The Yawnicorn

Snoozy with a touch of sparkle and magic.

PreS-Gr 2--A crescent moon hangs high in a starlit night sky as a sleepless pale-skinned girl with red hair and freckles tosses and turns in bed. Her active mind will not settle, her body will not relax, and she cannot catch a wink of sleep. When counting sheep is useless, what is she to do? She calls upon the Yawnicorn, who floats in on a stardust breeze and whisks the girl away on a fantastical journey to find a dreamland made just for her. Gliding over blissful rainbows, lounging in pillowy clouds, and sailing across a serene ocean are just a few dreamy stops along the way. Hamilton shares a sweetly simple bedtime story that feels familiar and steady from the very first read. Rhyming text blends with the fluid movement carried throughout vibrant pencil and watercolor illustrations. A soothing blue and purple palette dominates the illustrations, offset by a few more brightly colored spreads. The use of second-person narration embeds readers into the Yawnicorn's dreamy exploration, as they search for their own slumber. A mindfulness moment is offered in the last few pages, and readers are prompted to calm their bodies: "Your toes are relaxing from one up to ten, and so is each leg...." This comfy story will not doze long on shelves where the "Ten Minutes to Bed" series is popular. VERDICT A cozy bedtime story sure to unwind the mind and bodies of sleepy young unicorn lovers.--Emily Brush

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"Move over, sheep: another hoofed animal is here to take over bedtime. Snoozy with a touch of sparkle and magic." —Kirkus Reviews

"This charming picture book teaches little ones how to soothe their worries and practice gratitude and mindfulness." —Booklist Online, on THANK YOU FOR THE LITTLE THINGS

"An ideal choice for story times, classroom read-alouds, and one-on-one sharing. . . . This sweet and soothing story is a welcome addition to any collection." —School Library Journal, on THANK YOU FOR THE LITTLE THINGS

"Soothing, and likely to put rainbows in many a real window." —Kirkus Reviews, on THE WORLD MADE A RAINBOW