Publishers Weekly
10/16/2023
Giddy expectation fills the pages of this anticipatory holiday bonanza from previous collaborators Curtis and Cornell (Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born). After a birthday eve yields to present-opening, the title’s brown-skinned, freckle-nosed protagonist reassures: “When it’s all over, then I have to wait/ another whole year for more cake on my plate./ Lucky for me there are so many days/ that make waiting worth it in all sorts of ways.” Leading on from the titular refrain, rhyming lines that employ the phrase “just one more sleep” detail a year of major holidays, from Chinese New Year to Kwanzaa and beyond, as well as noting milestones such as camp and the start of school. Busy, sometimes spattered watercolors with sketchy outlines supply an unrestrained energy: children of varied skin tones make breakfast in a Mother’s Day scene, while a New Year’s moment communicates a satisfied exhaustion. It’s a raucous celebration of celebration, and a reminder that good things can be worth the wait. Ages 3–7. (Jan.)
From the Publisher
Praise for Just One More Sleep:
Amazon’s Best of the Year (So Far) in 2024, Ages 3-5
"Charming family fun." —Kirkus Reviews
"Giddy expectation fills the pages of this anticipatory holiday bonanza from previous collaborators Curtis and Cornell. Busy, sometimes spattered watercolors with sketchy outlines supply an unrestrained energy . . . It’s a raucous celebration of celebration, and a reminder that good things can be worth the wait." —Publishers Weekly
"An endearing book with lots of kid appeal." —School Library Journal
School Library Journal
01/01/2024
PreS-Gr 1—In this ode to the special days that make up a year, a child in an interfaith, multicultural family eagerly awaits a birthday with "just one more sleep" before the big day. Realizing that when it's all over there will be another whole year of waiting for the next birthday, the protagonist decides to focus on all the big days in between, taking readers on a ride through a calendar of festivities, including Chinese New Year, Passover, Easter, Independence Day, Halloween, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. The colorful watercolor illustrations convey the fun energy of holidays with a busy family. By New Year's Day, the protagonist reflects on learning patience through the year, and Mom commends her for "learning to wait." While that theme doesn't shine through the rest of the book, the joy of family celebrations definitely does. VERDICT An endearing book with lots of kid appeal that covers a wide array of holidays.—Alia Shields
Kirkus Reviews
2023-10-07
In this latest collaboration from actor and author Curtis and illustrator Cornell, a child finds ways to pass the time.
“It’s just one more sleep” until “I blow out candles on my birthday cake,” the young narrator informs us. But after that wonderful day, the gap-toothed, curly-haired, brown-skinned child will have to wait an entire year for the next birthday. Luckily, there are many other special days to enjoy and anticipate in the meantime. Lilting, rhyming verse accompanied by sprawling, upbeat illustrations follows the unnamed protagonist and a boisterous, multiracial, interfaith family through a year of holidays and events. The child eagerly takes part in everything from dancing in a dragon mask on Chinese New Year and making red heart valentines to finding Easter eggs, listening to the Passover story, lighting Hanukkah candles, opening Christmas presents, and dressing up for Kwanzaa. Finally, it’s New Year! Basking in Mom’s pride, the child has learned patience—and feels quite pleased with that accomplishment. The refrain “just one more sleep”—a common phrase that helps children understand the concept of today and tomorrow—may be slightly confusing here. The book jumps from holiday to holiday, though there are in fact many sleeps between, for instance, the first day of school and Halloween. But no matter: Young readers will know their own special times and relate to this joyful child and loving family.
Charming family fun. (Picture book. 3-7)
