What do you think?
Rate this book
Twenty Yawns
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Picture Books (2016)Featuring lyrical text and beautiful illustrations, this bedtime tale from Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley and Caldecott Honor recipient Lauren Castillo evokes the splashy fun of the beach and the quietude of a moonlit night, with twenty yawns sprinkled in for children to discover and count.
As her mom reads a bedtime story, Lucy drifts off. But later, she awakens in a dark, still room, and everything looks mysterious. How will she ever get back to sleep?
As her mom reads a bedtime story, Lucy drifts off. But later, she awakens in a dark, still room, and everything looks mysterious. How will she ever get back to sleep?
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2016
246 people are currently reading
2424 people want to read
About the author
Jane Smiley
130 books2,660 followersJane Smiley is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist.
Born in Los Angeles, California, Smiley grew up in Webster Groves, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, and graduated from John Burroughs School. She obtained a A.B. at Vassar College, then earned a M.F.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. While working towards her doctorate, she also spent a year studying in Iceland as a Fulbright Scholar. From 1981 to 1996, she taught at Iowa State University. Smiley published her first novel, Barn Blind, in 1980, and won a 1985 O. Henry Award for her short story "Lily", which was published in The Atlantic Monthly. Her best-selling A Thousand Acres, a story based on William Shakespeare's King Lear, received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1992. It was adapted into a film of the same title in 1997. In 1995 she wrote her sole television script produced, for an episode of Homicide: Life on the Street. Her novella The Age of Grief was made into the 2002 film The Secret Lives of Dentists.
Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Novel (2005), is a non-fiction meditation on the history and the nature of the novel, somewhat in the tradition of E. M. Forster's seminal Aspects of the Novel, that roams from eleventh century Japan's Murasaki Shikibu's The Tale of Genji to twenty-first century Americans chick lit.
In 2001, Smiley was elected a member of The American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Born in Los Angeles, California, Smiley grew up in Webster Groves, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, and graduated from John Burroughs School. She obtained a A.B. at Vassar College, then earned a M.F.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. While working towards her doctorate, she also spent a year studying in Iceland as a Fulbright Scholar. From 1981 to 1996, she taught at Iowa State University. Smiley published her first novel, Barn Blind, in 1980, and won a 1985 O. Henry Award for her short story "Lily", which was published in The Atlantic Monthly. Her best-selling A Thousand Acres, a story based on William Shakespeare's King Lear, received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1992. It was adapted into a film of the same title in 1997. In 1995 she wrote her sole television script produced, for an episode of Homicide: Life on the Street. Her novella The Age of Grief was made into the 2002 film The Secret Lives of Dentists.
Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Novel (2005), is a non-fiction meditation on the history and the nature of the novel, somewhat in the tradition of E. M. Forster's seminal Aspects of the Novel, that roams from eleventh century Japan's Murasaki Shikibu's The Tale of Genji to twenty-first century Americans chick lit.
In 2001, Smiley was elected a member of The American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 377 reviews
February 25, 2016
Most novelists don’t want to put readers to sleep, but Jane Smiley hopes you’ll nod off with her next book.
“Twenty Yawns” is Smiley’s first picture book. It marks a somnolent shift for the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, who recently completed her three-volume “Last Hundred Years” trilogy. In an email interview from her home in Carmel Valley, Calif., Smiley said she came up with the idea almost a decade ago when she wanted to add some. . . .
To read the rest of this interview with Jane Smiley, go to The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entert...
“Twenty Yawns” is Smiley’s first picture book. It marks a somnolent shift for the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, who recently completed her three-volume “Last Hundred Years” trilogy. In an email interview from her home in Carmel Valley, Calif., Smiley said she came up with the idea almost a decade ago when she wanted to add some. . . .
To read the rest of this interview with Jane Smiley, go to The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entert...
December 17, 2016
Twenty Yawns is author Jane Smiley’s first picture book. Although she has written five YA novels, this is for young children. She is probably best known for her adult novels, winning the Pulitzer Prize for her novel A Thousand Acres but she also has a rather lengthy list of additional novels, non-fiction, short stories, and YA novels.
