Customer Reviews

While You Were Sleeping

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first got the board book version of this book for my daugther & really fell in love with both the story and the artwork! A few months later I happened to read a review where the person said there was a difference between the Hard cover and Board book version. So... I decided to also purchase the book in Hardcover as well.

Now that I have both side by side, in my eyes here is the difference between the 2 books. The Hardcover starts with a little girl being awoken by her mother in the morning, and while the girl is waking up her mother begins to talk about how all the animals that where awake last night while she was sleeping are now all sleeping, whiles she is now awake. From those 3 pages the books are both the same.... and then the hard back has 5 more pages at the end that the Board book does not.

I know that board books are small for small listeners with short attention spans, so I think the publishers choose to shorten a few pages that really do not matter if they are deleted from the book. The board book still stands alone as just as awesome without those 8 pages some of which are illustrations.

I use the board book at night before bed to show her that the world is big and while she is sleeping others are awake and so forth. The board book begins with the outline of a home against a stary, stary night. While I plan to use the hard cover book when I introduce her to it one morning or afternoon. Both books are illustrated so beautifully and it still to me is such a neat process that while we sleep, someone in the world is playing!

I have also seen this done in the "Family of the Earth" Books as well.

My daughter received the large paper book for her 1st Christmas and loved it so much that it wore out and had to be discarded. She recently received the card board book for her 3 year birthday but it was a little disapointing because it didn't have the beginning page with Daisy's mother talking to her in bed and doesn't have the last pages with the 10 penguins joining 100 friends and with Daisy's room where you try to find the 10 penguins, which is what my daughter had especially enjoyed.

John Butler's WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING, captures the essence of what animals do at night while a young child is tucked safely in his/her bed, soundly asleep. Ten different animals are featured throughout the pages of the book, including mice, tigers, penguins, and more. The lyrical prose will have very young children drifting off to sleep before the story is done, while at the same time will keep them dreaming about the lovely illustrations and animals contained throughout the story. A lovely bedtime book for all children, especially those who are under the age of 5.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

This book is a really great bed-time book for even the littlest listeners. But, it also teaches simple concepts such as counting to ten, and the names of animals.

The final two page spread contains a sort of "I Spy" game that includes all of the animals from the previous pages.

The illustrations in this book are especially well done. Bed time books are read so frequently, and so repeatedly, that it's great to have something that I look forward to looking at so often.

John Butler books are my 3 year old son's absolute favorite. He is captivated by the beautiful soothing illustrations, and loves to chant along with the story being told. I have been reading this story to him since he was 6 months old, and have since bought all of the John Butler board books. They are lovely, and a wonderful bonding experience with your child!

Me and my grandchildren love John Butler's books, especially "While You Were Sleeping". The illustrations are so vivid and life-like. The book teaches color and counting concepts in such fun and interesting ways. Children want to hear this story over and over again. Please Mr. Butler, keep writing books for children.

I've read this book to my son (now age 3) from the time he was born. It is one of his favorites. We make the animal sounds on each page and now he counts each animal. It can be an upbeat energized story for playtime or you can read it slowly and softly for a great bedtime story.

This is such a beautifully illustrated book- my 16 month old son just loves it. He loves the moon and the stars and the illustrations of the moon, stars, and animals are just beautiful to look at. And along with the beautiful picures, the author also counts from 1-10 with the animals - 1 Tiger goes hunting (don't love hunting but I change that word), 2 mice cozy up together, 3 bears play chase etc. so it is fun to sometimes practice counting with him- even though it is a bit early for that! But, this is a wonderful nighttime story for children. A must have!

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This would have to be the perfect bedtime book for the under fives.

The illustrations of many of our favourite animals have gentle subtle tones. They all look kind and unthreatening.

The count down from 1 to 10 as the pages turn would get most sleepy heads soon snuggling down under the covers.

There are some valuable educational elements in the book as well. Young children will learn that many creatures are nocturnal. Perhaps the more inquisitive (and less sleepy) child may want to go outside and look for owls in the old oak tree!

The presence of the full moon on many pages is a nice touch. Children could also learn that on the other side of the world while they sleep, it is day over there.

This is my 2 year old son's new favourite. The pictures are beautiful in every detail, and my son loves to name and count the animals with me as we go through each page. It helps teach the concept that everyone, and every animal, sleeps and wakes, and that while a child is sleeping things are still going on in the world but we are all part of the same cycle. Very helpful for when my child DOESN'T want to go to sleep so I can remind him of everyone else who sleeps and he actually believes me! This is one that you AND your child will enjoy reading together again and again.