William's Winter Nap

by Linda Ashman, Chuck Groenink (Illustrator)

Overview

A boy has trouble settling down to sleep when a series of animals come knocking on his door in this ideal read-aloud for a cold winter night.

Just when William is ready to fall asleep in his cozy cabin, there is a tap on his window. A chilly chipmunk asks to stay, and Will scooches over in bed. "There's room for two — I'm sure we'll fit." The chipmunk is just the first in a parade of mammals, each bigger than the last, until the bed is full. Then a note is slipped beneath the door: "Do you have room for just one more?" William tugs the door to see who's there . . . only to find a great big BEAR! Is there enough space to spare? Will the other animals be willing to share?

Kids will delight at each new guest's arrival and enjoy counting along as the animals keep scooching over to fit in William's bed. Linda Ashman's clever rhymes set up each page turn with suspense and humor, and the expressions on Chuck Groenink's characters are perfect. This is must reading for the dark time of year when everyone wants to hibernate!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781484722824
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	10/10/2017
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	426,181
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Linda Ashman is the author of William's Winter Nap, a companion to William Wakes Up. Her more than thirty picture books have earned numerous honors and starred reviews, and have been included in the "Best of the Year" lists in the New York Times; Parenting, Child, and Cookie magazines; Bank Street College of Education; and the New York Public Library. She has taught a variety of workshops on writing for children and is the author of The Nuts and Bolts Guide to Writing Picture Books, a "how to" handbook. Linda lives with her family in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Visit her online at www.lindaashman.com.

Chuck Groenink (www.chuckgroenink.com) hails from an overgrown village among the peat bogs in the north of the Netherlands, where he spent his formative years climbing trees, drawing, reading, and cycling. He attended the Artez Institute of Visual Arts in Kampen, graduating from the department of illustration in 2004. He lives in Hudson, New York with his wife and two cats.

Editorial Reviews

★ 10/02/2017
After snuggling in for the night in his log cabin, a boy named William is repeatedly awakened by animals seeking shelter. A chipmunk is first: “ ‘Excuse me, but I’ve lost my way./ I’m cold and tired. May I please stay?’/ Will says, ‘Yes, I’ll scooch a bit./ There’s room for two—I’m sure we’ll fit.’ ” Other animals follow, crowding the bed—and then an enormous bear shows up. Ashman’s meticulously crafted rhymes are a delight to read, and the page turns build gentle tension (who’s at the door now?). Groenink makes the cabin look eminently cozy, in contrast to the snowy blue-black night outside. And his forest creatures—who yawn in unison with William each time they try to get some shut-eye—are as adorable as it gets. Ages 3–6. Author’s agent: Jennifer Mattson, Andrea Brown Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Stephen Barr, Writers House. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

*"Beautifully paced, rhymed, and cadenced . . . The text reads aloud well, with natural places for kids to join in . . . a subdued palate of deep blues, grays, and tawny browns . . creates a strong sense of the setting and the appealing characters. Just right for reading aloud on cold, wintry nights." — Booklist (starred review)

*"Ashman's meticulously crafted rhymes are a delight to read, and the page turns build gently tension (who's at the door now?) Groenink makes the cabin look eminently cozy. . .And his forest creatures—who yawn in unison with William each time they try to get some shut-eye—are as adorable as it gets."— Publishers Weekly (starred review)

From the Publisher

11/01/2017
PreS-Gr 1—One cold winter night, a boy named William is about to fall asleep, then hears the sound of a "tap, tap, tap" outside. He scooches over to make room for a cold and tired chipmunk until a series of other abrupt noises…"knocking…booming…pinging… and crunching" are followed by a troupe of other unexpected house guests. These sleepy evening visitors range in size from a porcupine, beaver, and raccoon to a towering bear. In each instance, there is always room for one more. Ashman's lilting rhymes are ideal as a soothing bedtime story, accompanied by bold illustrations of a dark, bluish purple night dotted by white swirly snowflakes. The entreating look on each animal's face peering in at the door is irresistibly sweet, though the bear's looming presence at story's end seems almost too dark to discern. Young children will simply enjoy this as an endearing, cuddle-up story at bedtime, especially on a stormy night. An added value to the tale is its emphasis on the benefits of bestowing hospitality to those in need and a generosity of spirit towards new friends. VERDICT A cozy winter story best saved for nighttime reading, and a good purchase for most collections.—Etta Anton, Yeshiva of Central Queens, NY

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