YAAWWNN! Time for a nap! The hot weather, frequent rain and longer days that we’ve been having this summer have made many, including myself, long for some relaxing time in bed, on the couch or in a hammock dozing off or letting your mind wander. The month of August features two special days to celebrate taking a break and getting some shut-eye: National Lazy Day on August 10th and National Relaxation Day on August 15th. Here are some books focused on the world of sleep, naps, dreaming and lazy days.
Have you ever noticed that babies can fall asleep just about anytime and anywhere? In the aptly titled, “Babies Can Sleep Anywhere,” author Lisa Wheeler and illustrator Carolina Buzio compare the ways in which various animals get to sleep with all of the places in which babies can easily doze off. In Phyllis Gershator’s “Time for a Nap,” with illustrations by David Walker, a young bunny goes on various errands and adventures with his mother each day but knows that after all that excitement it’s always time for a nap! For more books about all the strange and cute ways that animals nap, check out “Snooze-o-Rama” by Maria Birmingham, illustrated by Kyle Reed, and “Animal Naps” by Catherine Ham.
Ever wonder what those cute animals are dreaming about when they sleep? So does author Rita Gray, in her book, “When the World Is Dreaming,” illustrated by Kenard Pak. In it, a little snake dreams of being the tail of a kite, soaring over tall trees. A deer dreams of hiding beneath a giant mushroom during a thunderstorm. And a rabbit dreams of having wings made of leaves of cabbage, lifting into the clouds. Similarly, in her book, “Cat Dreams,” renowned science fiction and fantasy author Ursula Le Guin presents the dream world of a napping tortoiseshell cat — a world where it’s raining mice, the dogs have all run away and there’s a fountain of cream and a catnip tree!
Sometimes, at the moments when we most need some shut-eye, it’s hard to find the perfect, quiet place to nap. In “Pig Has a Plan” by Ethan Long, “Cat Nap” by Toni Yuly, and “Wink: The Ninja Who Wanted to Nap” by J.C. Phillipps, the titular characters Cat, Pig and Wink the ninja, are all thwarted in their quests for a perfect napping spot — by, respectively, a playful kitten, farm animals setting up for a party and relentless, adoring fans.
In “I Will Take a Nap!”by Mo Willems, Gerald the elephant is cranky and tired and settles down for nice long nap, but as soon as he dozes off, his slumber is immediately interrupted by his friend Piggie. Or is this all…just a dream?
And what if you really want to relax and get some rest but you just don’t know how? In “Dozy Bear and the Secret of Sleep” by Katie Blackburn, with beautiful color illustrations by Richard Smythe, Dozy Bear is tucked in and ready to sleep, but no matter how long he waits, sleep just won’t come. In the form of advice from Mama, Papa and Grampy Bear, Dozy learns a few techniques to help relax his muscles and focus on his breathing that help him eventually fall fast asleep. This book functions as both a wonderful, cozy story for bedtime and a good primer for kids on conscious breathing and meditation.