Because, of course, as a children’s book, this will likely be most often read to a child, it’s important that it not be a bore to the parent(s) as much as comforting and sleep-inducing for the child. Not that all books are bedtime stories, but Twenty Yawns is most definitely a bedtime story. I loved the illustrations of the second half of the book; the illustrations in the first half didn’t draw me in quite as much.
A day at the beach, all that sun and sand tends to tire both children and parents out. An early bedtime is announced by Lucy’s mother before they even leave the beach. At home, as the sun is turning the summer sky shades of purple and pink, Lucy is putting on her pajamas. Once she’s climbed into bed, her mother begins to read her a bedtime story, and midway through, yawns, closes her eyes for just a moment…. and drifts to sleep.
But Lucy was wide-awake, especially now! Suddenly realizing she’s without her bear, she slips out of bed to bring her bear to bed, and finds the rest of her collection of toys looking lonely, too.
32 pages. Twenty yawns, enough to have your little ones yawning, themselves.
Because, of course, as a children’s book, this will likely be most often read to a child, it’s important that it not be a bore to the parent(s) as much as comforting and sleep-inducing for the child. Not that all books are bedtime stories, but Twenty Yawns is most definitely a bedtime story. I loved the illustrations of the second half of the book; the illustrations in the first half didn’t draw me in quite as much.
A day at the beach, all that sun and sand tends to tire both children and parents out. An early bedtime is announced by Lucy’s mother before they even leave the beach. At home, as the sun is turning the summer sky shades of purple and pink, Lucy is putting on her pajamas. Once she’s climbed into bed, her mother begins to read her a bedtime story, and midway through, yawns, closes her eyes for just a moment…. and drifts to sleep.
But Lucy was wide-awake, especially now! Suddenly realizing she’s without her bear, she slips out of bed to bring her bear to bed, and finds the rest of her collection of toys looking lonely, too.
32 pages. Twenty yawns, enough to have your little ones yawning, themselves.
June 11, 2016
Adorable book...but torture for parents to read!!! There are so many "yawns" to act out during the story that I find myself exhausted and ready for bed myself after reading it!
May 3, 2016
Lucy spent a long time playing at the beach with her mother and father. The three of them played in the waves, dug holes in the sand, and rolled down the dunes. Soon they were all yawning and Mom declared it was a day for early bedtime! As they got ready for bed, everyone was yawning and Lucy’s mom even fell asleep reading the bedtime book. In the middle of the night the moon shone brightly through Lucy’s window and she was suddenly wide awake. She tiptoed out of bed and through the living room where her father was asleep in a chair. Lucy was looking for Molasses, her bear. She found not only Molasses but all of her stuffed animals who all wanted to come with her to bed. Once again everyone was yawning, even the pictures on the wall, as Lucy fell asleep with her bed full of stuffed friends.
Smiley has done a brilliant job of capturing a day at the beach and then the wonder of being awake at night as a small child. She keeps the language simple, so this book can be shared successfully with very small children who will relate to the joy of playing at a beach, the quiet of early bedtime and then the pure loveliness of moonlight, tiptoeing to find a treasured toy and the imagination at play.
Castillo’s illustrations are glorious. She captures the brilliant light of summer sun at a sandy beach, the hours of play, and the languid sleepiness that rolls over you after a day like that. Her illustrations keep the dark night from being dangerous or frightening, instead keeping the house dimly lit and easily navigated. It is much more a delight than a fright to be alone and awake.
A lovely book of celebrating the warmth of both family togetherness and then the joy of being little and awake alone. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
Smiley has done a brilliant job of capturing a day at the beach and then the wonder of being awake at night as a small child. She keeps the language simple, so this book can be shared successfully with very small children who will relate to the joy of playing at a beach, the quiet of early bedtime and then the pure loveliness of moonlight, tiptoeing to find a treasured toy and the imagination at play.
