If You Want to Fall Asleep

by Jackie Azúa Kramer, Lisa Brandenburg (Illustrator)

It’s bedtime, but Little Mouse isn’t sleepy. He has tried reading, and snacking, and snuggling, but nothing is helping him fall asleep. Maybe Mama Mouse can help? If you want to fall asleep, what do you do? A wish and a hug and it’s finally time to dream. A lyrical bedtime story for sleepy little mice ages 4 and up.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published May 11, 2018

About the author

Jackie Azúa Kramer is an award-winning and internationally translated children’s book author. Her picture books include THE GREEN UMBRELLA, 2017 Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year; IF YOU WANT TO FALL ASLEEP; THE BOY AND THE GORILLA, 2021 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award winner; I WISH YOU KNEW, Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books and Parents’ Magazine Book Club Pick; MILES WON’T SMILE; DOROTHY AND HERBERT: AN ORDINARY COUPLE AND THEIR EXTRAORDINARY COLLECTION OF ART, Junior Library Guild Gold Selection. Her upcoming picture books are MANOLO AND THE UNICORN, WE ARE ONE, EMPANADAS FOR EVERYONE and BOOGIE IN THE BRONX.

Jackie strives to write books that meet children where they are and reflect what children see in the mirror and out of their windows. She lives with her family in Long Island, NY.

Jackie is a member of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) and is represented by Stephen Fraser of Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency.

Reviews

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overview:
This delightful children’s book is vaguely reminiscent of the classic “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie,” capturing the same whimsical spirit and playful chain of events. The story unfolds in a charming way that draws young readers in, making it a perfect addition to any child’s bookshelf.

The illustrations are particularly noteworthy; they are vibrant and engaging, perfectly complementing the storyline and adding depth to the reading experience. Each page is filled with colorful images that are sure to capture a child’s imagination, making storytime even more enjoyable.

Overall, this book presents a cute storyline that encourages curiosity and adventure, and I would definitely consider purchasing a copy for my child. It’s the kind of book that not only entertains but also sparks conversation and imagination.

Special Thanks:
A special thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book through NetGalley.

My review is fair and honest, and it’s important to note that my opinions are not influenced by the fact that I received this book at no cost. This review reflects my immediate feelings after finishing the book and is not intended to be compared to other titles I’ve read.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute story of a not too sleepy little mouse! Mama Mouse gives her Little Mouse lots of good suggestions for falling asleep such as counting stars, hugging your loved ones, reading and more. I loved the illustrations. They were large, busy yet the colors used were soft and conducive to the idea of a bedtime story. My one complaint is that the size of the print is quite small. If I was reading this in dim light while trying to put a little one to sleep, I would have trouble with this. Overall, a good bedtime story for pre-schoolers. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little Mouse has tried everything, and still he cannot fall asleep.

A gentle story, told with lulling rhythm and repetition.

[Arielfranchakyahoo.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

This adorable picture book is perfect to read to your child at bed time! A sweet story that both parents and children can relate, IF YOU WANT TO FALL ASLEEP, tells the tale of Little Mouse and his bedtime struggles. And as a parent of two little ones, I can easily agree that the struggle is real!!! The patient and kind Mama Mouse gives Little Mouse tender-hearted advice each time he gets out of bed. “Imagine pancakes in the morning...mountains of tasty goodness.” “Remember good friends, family pets, favorite dolls, stuffed animals. And wait for sleepy thoughts.” After several attempts and lots of advice, Little Mouse finally falls asleep. The story is written beautifully and the illustrations compliment the text perfectly with muted, sleepy colors and soft, cuddly animals. I highly recommend this adorable picture book!

[Bran Pendergrass · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a very cute little story. It reminds me of the tales and gestures that I do for my own little mice here at home. My youngest son really liked this book when I read it to him and we purchased a copy of our own.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you want to fall asleep by jackie azua Kramer.
It’s bedtime, but Little Mouse isn’t sleepy. He has tried reading, and snacking, and snuggling, but nothing is helping him fall asleep. Maybe Mama Mouse can help? If you want to fall asleep, what do you do? A wish and a hug and it’s finally time to dream. A lyrical bedtime story for sleepy little mice.
a nice little read for your little ones before bedtime. 5*.

