Hey! Wake Up!

by Sandra Boynton

Happy morning, everyone!
The perfect partner to Pajama Time! , Hey! Wake Up! is a good-morning book with the irrepressible language, the inimitable illustrations, the irresistible cast of characters only Sandra Boynton could create.

Yawn.

Stretch.

Touch your toes.

Shimmy shimmy shimmy,

Wiggle your nose.

Just watch out for the broccoli stew. (Ew.)

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Animals, Fiction, Kids, Storytime, Humor

24 pages, Board Book

First published April 1, 2000

About the author

Sandra Keith Boynton is an American humorist, songwriter, director, music producer, children's author, and illustrator. Boynton has written and illustrated over eighty-five books for children and seven general audience books, as well as over four thousand greeting cards, and seven music albums. She has also designed calendars, wallpaper, bedding, stationery, paper goods, clothing, jewelry, and plush toys for various companies.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the rhymes and pictures a lot, but I don't understand why it doesn't stick with the morning routine stuff -- like spending more time on picking clothes and getting dressed or checking the day's schedule -- instead of jumping into play activities where two characters are body shamed as too small or too big to do the things they want to do. Those pages seem out of place with the rest.

[Hendrix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read with mommy. I liked seeing what the big guys and small guys got up to. Mommy says I’m a big, small guy!

[jacky · Rating 2 out of 5]

This just wasn't as fun and quirky as most of the other books we've read by Boynton, particularly Hippos Go Beserk. The only fun part of the story for me was the broccoli stew, but otherwise it was a let down.

[SaraLaLa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have found that there are many books about going to sleep (even Sandra Boynton has one), but I haven't found anything about waking up.

All of Sandra Boynton's books have a great rhythm, rhyme, and pictures. Although I'm not in love with this book, my daughter likes it and I can see it being part of our home library.

[Barbara Mahoney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute story about waking up at the start of the day! It has a nice simple story and rhyme to it. Yawn, stretch and touch your toes, shimmy shimmy shimmy and wiggle your toes.

The 2 year old I read this book LOVES this book. It is one of her favorites. It is a very upbeat happy book! It starts by saying good morning to the sun!

I recommend this book for toddlers. It is a nice sturdy book. Somehow, although almost impossible since the pages are so thick, the 2 year old I read this book to has taken a bite out of the back cover. It has her teeth marks in it! I always ask her at the end of the book, "I wonder who took a bite out of this book?" and she laughs.

[Maeghan Kostorowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hey! Wake Up! By Sandra Boynton is a story about waking up in the morning, getting ready, playing outside, and eating a snack. You could incorporate this into your class by discussing everyone's morning routine and then creating a whole class routine. This book has incredible illustrations and rhymes!

[Kate M. Colby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack borrowed this book from the Oxford Public Library. I picked it, of course, because Sandra Boynton is one of his favorite authors.

Surprisingly, he actually picked it up this afternoon and initiated reading it. He "read" it for a bit by himself before asking me to read. As always, he liked the animals and my funny voices. Especially when I read "ew" about the broccoli stew.

[Kiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the things I miss most about my kids getting older is not constantly reading board books with them. Sandra Boynton was always a fave so it's refreshing when I have an opportunity to revisit her. Hey! Wake Up! doesn't disappoint (though the rabbit eating broccoli stew might be disappointed...or not)

[Lukas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of my kid's best books. He is under 2 so he enjoys it. I wasnt a fan of the lines about being too small or big for certain activities but I'm not about to go nuts about the inclusive language used in a board book haha

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bedtime books are crucial, but sometimes I feel like that's all I have, and there are plenty of other times of the day that benefit from a good quick book! This one has a nice (but not perfect) flow, and the broccoli stew is pretty fun.

[Lil Old Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore Sandra Boynton. Her stories are funny, the drawings are charming and adorable, and I always know when I pick up one of her books, both my daughter and I are going to enjoy it. This one is about waking up and starting your day, but hopefully without broccoli stew (ew).

[Alicia Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

For: animal fans; readers looking for a book about waking up.

Possible red flags: silliness; comments about a short character not being able to play basketball without help and an elephant not being able to use the swings because they're too big--could be seen as discriminatory.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lively wake up call written in rhyming text. A fun read aloud with Toddlers and PreK.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun!!

[Ashley Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

My little one seems to enjoy this book. The story is simple but cute, and the illustrations are funny. There are a lot of bedtime stories, but this one is perfect to start the day.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both my parents still have this one memorized. This one made me feel safe (and still does) because it was read to me every morning. Today I know the book and it makes me smile.

[Kelly Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

High energy, good rhymes, but why doesn't the hippo like broccoli? And poor elephant, he can't swing on the swing?

[Faloni © · Rating 5 out of 5]

☀️👌😎 😏I'm so not a morning person --.-

[Bonnie Arriola · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a goofy rhyming story celebrating the morning/wake-up routine.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Broccoli stew just doesn't sound very good for breakfast. The second half of the book didn't seem to have anything to do with waking up. I prefer a board book that stays on point.

[R. L. Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Sandra Boynton, need I say more?

[Jeani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really stinkin' cute.

[Nicole · Rating 1 out of 5]

“You’re too big to use the swings! You should go do big guy things!” Ummm what? The elephant isn’t allowed to go on the swings….not great messaging for children.

[Andrés · Rating 4 out of 5]

This rhyme flowed better than most Boynton books for me. I agree with others that the book would have been better if it omitted the "too small," "too big" pages.

[Gabby C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading through it and like the drawings that were done for the story. Definitely could imagine playing some of these actions out when reading to my future kids

[Emily Mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love a Sandra boyton book

[Shanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute.

Mia’s Year of Books: Day 322

[Ruth Ponder]

Note: comments that broccoli is ew.

[Theodore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good and kind of funny book!