No More Yawning
by Paeony Lewis
Illustrated by Brita Granstrom
It's seven o'clock and bedtime for Florence and her cuddly monkey, Arnold. But Florence's mind is as lively as a jungle full of monkeys; no matter how hard she tries, she cannot get to sleep.
You have to feel for Florence and her exasperated mum in this sweet story, because we've all been there. It's a gentle reminder that so much is going on in young brains that we shouldn't be the least bit surprised when all that mental energy overspills its boundaries. Busy, colourful illustrations prompt lots of discussion, not least watching the time tick by on various unobtrusive clock faces. Florence's 'tips on getting to sleep' when the story is over are a nice touch. Light and informative, these offer strategies that will help give a restless child a sense of control.