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    The Children's Book Review

    Jane Smiley, Author of Twenty Yawns | Speed Interview

    Bianca SchulzeBy Bianca Schulze3 Mins Read Ages 0-3 Ages 4-8 Author Interviews Bedtime Books Picture Books
    Jane Smiley, Author of Twenty Yawns | Speed Interview
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    The Children’s Book Review | March 21, 2016

    Jane Smiley, Author of Twenty Yawns | Speed Interview

    The Children’s Book Review: Which five words best describe Twenty Yawns?

    Jane Smiley: Cheerful, colorful, loving, amusing, relaxing.

    If you had to take a vacation with one of the characters from Twenty Yawns, who would it be?

    Why? The mom. I would give childrearing advice and assume that she would not take it.

    What has been the best reaction from a reader, so far?

    Sleep! Also laughing.

    What’s on your nightstand?

    Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter, Writing the Frontier: Anthony Trollope between Britain and Ireland, and The Manual of Horsemanship of the British Horse Society and Pony Club, 1964 edition.

    For your writing energy: sugar or salt, tea or coffee?

    Sugar and Diet Coke

    Writing tools: computer, pen and paper, or all of the above?

    Computer

    Can you tell us one more thing we may not know about Twenty Yawns, your writing style, or yourself?

    About Twenty Yawns: Lucy has many more things to learn and I hope to be there for her as she learns them.

    TWENTY YAWNS_Cover updatedTwenty Yawns

    Written by Jane Smiley

    Illustrated by Lauren Castillo

    Publisher’s Synopsis: From Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley and Caldecott Honor artist Lauren Castillo.

    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?

    Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley’s first picture book, illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist 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.

    Ages 3 7 | Publisher: Two Lions | April 1, 2016 | ISBN-13: 978-1477826355

    Add this book to your collection: Twenty Yawns

    Available Here: 

    Text, logoBuy on Amazon

    Praise for Twenty Yawns

    ★“[The] perfect bedtime story for the end of a busy day.”
    —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

    ★“A sweet soporific.”—School Library Journal, starred review

    ★ “There’s so much right about this picture book, Pulitzer Prize– winning (for A Thousand Acres) Smiley’s first… And the twenty yawns (yes, you can count them) are pure genius.”—The Horn Book Magazine, starred review

    Book Trailer for Twenty Yawns

    Activity Kit for Twenty Yawns

    Twenty Yawns Activity Kit by sarahshealy

    About Jane Smiley

    Jane SmileyJane Smiley is the author of numerous novels, including A Thousand Acres, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, as well as five works of nonfiction and a series of books for young adults. In 2001 she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and in 2006 she received the PEN USA Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature. This is her first picture book. She lives in Northern California. For more information, visit: facebook.com/janesmileyauthor

    The Twenty Yawns Blog Tour

    Thurs, Mar 17 Watch.Connect.Read

    Fri, Mar 18    Sharpread    

    Mon, Mar 21 Children’s Book Review             

    Tues, Mar 22    Kid Lit Frenzy                            

    Wed, Mar 23 Cracking the Cover                    

    Thurs, Mar 24 Unleashing Readers                   

    Fri, Mar 25    5 Minutes for Books                  

    Sat, Mar 26 Booking Mama                          

    Mon, Mar 28 A Rup Life                                 

    Tues, Mar 29    Children’s Book Review             

    Wed, Mar 30 Once Upon a Story                    

    Thurs, Mar 31   NC Teacher Stuff                       

    Fri, April 1    A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust

    Mon, Apr 4   Where Imagination Grows           

    Wed, Apr 6   Teach Mentor Texts                   

    Tues, Apr 12 Jean Little Library     

    This interview with Jane Smiley was conducted by Bianca Schulze. Follow along with our content tagged with Jane Smiley, Lauren Castillo, Yawning, Bedtime Books and Speed Interview to discover more great books.

    What to Read Next:

    1. Lauren Castillo, Illustrator of Twenty Yawns | Selfie and a Shelfie
    2. Bianca Schulze Discusses Don’t Wake the Dragon
    3. M.H. Clark and Beya Rebaï Discuss Over and Over
    4. Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt Discusses Good Night, Sister

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Author Interview Bedtime Stories Jane Smiley Lauren Castillo Picture Book Speed Interview Yawning
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    Bianca Schulze
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    Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

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