[Storywraps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor little mouse is having trouble getting to sleep. He can't calm himself down and drift off so he goes and asks Mama Mouse what he should do. In fact he seeks Mama Mouse out many times to see if she can give him some tips as to how he can shut himself down, curl up, and be gone to Dreamland.

Wise Mama, with much patience and love, instructs her little guy to: read a whole book from cover to cover and then wait for the yawning, to imagine a mountain of pancakes and goodies in the morning and wait for the stretching, snuggle with things that are soft while thinking of friends, family and pets then wait for sleepy thoughts to start, count stars in the sky remembering wishes he made for his birthday, in secret, and in his dreams then wait for the dozing, just to name a few.

She finally hits on the magical formula that will give her little one a deep sense of contentment and calm causing his eyes to close and his day to finally be concluded. Ahhhhhh!! Success!!

This delightful lyrical story is perfect to share with your little mouse at bedtime. I am sure you have custom-made suggestions to give him to help him transition from awake to sound asleep. The illustrations are just gorgeous. If I were to write a book I would love to have Lisa Brandenburg be my illustrator. She is amazing! I highly recommend this book.

[Sheri Hoyte Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

If your little ones have trouble falling asleep or will do anything they can to avoid turning in for the night, “If You Want to Fall Asleep” is the perfect book to read right before bedtime! Just be careful – your kids might want to try all the suggestions by Mama Mouse!

It’s time for bed, but Little Mouse can’t settle down and keeps coming up with reasons why he cannot fall asleep. Mama Mouse ever-so-gently provides different options for Little Mouse to try, in hopes of lulling her sweet son into slumber. He tries reading his favorite book, imagining the fluffy pancakes he’ll get to eat in the morning, snuggling with his favorite stuffed animals, along with many other things – but he simply cannot fall asleep.

Full review on www.sherihoytebooks.com

[Elley Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really adorable illustrations, but the text was a little lackluster. It had good rhythm and readability, and it's cute how the toddler mouse keeps coming downstairs saying he can't sleep (ok, less cute if you have your own toddler human that does this, but still, relatable at least). I liked the rhythm of "not one or two or three" but the suggestions of how to fall asleep were just kind of... weird. Just weird enough to knock off one star. Still a super good book for bedtime, and long enough to settle down but not so long that it drags on.

*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Richelle Zirkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Little Mouse is having trouble falling asleep, Mama Mouse offers lots of idea to help him. It takes quite a few suggestions, but he finally has success. The story is a delight to read and perfect for sharing with your young readers at bedtime. It may be particularly useful for those children having difficulty falling asleep or struggling with bad dreams. It will definitely have them thinking of positive things before they drift off. The illustrations are adorable and full of action. They definitely appeal to our young boys. I highly recommend this book for a personal and library collection.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a story about little mouse who cannot sleep, and the things that momma mouse recommends he do in order to sleep. The illustrations are beautiful and really complement the story, and there is a lot going on in each page which gives you something new to seek out each time. The text was rather small and given the layout I think it could have been a little larger - always easier if the text is larger! However, I guess this has been done so it does not detract from the images. All in all, a sweet little book to help with bedtimes.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

#NetGalley
Mama Mouse tucks Little Mouse in bed but soon she hears a noise. When she checks on Little Mouse he is jumping on the bed because he can’t sleep. She suggests that he might want to read a book from cover to cover. When he tries that and it doesn't work she suggests something else. This continues throughout the book until her last suggestion, but will it work or make things worse?

Cons:  It’s hard to put my finger on the problem with this story, but it just didn't click with me.

Pros:  The illustrations, which are very cute, support the story and a touching ending.