Castillo’s illustrations are glorious. She captures the brilliant light of summer sun at a sandy beach, the hours of play, and the languid sleepiness that rolls over you after a day like that. Her illustrations keep the dark night from being dangerous or frightening, instead keeping the house dimly lit and easily navigated. It is much more a delight than a fright to be alone and awake.
A lovely book of celebrating the warmth of both family togetherness and then the joy of being little and awake alone. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
November 4, 2016
Each year I and my family read and rate all the Goodreads picture book nominees. This one is nominated for 2016. I make a few comments and then add their separate ratings and a comment. There's 15 and this is the second being rated.
Supergroup book? National Book Award fiction winner Smiley (1000 Acres), and Castillo, Caldecott Honor winner. Cute. Mixed race family. ALL the animals at bedtime, not just one fave. 3 stars.
Tara (my wife): 3 stars. Cute. I liked the aspect Lyra did.
Harry (11): 3 stars. I yawned when the book said "yawn."
Hank (10): 4 stars. I just liked it.
Lyra (9): 3 stars. I liked how she got all the animals instead of just one. [as Lyra herself does!]
Supergroup book? National Book Award fiction winner Smiley (1000 Acres), and Castillo, Caldecott Honor winner. Cute. Mixed race family. ALL the animals at bedtime, not just one fave. 3 stars.
Tara (my wife): 3 stars. Cute. I liked the aspect Lyra did.
Harry (11): 3 stars. I yawned when the book said "yawn."
Hank (10): 4 stars. I just liked it.
Lyra (9): 3 stars. I liked how she got all the animals instead of just one. [as Lyra herself does!]
November 14, 2016
What I liked about this book was the artwork and the inclusion of both parents in a black/biracial family. The reason for only the three stars is that there wasn't any kind of lesson learned and it didn't hold my attention for long. I wouldn't probably reread to my own future children.
May 3, 2016
Oh my god if this doesn't put them to sleep you are doing it wrong. Stop giving them methamphetamines after 7pm. Lovely, wonderful, placid.... zzzzzz :)
August 2, 2017
Although Jane Smiley's gentle, sweet story occasionally lacks flow, its bedtime potential is undeniable: I bet you couldn't get through this picturebook without yawning yourself at least once (and in this case I mean it as a compliment!).
Lauren Castillo's illustrations are both vibrant and cozy:
I also love the comforting circular framing and the playful typography in Twenty Yawns:
Finally, I appreciate Castillo's use of simultaneous succession to indicate the movement and passage of time within a single picture, even though it might be a tiny bit confusing at first (i.e., there is one family of three and one child depicted thrice in each of the following pictures):
P.S. Bonus points for the depiction of a mixed-race family!
Lauren Castillo's illustrations are both vibrant and cozy:
I also love the comforting circular framing and the playful typography in Twenty Yawns:
Finally, I appreciate Castillo's use of simultaneous succession to indicate the movement and passage of time within a single picture, even though it might be a tiny bit confusing at first (i.e., there is one family of three and one child depicted thrice in each of the following pictures):
P.S. Bonus points for the depiction of a mixed-race family!
March 6, 2020
Lucy and her parents are very sleepy after a happy day spent at the beach in this debut picture-book from Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Jane Smiley. Returning home, they head for bed, with Lucy's mom tucking her in and reading her a story. Waking up sometime in the night, Lucy realizes that she is missing something: her stuffed bear Molasses, and all of her other toys. It is only after she fetches these companions from the living room, and puts them to bed, that she herself can drift off...
I wouldn't describe Twenty Yawns as a particularly scintillating tale, but then, as a bedtime book its entire purpose is to lull young listeners to sleep. It certainly succeeds in creating a sense of peaceful rest, and I suspect that when it is read aloud, with the eponymous twenty yawns being enacted by the storyteller, its essential sense of sleepiness will prove quite contagious. The artwork by Lauren Castillo, who was awarded a Caldecott Honor for the lovely Nana in the City , captures the fun of Lucy's day, and the moonlit enchantment of her night. I appreciated that Lucy's family is biracial, something that isn't dwelt upon in the text. All in all, a sweet little bedtime title, one I would recommend to anyone looking for books to make young ones yawn and (hopefully) drift off to sleep.
