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When I Wake Up
Every single day holds so many possibilities—how do you choose what to do when you wake up? Award-winning author Seth Fishman and acclaimed illustrator Jessixa Bagley introduce a young child and four different paths for their day in this inventive and original picture book that recognizes the imagination, courage, and independence of every child. When an imaginative young child wakes up before their parents, they know that they’re supposed to stay in bed until the clock says 7:00. But that’s no fun—so what should they do instead? Make breakfast? Build a city? Ride a scooter? Dig in the garden? Each choice leads to a different path for the day. And in the end, the child makes the best decision of all—to curl up, safe and loved, between Mom and Dad. When I Wake Up begins in black-and-white, and then each of the child’s four choices is rendered in a different color. Every spread includes all four choices, so readers can enjoy this book traditionally, reading all four colors at once, or they can choose one color to follow from beginning to end. Jessixa Bagley’s masterful and ingenious artwork beautifully complements Seth Fishman’s lyrical text that celebrates imagination, creativity, independence, and love. When I Wake Up begs to be read over and over again—and can change every time. Both children and parents will enjoy sharing this timeless story—no matter when they wake up or what time the clock says.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published December 14, 2021
49 people want to read
About the author
Seth Fishman
9 books156 followersSeth Fishman is a native of Midland, Texas (think Friday Night Lights), and a graduate of Princeton University and the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. He spends his days as a literary agent at The Gernert Company and his nights (and mornings) writing. He lives in LA with his wife and son.
His first picture book (with Isabel Greenberg Illustrating), A HUNDRED BILLION TRILLION STARS, won the Mathical Prize, was a Boston Globe Horn Book Honor Book, and was named a best book of 2017 by Amazon, Space.com and the Planetary Society. His follow up picture book, POWER UP, is out March 19th. He's the author of two YA thrillers, THE WELL'S END and THE DARK WATER.
His first picture book (with Isabel Greenberg Illustrating), A HUNDRED BILLION TRILLION STARS, won the Mathical Prize, was a Boston Globe Horn Book Honor Book, and was named a best book of 2017 by Amazon, Space.com and the Planetary Society. His follow up picture book, POWER UP, is out March 19th. He's the author of two YA thrillers, THE WELL'S END and THE DARK WATER.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
January 4, 2022
Every day life is full of choices.
Following 4 different colors that explore 4 different choices to begin the day.
Following 4 different colors that explore 4 different choices to begin the day.
July 22, 2022
Maybe I did not give this book much of a shot. I was put off immediately by "my parents say this but I'm going to do this." That is not a great start to me.
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April 25, 2022This book shows four different possible ways a young child’s morning could go - when he wakes up before 7 am, to a sky that’s still dark.
In one, he makes his own breakfast. In another, he draws a whole city. In another, he goes for a ride on his scooter. And in the fourth, he gardens.
Of course, his dad has instructed him to stay in bed until 7 am so he is not supposed to do any of those things.
This is an innovative idea but I am not sure how clear it would be for very young readers. Maybe it is better suited for older kids.
In one, he makes his own breakfast. In another, he draws a whole city. In another, he goes for a ride on his scooter. And in the fourth, he gardens.
Of course, his dad has instructed him to stay in bed until 7 am so he is not supposed to do any of those things.
This is an innovative idea but I am not sure how clear it would be for very young readers. Maybe it is better suited for older kids.
February 12, 2022
My 5 year old found this book confusing. Way too abstract for a children’s book.
January 4, 2022
A child is the first to wakes and thinks, "Maybe I will do whatever I want to do," and ponders the possibilities. Four color-coded scenarios masterfully rendered in richly detailed watercolor-and-pencil illustrations by Jessixa Bagley appear alongside each other for most of the book as the child describes how each chosen path might progress. An artful, cleverly crafted, engaging portrait of a child's imagination and view of the world.
November 1, 2021
Super innovative format and idea!
January 2, 2022
See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...
WHEN I WAKE UP tells the story of a young boy who wakes up before his parents, when the world is still dark. He knows that he is not supposed to get up until 7am, but he thinks about all the things he could do if he gets up now, such as eat a bunch of marshmallows, ride a scooter down the alley and climb a tree, or work in his mother's garden. Each scenario is told a sentence at a time, through color-coded images, with all 4 imagined on each page spread.
