When you're a kid, all you want to do is play. Even when told by your parents to go to sleep, you just wanted to continue playing. No! No, Nap! by Pam Sears is a story about a child like that. This children's picture book follows Zander, a spirited child who loves playing with his bear, teddy, and bunny, Amara. But when he is told by his mother to take a nap, Zander becomes angry and starts crying. He throws his toys, leading his mother to send him to a timeout. He simply can't understand what good will come of sleeping. Soon, Zander is visited by two Spirit Guides named Liam and Lexi, who teach him the value of sleeping and apologizing to one's parents after making a mistake.

This is a wonderful story to teach kids the benefits of sleeping to help them recover the energy they are already gifted with. No! No, Nap! is a jolly tale about a child learning to listen to his mother and making amends for losing his temper. Author Pam Sears infuses a lot of heart and humor in this short picture book kids are guaranteed to love. Zander is someone any child below five can easily relate to. The illustrations by Amy Klein splash color to the pages, making the book even more fun to read. Grab a copy of No! No, Nap! and learn why taking a nap is so necessary for everyone.

No! No, Nap! by Pam Sears is about a young boy resisting a nap. This could be attributed to his in-bred stubborn nature or the willfulness of this young boy named Zander. It could also be due to his confusion about why his parents are upset with him. During his sulking after resisting orders from his mother, he falls asleep, “waking” to the introduction of new people, Liam and Lexi. He is, at all times, in the company of Teddy and his bunny, Amara. Lexi and Liam arrive to be his friends on his invitation and impart life lessons using the animals as points of reference, noting Amara’s energy after a nap. They also introduce the idea of hugs to resolve conflicts, keeping it all in Zander’s immediate frame of reference. At first, Zander attempts to justify his behavior by observing his parents’ lack of punishment when arguing.

Pam Sears covers the themes of obstinacy among children and their rationalization of observing how things “should” be, according to a desire to mimic their parents' behavior, as in Zander’s case. It takes the characters who appear in a dream to point out that his parents hugged after arguing. Sears interprets these dream personas as spirit guides in a postscript. No! No, Nap! is a straightforward story providing a singular lesson for a teacher or parent going through this kind of experience. The story is beautifully illustrated by Amy Klein, whose images are colorful and expressive. It is a delightful work to be enjoyed by parents and children alike.

This is a delightful book that enlightens parent on a little talked about phenomenon and and being open to the fact that young children are able to communicate with Spirit. The book also provides a platform for parents to have a dialogue with their children about the wonders they see and hear as well as the need for communication about why rules are necessary for growth and maturation.