I wouldn't describe Twenty Yawns as a particularly scintillating tale, but then, as a bedtime book its entire purpose is to lull young listeners to sleep. It certainly succeeds in creating a sense of peaceful rest, and I suspect that when it is read aloud, with the eponymous twenty yawns being enacted by the storyteller, its essential sense of sleepiness will prove quite contagious. The artwork by Lauren Castillo, who was awarded a Caldecott Honor for the lovely Nana in the City , captures the fun of Lucy's day, and the moonlit enchantment of her night. I appreciated that Lucy's family is biracial, something that isn't dwelt upon in the text. All in all, a sweet little bedtime title, one I would recommend to anyone looking for books to make young ones yawn and (hopefully) drift off to sleep.
July 4, 2020
One of the best children's books ever! My grandchildren love for me to read this to them again and again. It is the story of a little girl who spends a long day at the beach, and when she gets home and gets ready for bed, she can't sleep. So, she gets up and puts her stuffed animals in the bed with her. The story has excellent illustrations, and speaks to the heart of children. Incidentally, the illustraitons show her parents as two different races, something never mentioned in the book, but shown as natural. The book itself is a natural to read to children before going to bed.
October 5, 2019
Twenty Yawns is a cute story that portrays a multi-racial girl's trip to the beach and then the routine of bedtime. It shows the fear of being alone in the dark and the connection most children have to a stuffed animal. The artwork is beautiful and shows a realistic setting in a cartoonish style. I would recommend this book for younger audiences such as K-1st grade.
Read
May 23, 2016Is it a beach visit book or a bedtime book? There are two distinct story arcs here. Is it interesting, or is it sloppy writing? I can't tell. But I do love Castillo's two-page spreads, especially the sunset one.
October 9, 2016
very cute. I know some people look for this so I will say it's an interracial couple, white dad and African American mom and a mixed little girl. I did reread it to count the yawns and there are, in fact, twenty.
September 25, 2017
My daughter and I couldn't stop yawning while reading this book; how perfect for a bedtime story!
With beautiful illustrations, which to me seem reminiscent of Steam Train, Dream Train what's not to love?!
With beautiful illustrations, which to me seem reminiscent of Steam Train, Dream Train what's not to love?!
April 28, 2016
Such a wonderful story that our family can relate to. I loved watching my children smile as they made connections and had fun trying to count yawns. The soft, beautiful artwork is so inviting.
May 7, 2016
This book made us so sleepy.
May 25, 2017
Cute story but the best part was figuring out how the book got its title.
January 15, 2018
This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!
Hello, everyone! Today, we read Twenty Yawns, written by Jane Smiley and illustrated by Lauren Castillo. This is a sweet bedtime story about the sometimes-spooky time right before bed.
Lucy and her parents spend all day playing at the beach, and when they all get home, they’re all very tired. Lucy’s mom begins to read her a bedtime story, but falls asleep before it’s through. Lucy is left alone in the silvery time of early night, and feels a bit spooked. She goes to find her teddy bear, Molasses, and after finding her father asleep as well, sees that all her stuffed animal friends are feeling a bit lonely and unnerved as well. As she takes care of them, she finds the courage and comfort she needs by snuggling into bed with all her plushies until everyone is yawning and drifting off to sleep.
This was a cute book with a gentle sort of magic to it. It’s definitely a time of night that most remember from childhood: when everyone was asleep but you. The illustrations are adorable, and the titular twenty yawns are sprinkled throughout the book so that readers can find and count them. The length is fine for baby bookworms, and we enjoyed it. Baby Bookworm approved!
Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!
