Author/illustrator Durga Bernhard explores the concept of time zones through this colorful and interactive lift-the-flap book. Describing daily activities—getting dressed, dozing, washing, climbing a tree, watching the sun rise, reading at bedtime and going to sleep—Bernhard compares what children in countries around the world are doing at the same moment. “While you are carrying, someone is walking home with a friend.” This statement spanning a page spread is accompanied by a large circular image of a child in Nigeria at 9 a.m. carrying bread and fruit in her arms, while a smaller circular flap illustration shows two children walking down a road in Japan. Lifting the flap reveals a close-up of the two Japanese children and a clock showing the time in Japan: 5 p.m. Maps clearly identify each country in which the children live. The second country on each spread becomes the first country on the subsequent one, so that the narrative is linked from one place—and child—to the next. This circularity, represented both visually and textually, imparts a logical sequence to the narrative, with a beginning and end at bedtime in Alaska. Bernhard’s vibrant illustrations connect children from around the world in this engaging read-aloud. (Ages 3–6)

As one child goes to bed, another child is waking up on the other side of the world. With each page turn, readers see the same moment in time in nine different countries: the United States, Nigeria, Japan, Mexico, India, Thailand, Haiti, England, and Brazil. The lift-the-flap feature makes the "big idea" concept of time accessible to young readers. Open the book to a child reading before bed in Alaska, then lift the flap on the opposite page to see someone in Nigeria getting dressed to start her day.

Durga Bernhard's simple text and whimsical illustrations make WHILE YOU ARE SLEEPING a perfect read-aloud-especially for bedtime. Back matter includes a map and author's note explaining time zones and highlighting the different countries featured in the text.

An excellent resource for all areas of the curriculum, this book invites readers to learn more about the cultures, people, and places in the world around them.