[Jodi McKay · Rating 5 out of 5]

So happy to see this at my library! Unfortunately for me my son has moved on to chapter books, but I still read picture books and this one was so sweet and quite relatable. It brought me back to when my son was little and "couldn't fall asleep" and I enjoyed how this mama's suggestions are interpreted by the little mouse. The illustrations add a touch of playfulness that kids will love and the refrain, "If you want to fall asleep" as well as the lyrical language the author uses will definitely make this a favorite bedtime read for all of the little mice out there.

[Deanna Holdsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful bedtime story!
Little Mouse has a hard time falling asleep and Momma Mouse tries her best to advise him on how he can soon fall asleep. He follows her advise but still has a hard time falling asleep. Will Momma ever find exactly what her little one needs in order to sleep?
I think young and old will enjoy this story and the wonderful illustrations. If you are a parent of a young child you'll be reading this book over and over again.

[Paul Franco · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little mouse can’t fall asleep, even with all the advice mom gives. He’s got plenty of make-believe characters to help—or hinder—his attempt, though the words rarely match the visuals.
Basically a paean to the power of imagination. Nothing particularly special about the artwork, but nothing wrong with it either; it does the job.
3.5 pushed up to 4/5

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Mouse can't seem to get to sleep - every time his mother puts him back to be, she gives him more advice: read a story, think about your favorite food, snuggle with toys, count the stars, hug everyone good night. This is great advice for a little one having trouble getting to sleep. Little Mouse is a bit distracted (jumping on the bed, playing with his toys, looking out the window) which can also be addressed with this bedtime story. A great sleepy bedtime story with nice illustrations.

Cross posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com CHECK IT OUT!

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. #litreviewcrew

I LOVED this book! It was so beautiful sounding with the repetition and word choice. I loved the patience of the mother and the silly illustrations. What a fun and beautiful story that can be enjoyed at all age levels.

[Lynne Moody · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short bedtime story with with great illustrations. The storyline was a very busy fun felt book, but will make kids wonder and keep their minds racing instead of falling asleep. I would think.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

If You Want to Fall Asleep by Jackie Azua Kramer, illustrated by Lisa Brandenburg, 32 pages. PICTURE BOOK. Clavis Books, 2018. $10
EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...

[Abby Peskin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mouse in this book has trouble falling asleep so instead he stays active, jumping on the bed. His mom helps him understand that if he wants to fall asleep, he needs to try something else, like reading a book or counting something.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute story of a not too sleepy little mouse! Nice gentle tale for little ones. Mama Mouse gives her Little Mouse lots of good suggestions for falling asleep. Love the illustrations.

[Ashleyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about a mouse who can't sleep.

[Chou Yuko · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book is very suitable for bedside story, parents can read to children who cannot sleep. This book has many ideas of how to let you sleep.

[Poongothai · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story of a little mouse who cannot sleep.Mama mouse gives many ideas and he finally goes to sleep. Illustrations are good.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher

[Patricia Nozell · Rating 5 out of 5]

If You Want to Fall Asleep is a wonderful new bedtime book with a comforting story, whimsical illustrations & just enough repetition to make this one to read and re-read.

[Cherry London · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice bedtime story to read to your kids, it’s fun and quirky, your kids would fall asleep with a smile on their faces. These fun mice characters are great in telling the story of how to fall asleep, a simple fun storyline kids could follow.

[Jennifer M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I  recieved a free digital copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.
Poor Little Mouse can't fall asleep. We follow along as his mother suggests different things to help make Little Mouse sleepy.
The illustrations are cute and fun, while the story is short and sweet.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the perfect bedtime story for little ones who refuse to go to sleep! It would also be fun for Pajama Storytimes.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

When it is time to go to sleep, sometimes you are not sleepy. Start by reading your book. Not one page, no two pages, but the entire thing. If that doesn’t work, count the stars, think of breakfast, etc. A fine book, needs a brighter cover. The cover is so drab and grey, but the story is fun a colorful.