March 7, 2016
My son asks me to read this book every single night. (I'm not kidding. Imagine his sweet voice asking, "Twenty Yawns, please, Mama?") My favorite part about this book is that there are many interactive sections that we can read together. He can't read yet, but he is slowly learning sight words and loves reading the "Flap! Flap! Flap! Flap!" of the umbrella and each of the twenty "yawns." He also tells me what Lucy is doing on each page. There are a lot of bedtime books out there, but this book truly makes me sleepy. I'm getting sleepy as I think about it right now! My son and I both yawn as we see each character yawn. Parents, READ: This book will make your child(ren) tired! I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that the illustrations are breathtaking. The drawings of Lucy's stuffed animals capture my attention every time I read this book. I feel lucky to have this book in my bedtime arsenal. My son is falling asleep more quickly. Could it be the twenty yawns?
December 14, 2016
"Lyrical text?"
Perhaps I am a hard sell, but trumpeting that this is written by a PULITZER PRIZE winner doesn't make this any more lyrical than a book by an author who has never won a prize. And, as the late great Maurice Sendak so aptly put it, children don't CARE if a book has won a prize, they just care if it's good.
This is nice. The CALDECOTT HONOR bit on the cover doesn't impress me any more than the PULITZER PRIZE thing does, though Castillo's art here is sweet, a little smudgy, and more lyrical than the text.
But the PULITZER PRIZE thing isn't relevant towards whether it's a great book for kids, and while Smiley does well here, that's as far as it goes.
Good. Very good. But neither lyrical nor great.
Perhaps I am a hard sell, but trumpeting that this is written by a PULITZER PRIZE winner doesn't make this any more lyrical than a book by an author who has never won a prize. And, as the late great Maurice Sendak so aptly put it, children don't CARE if a book has won a prize, they just care if it's good.
This is nice. The CALDECOTT HONOR bit on the cover doesn't impress me any more than the PULITZER PRIZE thing does, though Castillo's art here is sweet, a little smudgy, and more lyrical than the text.
But the PULITZER PRIZE thing isn't relevant towards whether it's a great book for kids, and while Smiley does well here, that's as far as it goes.
Good. Very good. But neither lyrical nor great.
October 20, 2016
Cute! Beautiful art.
Very cute simple story about bedtime.
I absolutely love the artwork, and it actually kind of made me sleepy and start yawning. I actually really like the writing because I could relate to the little girl . When I was a little girl, I had some of the same thoughts being up at night when everyone else is asleep. It can get a little creepy, and I remember crawling up with my stuffed animals to make me feel better. Admittedly I might've done it a couple times as an adult too. Shh, don't judge.
I also really love that the couple in the story is interracial. Things like that matter. Is important for everyone to be represented, especially in children's stories.
Very cute simple story about bedtime.
I absolutely love the artwork, and it actually kind of made me sleepy and start yawning. I actually really like the writing because I could relate to the little girl . When I was a little girl, I had some of the same thoughts being up at night when everyone else is asleep. It can get a little creepy, and I remember crawling up with my stuffed animals to make me feel better. Admittedly I might've done it a couple times as an adult too. Shh, don't judge.
I also really love that the couple in the story is interracial. Things like that matter. Is important for everyone to be represented, especially in children's stories.
January 6, 2017
Story----three stars
Illustrations----four stars
It is Castillo's illustrations that are appealing to me in the title as I have enjoyed her stand alone picture books and illustrations which are without the addition of a well known adult author. The storyline if fine, but the choice of words is nothing special, just because an author does well in one genre does not mean they can transition to another literary area. And the idea that a child will look for twenty yawns in the story because of the title is strange and actually that bothered me as I read the book. . .was it going to be about yawns and where was I to find these yawns. Silly title and silly idea. Story was good, illustrations even better.
Illustrations----four stars
It is Castillo's illustrations that are appealing to me in the title as I have enjoyed her stand alone picture books and illustrations which are without the addition of a well known adult author. The storyline if fine, but the choice of words is nothing special, just because an author does well in one genre does not mean they can transition to another literary area. And the idea that a child will look for twenty yawns in the story because of the title is strange and actually that bothered me as I read the book. . .was it going to be about yawns and where was I to find these yawns. Silly title and silly idea. Story was good, illustrations even better.