What I loved: This is an imaginative story of thinking through decisions and the consequences of those decisions, as the child thinks about what would happen if he eats too many marshmallows or falls on the tree and scrapes a knee. Ultimately, he decides to climb into bed with his parents and get back to sleep. The illustrations capture each statement well, and the colors delineate each possible storyline, which is an interesting touch.
What left me wanting more: The book requires a few readings to really figure out and follow the different storylines, since they are all told in parallel. Even as an adult, it took me a while to follow each of them and figure out how they were separated. This may work better when read one color at a time. I was also troubled by the possibility of some of the scenarios, which could be dangerous for young readers (leaving the house during the night, climbing trees alone when no one knows where you are, etc.). I was also troubled by the eating marshmallows in the closet (which the child says their parents do), which seems to indicate disordered eating patterns.
Final verdict: A story of possibility, WHEN I WAKE UP explores decision making in an intriguing picture book format.
Please note that I received a review copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
WHEN I WAKE UP tells the story of a young boy who wakes up before his parents, when the world is still dark. He knows that he is not supposed to get up until 7am, but he thinks about all the things he could do if he gets up now, such as eat a bunch of marshmallows, ride a scooter down the alley and climb a tree, or work in his mother's garden. Each scenario is told a sentence at a time, through color-coded images, with all 4 imagined on each page spread.
What I loved: This is an imaginative story of thinking through decisions and the consequences of those decisions, as the child thinks about what would happen if he eats too many marshmallows or falls on the tree and scrapes a knee. Ultimately, he decides to climb into bed with his parents and get back to sleep. The illustrations capture each statement well, and the colors delineate each possible storyline, which is an interesting touch.
What left me wanting more: The book requires a few readings to really figure out and follow the different storylines, since they are all told in parallel. Even as an adult, it took me a while to follow each of them and figure out how they were separated. This may work better when read one color at a time. I was also troubled by the possibility of some of the scenarios, which could be dangerous for young readers (leaving the house during the night, climbing trees alone when no one knows where you are, etc.). I was also troubled by the eating marshmallows in the closet (which the child says their parents do), which seems to indicate disordered eating patterns.
Final verdict: A story of possibility, WHEN I WAKE UP explores decision making in an intriguing picture book format.
Please note that I received a review copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
October 12, 2024
When I Wake Up is sort of a choose your own adventure picture book. It’s very creative and uses illustrations in different colors to show what possible decisions the character could make when he wakes up.
The main character wakes up before he is supposed to be awake. His dad has told him not to leave his room until the clock says 7:00 but it is 6:15am. He thinks about four different things he could do before his parents wake up: eat breakfast (red), ride on his scooter (purple), draw a city (yellow), or dig a garden (green). A child could read the story following just the red illustrations and texts on the following pages to learn about how the child has too many marshmallows for breakfast. Or they could read it again and follow just the yellow illustrations and text. Trying to follow all of the illustrations at once is also possible but might be confusing for little brains. All of the ideas are just his ideas though. What the boy actually does at the end is crawl in bed with his parents until 7:00am.
Just adorable and so true to life. Recommended purchase.
R.U.
YS Director
The main character wakes up before he is supposed to be awake. His dad has told him not to leave his room until the clock says 7:00 but it is 6:15am. He thinks about four different things he could do before his parents wake up: eat breakfast (red), ride on his scooter (purple), draw a city (yellow), or dig a garden (green). A child could read the story following just the red illustrations and texts on the following pages to learn about how the child has too many marshmallows for breakfast. Or they could read it again and follow just the yellow illustrations and text. Trying to follow all of the illustrations at once is also possible but might be confusing for little brains. All of the ideas are just his ideas though. What the boy actually does at the end is crawl in bed with his parents until 7:00am.
Just adorable and so true to life. Recommended purchase.
R.U.
YS Director
June 2, 2022
Every morning presents new possibilities… especially if you wake up before your parents! As a child deliberates on whether to make breakfast, scooter down the street, draw a village, or do some gardening, the reader gets to witness the different possibilities in conjunction with each other!
It is rather nauseating reading all four adventures as one, so it would behoove the reader to pick a color path, and Choose Your Own Adventure! Although it is not clear that this is a CYOA book, the colors assists the reader into choosing their “path.” With the uniqueness of a picture book attempting a CYOA, I admire the effort. However, an adult may need to assist young readers in navigating the text and making the distinctions.
