Awake, Asleep

by Kyle Lukoff (Author) Nadia Alam (Illustrator)

Awake, Asleep
Reading Level: K − 1st Grade

A rhythmic, meditative read-aloud about the extraordinary beauty found in babies' and toddlers' everyday moments, written by Stonewall and Newbery Award-winning author, Kyle Lukoff.

A kiss, a blink, a dawn, a break.

A yawn, a peep, a stretch, awake!

From sunup to sundown, a young child's day is bursting with discovery and wonder-filled moments. Follow a day in the life of three diverse families and their little ones, as everyday moments like sharing breakfast and exploring the park are rendered full of love, exploration, joy, and wonder. Sparse, beautiful rhyming text from Newbery and Stonewall Award-winning author Kyle Lukoff is a rhythmic and poetic read-aloud perfect for any time of day, paired against luminous, tender illustrations from artist Nadia Alam.

Showcasing a diverse range of kids, and families that include same-sex parents, single parents, and multigenerational households, Awake, Asleep reflects our world with beauty and joy, rendering the simple moments in a young child's day as transformative, wonder-filled memories.

Perfect for bedtime cuddles and cozy storytime all day long, this book is a modern classic in the making that's a must-have on your little one's bookshelf.

Select format:
Hardcover
$18.99

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Kirkus

Soothing, familiar, and perfect for reading at bedtime—or any other time.

ALA/Booklist

The realistic look at the children’s changing moods will ring true for parents, while kids will enjoy watching the youngsters’ activities and the visible warmth of friendship.

Publishers Weekly

Via simple, largely monosyllabic words strung together into gently bouncing lines, Lukoff (If You're a Kid Like Gavin) follows three families with young children through a single day, from sun-up to slumber. "A kiss, a blink, a dawn, a break," text begins, as waking children are seen through different residence windows, wooded slopes and a city beyond lit by the rising sun. Families of various configurations and skin tones greet the day: some tend a baby ("a sniff, a stink, a change"); a bearded, tattoo-sporting caregiver pulls on pink sneakers as the child beside them dons a smaller pair ("a dress, a pink"). The groups amble toward a playground as the children spot small signs of wildlife ("a land,/ a slow,// a stalk"). Help appears across the generations ("A reach,/ a hand,/ a rise,/ a stand"), as does comfort when problems arise. In loose, digitally finished, gently tinted vignettes, debut illustrator Alam envisions a community that offers all its members security and love in this sedate ode to ordinary days that ends with "a kiss, a blink, a night,// asleep." Ages 3-5. Author's agent: Saba Sulaiman, Talcott Notch Literary. Illustrator's agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties. (May)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
Kyle Lukoff
Kyle Lukoff is the author of many books for young readers. His debut middle-grade novel, Too Bright To See, received a Newbery honor, the Stonewall award, and was a National Book Award finalist. His picture book When Aidan Became A Brother also won the Stonewall. He has forthcoming books about mermaids, babies, apologies, and lots of other topics. While becoming a writer he worked as a bookseller for ten years, and then nine more years as a school librarian.

Hala Tahboub is a children's book writer and illustrator. She started her creative journey as an architect and interior designer. She won the SCBWI Canada East chapter's Storyteller Award for Illustration in 2019, and she was the SCBWI's December Featured Illustrator in 2020. Hala believes in kindness, coffee, chocolate, and in the immense power of stories. She lives in Montreal.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781338776218
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Orchard Books
Publication date
May 16, 2023
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV013040 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | New Baby
JUV074000 - Juvenile Fiction | Diversity & Multicultural
Library of Congress categories
Picture books
Stories in rhyme
Families
Family life
Day

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