Title: Everyone is Asleep But Me
Author: Diana Yacobi
Publisher: Olympus Story House
ISBN: 978-1963851786
Pages: 26
Genre: Children’s Bear Books
Reviewer: Liz Konkel
Hollywood Book Reviews
Sleepy Bear can’t go to sleep. As he looks around his room, he finds he’s the only one awake. Even his toys were sound asleep. He goes to his parents’ bedroom and finds that they’re asleep too. Why is he the only one who’s awake? He didn’t know if he’d ever be able to drift off, but when he got back into bed, he found it to be warm and cozy. It’s perfect for lulling him to sleep. But will it be enough to help Sleepy Bear sleep through the night? Follow the sweet story to find out if this little bear can go to sleep and stay that way all night.
This is a lovely story that stems from a story told by author Diana Yacobi to help her grandson, who was having trouble transitioning to a junior bed. This was causing her daughter to be tired as she struggled to help him adjust, which led to the creation of this tale. Knowing this makes the story equally enjoyable for parents as it is for children, as it sympathizes with parents and provides them with a story that can start a conversation. This makes the story more heartfelt and is written to be read out loud, which makes it ideal for bedtime. The illustrations have soothing purple hues that are soft and have gentle shading, serving as a great choice to create the aura of nighttime. The colors are not overstimulating, which helps make the story more soothing versus riling them up. These also allow children to see into Sleepy Bear’s world with faces on his toys, particularly his ball and train, and even he has the appearance of a cuddly teddy bear. Giving faces to the toys helps support the concept of “everyone is asleep but me” with visual representations. This creates an atmosphere that feels like you’re looking into a child’s bedtime story and makes it more childlike.
The premises are easy and simple, ensuring children can understand the message, and begins by showing Sleepy Bear struggling to sleep. Yacobi’s writing style is playful and fueled by imagination, though it still feels grounded, which strikes the right balance to keep children’s attention, spark their imaginations and also provide comfort. This includes the use of repetition with him seeing his toys asleep and then seeing them STILL asleep. This makes the writing more childlike and gives parents room to exaggerate or emphasize certain parts to make the story more interactive. The sentences are simple without any words that are difficult to understand and include questions throughout that engage children with the story. Giving it a conversational tone, Yacobi’s writing gives children room to laugh, listen, and respond.
As the little bear finds his bed warm and cozy, children are taught a positive message about the importance of sleep. This is done by showing sleep being special, as it’s a time when the body gets to rest and gives us the energy to play when the sun comes up. Yacobi takes the sentiment further by giving Sleepy Bear a sense of pride for sleeping all night in his bed (and not in his parents’ bed) and even includes a chart. This helps children to feel the same pride when they sleep all night and is something parents can use to encourage them to sleep in their own beds. The story also helps parents monitor their child’s sleeping patterns if they’re having difficulty sleeping or transitioning to a new bed by serving as a conversation starter and educational resource. A sweet bedtime treat, Everyone is Asleep But Me incorporates gentle colors, playful visuals, easy-to-understand writing, and an important message about sleeping. This book is a perfect bedtime story to calm busy minds and warm young hearts. Diana Yacobi creates a comforting, gentle story that helps young readers feel safe, loved, and ready to close their eyes. A heartwarming bedtime companion for sweet dreams every night.