It is rather nauseating reading all four adventures as one, so it would behoove the reader to pick a color path, and Choose Your Own Adventure! Although it is not clear that this is a CYOA book, the colors assists the reader into choosing their “path.” With the uniqueness of a picture book attempting a CYOA, I admire the effort. However, an adult may need to assist young readers in navigating the text and making the distinctions.
July 6, 2023
A little boy wakes up before he's allowed out of bed so he imagines all the things that he could do if he got up instead of doing what his parents tell him. There are 4 different threads of what he could possibly do: get breakfast (and marshmallows), draw, ride his scooter then climb a tree, or dig in the garden. He explores each of the different activities, but in the end decides to go into his parents room and cuddle up with them and sleep.
A cute book that lets kids think about possibilities but also show following the rules and why it is a good choice. The different colors for each activity would teach children how to focus one multiple things at once and lets them practice keeping a couple things relevant in their minds at the same time.
A cute book that lets kids think about possibilities but also show following the rules and why it is a good choice. The different colors for each activity would teach children how to focus one multiple things at once and lets them practice keeping a couple things relevant in their minds at the same time.
January 1, 2022
This is a book about making choices. And how we choose to spend our day. As is true in life, each choice has different outcomes. And the reader gets to follow along and experience different emotions with each choice. Creativity. Indulgence. Courage. Fear.
You can follow a color or read them all together! What would you choose? How would you feel? I think this young one chose wisely!
I also really enjoyed the depiction of parent-child relationship. The parents are so central to the child's existence that their presence is ever present in their thoughts.
You can follow a color or read them all together! What would you choose? How would you feel? I think this young one chose wisely!
I also really enjoyed the depiction of parent-child relationship. The parents are so central to the child's existence that their presence is ever present in their thoughts.
January 10, 2022
An intriguing, impressionistic picture book about all of the choices one can make during a day. Would be quite challenging as a storytime read, but fun to read and discuss one on one or with a small group of kids. A great opprtunity to practice reading pictures, as the various paths the main character's day could possibly take, depending on their choices, are illustrated in four distinct different colors. Main character has light tan skin— Mom has light brown skin, Dad is White.
Themes: Choices
Age Range: Toddler-Kindergarten
Themes: Choices
Age Range: Toddler-Kindergarten
January 26, 2022
Brilliant! And I'm a bit embarrassed to say it took me about halfway through the book before realizing that each color/story could be on it's own. That's what I get for going into it not knowing a thing about the book! I immediately had to read it again after I finished.
The art is gorgeous and I love how each scene/story has it's own unique color. I also love when books start out in black and white and then do an "Oz" switch-and this one has four!
And the adorable ending had me wanting to give my little one a hug and snuggles. This is perfect imagination in a picture book!
The art is gorgeous and I love how each scene/story has it's own unique color. I also love when books start out in black and white and then do an "Oz" switch-and this one has four!
And the adorable ending had me wanting to give my little one a hug and snuggles. This is perfect imagination in a picture book!
March 31, 2022
Definitely a book for the older range of younger children (i.e. not toddlers), as it is difficult to explain following just one color/storyline, and despite what the back of the book says, it really does not work to read all of the text/storylines as you would normally read a book.
As a parent, I’d also say that it made me nervous reading the storylines where the kid went outside of his house (especially wandering into the alley) while his parents were still sleeping and totally unaware of his whereabouts 😅😬
As a parent, I’d also say that it made me nervous reading the storylines where the kid went outside of his house (especially wandering into the alley) while his parents were still sleeping and totally unaware of his whereabouts 😅😬
March 14, 2023
Every day IS full of choices.
I just love the ingenious, creative approach to all the paths one person can take in one day. As for the use of color in this picture book? Absolutely superb!
The language for this story is simple. Yet the sense of possibility squeezes more than one day... into any one day. Exactly how I choose to live.
Yet I've never seen this kind of free willish exuberance in any picture book before.
Thank you, author Seth Fishman.
And thank you too, artist Jessixa Bagley.
I just love the ingenious, creative approach to all the paths one person can take in one day. As for the use of color in this picture book? Absolutely superb!
The language for this story is simple. Yet the sense of possibility squeezes more than one day... into any one day. Exactly how I choose to live.
