and outrage of bedtime, makes a wonderful ally, and Bloch-s visual jests make this a book that promises to elicit not yawns, but guffaws. Ages 4-up. Author-s agent: Lauren MacLeod, the Strothman Agency. (Mar.)

School Library Journal (Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2013)

PreS-Gr 2 A young boy does his best to avoid yawning because "Yawns are sneaky." When his mother sees them, he is sent upstairs for pajamas, a bedtime story, and hugs and kisses. But he's not ready to go to bed. So, the boy advises readers to follow his tips: Do not yawn. Look away if a brother or sister or the dog or the cat yawns. Stay away from cuddly stuffed animals, cozy pajamas, and your favorite blanket. Do not listen to stories about sleepy baby animals or sing nighty-night songs. Baby orangutans reaching out for hugs are off-limits as well. If a yawn ever tries to escape, cover your mouth. This is a charming bedtime story done in ink with digital colorization. The layout is very simple and uncluttered. The book will be easy to present, either one on one or in a storytime setting. With its cartoon illustrations and subtle humor, it is a fun selection. Roxanne Burg, Orange County Public Library, CA