March 26, 2016
A beautifully illustrated book about going to sleep after a wonderful day. I found the two-page spreads of Lucy with the moon and Lucy with her stuff animals in the living room to be especially profound. Twenty Yawns is a perfect book for bedtime, and is structured in a way that allows for audience involvement. After sharing Twenty Yawns with my daughter, I can tell this is going to be a staple in our bedtime routine for a years to come.
On a separate note, I noticed the publisher of this book was Two Lions. I was unfamiliar with this publisher, so I looked into it only to discover this book was published by Amazon. I'll be interested to see what else Two Lions publishes in the future.
On a separate note, I noticed the publisher of this book was Two Lions. I was unfamiliar with this publisher, so I looked into it only to discover this book was published by Amazon. I'll be interested to see what else Two Lions publishes in the future.
March 4, 2016
This is a cute little storybook for pre-schoolers. I'm not a parent or even an aunt but this was one of the choice's in this month's Kindle First program so I picked it on a whim. I'm glad I did! The story of Lucy made me smile and the artwork was beautiful and colorful. Plus, diversity (Lucy is the daughter of a mixed-race couple).
I really loved this line...simple yet lovely.
The moon shone through the window, a silver veil that fell across the floor. Everything looked mysterious, even Lucy's own hands on the bedspread.
I really loved this line...simple yet lovely.
The moon shone through the window, a silver veil that fell across the floor. Everything looked mysterious, even Lucy's own hands on the bedspread.
November 11, 2016
Summary: This story is about a little girl named Lucy. Lucy spends all day at the beach with her folks. Afterward, she is super tired. Her mom and dad fall asleep early, leaving Lucy awake to yawn the night away with her stuffed animals.
I would use this book to explain cause and effect. I would explain that beCAUSE Lucy and her family were at the beach all day, the EFFECT was that everyone was super tired. I would then assign a worksheet with more cause and effect practice.
Smiley, J., & Castillo, L. (2016). Twenty yawns. New York: Two Lions.
I would use this book to explain cause and effect. I would explain that beCAUSE Lucy and her family were at the beach all day, the EFFECT was that everyone was super tired. I would then assign a worksheet with more cause and effect practice.
Smiley, J., & Castillo, L. (2016). Twenty yawns. New York: Two Lions.
February 7, 2017
I enjoyed the book and adored the art. Especially appreciated the engaging title. The story starts perfectly: great opening scene and concise text. I liked the progression of events, and the character of the girl shines through with very little actual description, but through showing (not telling) from a combination of action and art. I love that this book features a multiracial couple without comment, reinforcing the idea by showing, not telling. I wish the book had concluded differently, but over all, this will be a great addition to bedtime rituals.
August 3, 2016
A simple, sweet story about a lovely day with family, this picture book for is as endearing as can be! The main character reminds me of my daughter, and in fact, I can't wait to read this to her. The illustrations give a wonderful sense of comfort and love, with softly rounded shapes, broad strokes, and textured coloring-- and I LOVE the depiction of a happy biracial family. Read this to your little ones!
November 2, 2016
Cute and very warm sorry, that made me yawn twice (goal reached). The colors were beautiful, especially at the beach part, and it was very nice to have a family with ethnical diversity. The story was simple, but efficient and realistic, easy to understand for children and a pleasant read as an adult.
February 4, 2017
The story feels very disjointed and lacking flow. A few pages on a day at the beach (with a wonderfully mixed-race family) then the rest is on going to sleep and yawning. Cute illustrations. I think sleeping with all of the stuffed animals is a cute kid-comfort thing to do. Not sure why specifically "20" in the title.
September 11, 2016
Twenty Yawns is a sweet bedtime story, and yes, I counted the yawns, and there are 20. I loved the textured looking illustrations, and the contrast between the bright day at the beach and the dim night at home. The colors of the sunset were especially beautiful.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 377 reviews