
A parent should reach for this book when the nightly bedtime routine has become a battle of wills. It’s perfect for the child who insists “I’m not tired!” despite a face-splitting yawn. This story transforms that moment of tired friction into a whimsical adventure. A little girl named Gabby lets out a yawn so big it escapes and goes on a tour of the town, making everyone and everything sleepy. Gabby and her fun-loving Granny must chase it down and bring it home. The book uses humor and imagination to reframe sleepiness not as something to fight, but as a playful force to be wrangled, making it a wonderful tool for winding down together.
None. The story is secular and fantastical, with no sensitive topics addressed.
A 3 to 6-year-old with a big imagination who struggles with the transition to bedtime. This child likely responds well to humor and games, and may see bedtime as a boring chore. The book is perfect for reframing the feeling of being tired as something fun and adventurous rather than a restriction.
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Sign in to write a reviewNo preparation is needed. The book can be read cold and its premise is immediately understood. A parent might want to be ready to adopt a playful tone and even continue the “yawn chase” game after the book is closed to ease the transition into bed. The parent has just witnessed their child yawning widely while simultaneously insisting, "I am NOT sleepy!" The parent is exhausted by the nightly power struggle and is looking for a creative, connection-based way to guide their child to bed without another fight.
A younger child (3-4) will delight in the visual humor of a yawning bridge or lion and the repetitive, chase-like structure. An older child (5-7) will better appreciate the clever personification of the yawn itself and the imaginative “what if” premise, potentially sparking their own creative stories about runaway feelings.
Unlike most bedtime books that are intentionally lulling and quiet, "Stop That Yawn!" is an active, funny adventure. It doesn't soothe a child to sleep; it joins them in their pre-bedtime energy and cleverly redirects it towards the goal of sleep. The central, warm relationship between the child and her grandmother is also a standout feature, modeling a playful intergenerational bond.
At bedtime, Gabby lets out a massive yawn. Her grandmother, Granny, playfully declares the yawn has escaped. The personified yawn then floats out the window and across town, causing a chain reaction of sleepiness in people, landmarks, and even zoo animals. Gabby and Granny give chase in a boat, eventually catching the mischievous yawn in a glass jar. They bring it back to Gabby's room, releasing it so she can finally, cozily, fall asleep.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.