Are You Awake?

By Sophie Blackall. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2011.

It's the middle of the night. It's dark. All of a sudden a little voice says "Mom? Mom?" I'm sure moms and dads throughout the years have been woken up by their little one who can't sleep. The same is true in this delightful story. Edward can't go to sleep, so he wakes his mom up and starts with a question: "Are you awake?" After his sleepy mom says "No," he asks "Why aren't you awake?" Mom matter-of-factly answers "Because I'm asleep." And so begins a long series of questions and answers until the sun comes up and Edward finally falls asleep just as his father (who is a pilot) returns home. The story ends with Edward asking his sleeping father "Dad? Dad? Are you awake?"

This book is a joy to read! The questions and answers demonstrate the curiousness of children and the resigned parent who must try to answer them while still being half-asleep. What also makes this book wonderful are the illustrations. They are soft, conveying the bedtime setting, but I love how Edward's eyes are made bright against the greyness of the night setting, reflecting his inner curiosity and surprising alertness at 4am! As the night passes are morning sun comes out, the pages get brighter. Such a brilliant book! This is perfect for sharing one-on-one.