William Wakes Up
Written by Linda Ashman, Illustrated by Chuck Groenink
Disney-Hyperion, 2019; 978-1484722831
Honors & Reviews
• A Junior Library Guild Selection
“The countdown and the rhyming text with a repeating chorus make this an ideal read-aloud for young listeners…A classic-feeling, homey celebration of spring’s beginning.” Kirkus
“Ashman, a picture-book writer with the happy knack of making rhymed, rhythmic couplets sound completely natural, sets up a pattern within the story and uses a refrain to underscore it, while moving the narrative forward in a pleasing way.” Booklist
Themes: Spring • Hibernation • Animals • Character: Pitching In/Welcoming Guest • Counting Down (5 to 1) • Read-Aloud • Rhyme • Repetition
Click below for a few sample pages.
Illustrations copyright 2019 by Chuck Groenink. Disney-Hyperion, February 2019.
About this Book
When I submitted the text for William’s Winter Nap to Steph Lurie at Disney-Hyperion, she told me they’d like to acquire it—and a follow-up story too. YAY!
Since the first book ended with William and friends settling in for a long winter’s nap, it seemed natural that the sequel would start with them waking up in spring. But what next?
I decided that William would be making preparations for a friend’s visit. There’s a lot to do, so William enlists his sleepover pals to help. One by one, they roll out of bed to help clean up, decorate, and bake a welcome cake. But one sleepyhead—Raccoon—isn’t eager to help. He pretends to sleep while everyone else does the work. When William’s special guest—a bluebird—finally arrives, they bring out the cake . . . and suddenly Raccoon is wide awake and eager to dig in.
The story is a celebration of spring—my favorite season—and a commentary on how humans (albeit in animal form) tend to pitch in (or not) when there’s work to do. As with the first book, Chuck Groenink’s animals are adorable and wonderfully expressive, and his spring landscapes are beautiful.
