Naptime: With Imani and the Fox

NAPTIME

With Imani and the Fox

By Lena Bee

Illustrated by Jesse Navarette

I remember back in my kindergarten days at Warrington Elementary School, when at one point during class, we had naptime. We had our pillows and blankets, and the lights were turned off while we slept. The majority of us did go to sleep then; some, on the other hand, had a harder time doing it. In keeping with this month’s Planting People Growing Justice Book Award winners, I bring to you Lena Bee’s children’s book Naptime: With Imani and the Fox.

Imani is a preschooler who, unlike her classmates, can’t seem to fall asleep during naptime. She has a pet fox that she can’t take to school with her, so she has a stuffed fox to keep her company. She “wiggles her toes, plays with her feet, and counts the braids on her head.” That doesn’t work, so Imani’s imagination takes over as various alternatives come to mind such as sheep, snowpeople, crossing guards, surfing, orchestras, and a Mardi Gras parade, to name a few. She plays out these scenes in her head so as not to awaken the other children, until she finally falls asleep,

I appreciate the way Lena Bee encompasses visualization and sound, demonstrating ways children can occupy themselves. Her lesson plan at the end of the story not only promotes literacy, but also social skills, cognitive skills, and the importance of rest and sleep. I love the fact that in all Imani’s visions, her beloved fox is by her side.

Lanesa Bejnarowicz (aka Lena Bee) has a master’s degree in education, and is a former kindergarten teacher, reading specialist, and preschool administrator. From reading Naptime, one can witness her love of children and animals.

For this wonderful story, Lena Bee received a Planting People Growing Justice Award for Best Illustration. Kudos to Jesse Navarette!

Naptime is available through Fulton Books, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

Thank you, Lena, for giving our children tools to promote their development, health, and literacy!