Yet I've never seen this kind of free willish exuberance in any picture book before.
Thank you, author Seth Fishman.
And thank you too, artist Jessixa Bagley.
October 18, 2025
This creative picture book has such incredible heart, as Seth perfectly captures both a child’s longing to experience the world in a million ways—to explore, to build, to discovery, and to connect—as well as their mild trepidation at facing that big world alone. It’s partly a story of what it means to grow up and become independent. Ultimately the child realizes that the coziest, happiest place (for now!) is curled up between their parents. My 6- and 9-year-old (and 42-year-old parent!) greatly enjoyed reading this book.
December 29, 2021
A story about making choices, even when you're younger.
Each layout has four choices that are a different color scheme and they vary from food choices, to going out and doing, to using your imagination. When they are read across a singular page, they don't necessarily come together and make sense. But when you read them by their color, it not only makes more sense, but you can appreciate how they are placed apart, too.
Each layout has four choices that are a different color scheme and they vary from food choices, to going out and doing, to using your imagination. When they are read across a singular page, they don't necessarily come together and make sense. But when you read them by their color, it not only makes more sense, but you can appreciate how they are placed apart, too.
December 27, 2022
A child wakes up before they can wake up their parents and tries to decide what to do. If this was used as a read aloud or storytime, it would be fun to have the group pick one of the 4 options (red, yellow, purple, and green), especially if you could read it to the same group over and over and pick a different option each time. While it does celebrate the few choices kids can make, some of these options aren't safe for a young child on their own...
January 13, 2022
This is a sort of "choose your own adventure" type story in which a child imagines what to do in early morning before his parents wake, with possible outcomes and consequences for each choice. This book encourages readers to think through their choices and reminds us that everything we do has a result!
May 20, 2022
5/20/22: A world of possibilities for a young boy as he wakes up. The artwork was interesting, I didn't absolutely love it but I did enjoy it. I liked the use of color to show the different possibilities. Lovely book that I can put on the list for the grandchild. More of a 3.5 rounded up for Goodreads, but a nice book all around.
April 12, 2022
This book was a bit confusing, but I didn’t realize until after I had finished it that it’s like a choose your own age entire children’s picture book which is a super cool idea, just a little bit confusing until you figure that out and even then I think it could be done a little better.
April 21, 2022
A young child wakes up and thinks of all the things they could do since they are not supposed to be out of bed yet and the grownups are still asleep.
There are four different storylines presented on each page so the story becomes confusing very quickly. Not recommended for storytime.
There are four different storylines presented on each page so the story becomes confusing very quickly. Not recommended for storytime.
April 29, 2022
Like most youngsters, this kid is awake early - too early. Parents are still sleeping and he’s wondering what to do because he doesn’t want to stay in bed. The illustrations are amazing - each color and panel on each page shows where each choice of activity could lead.
March 23, 2023
A young boy waking up early one morning and imagines all the different things he could do with his day. So many possibilities!! Great story to read to little ones and the charming illustrations are sure to provide opportunity to discuss the choices one has every day.
June 24, 2023
Imaginative and playful story with a sweet ending.
Color pattern was built-in right from the cover. I noticed it while I was reading but I didn't notice the cover until I finished the book and closed it back up.
Color pattern was built-in right from the cover. I noticed it while I was reading but I didn't notice the cover until I finished the book and closed it back up.
September 18, 2023
I really liked the idea and illustrations of this book, but I wonder if in practice the format would be confusing for kids. It might be better as a take-home read rather than for storytime so that kids can go back and forth and read each way the child starts their day.
February 13, 2025
A sweet read for a toddler who wakes before his parents and considers all the things he could do. Of particular interest are Jessixa Bagley's unique illustrations. Using a palette of 4 colors, Bagley depicts the different directions the young boy's mind travels.
June 26, 2021
3.5. I like the choose your own adventure aspect of this picture book. Each color is a different part of the character’s imagination.
December 17, 2021
Reviewed for School Library Journal, October 2021. Full review found there.
VERDICT: A lovely additional purchase, encouraging imagination while capturing a child's first glimpse at independence—
VERDICT: A lovely additional purchase, encouraging imagination while capturing a child's first glimpse at independence—
December 20, 2021
Kids pick their own path for the story by color! Such a fun book - makes a great read-aloud for families and teachers!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews