Books › I am not going to get up today!
I am not going to get up today!
First published 1988 · 48 pages
A hilarious, escalating ode to the universal desire to just stay under the covers.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like a joyful rebellion wrapped in a warm blanket. It captures that deeply universal, cozy stubbornness of a morning where the outside world simply asks too much. The experience is brisk and bouncy, driven by a perfect, rhythmic cadence that practically demands to be read aloud with theatrical defiance. As the hypothetical attempts to wake the narrator grow increasingly absurd, involving everything from marching bands to the military, the mood shifts from sleepy and quiet to wonderfully chaotic, yet the center remains entirely unbothered. It is a delightfully silly, empowering read that delights children who love a bit of harmless boundary-pushing, and resonates deeply with tired adults who completely understand the sentiment.
- Mood
- cozy
- silly
- chaotic
- joyful
- Tone
- playful
- defiant
- absurd
- humorous
- stubborn
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- childhood defiance · the joy of rest · escalating absurdity · setting boundaries
- The writing
- Bouncy, rhythmic, and perfectly metered, relying on escalating rhyming couplets to drive the humor.
- The arc
- Begins with a relatable desire to stay in bed and builds into a triumphant, hilarious stand against the demands of the waking world.
- Who it's for
- Perfect for sleepy children, exhausted parents, and anyone who has ever wanted to pull the covers over their head and completely ignore the day.
About the book
A boy is so sleepy that he vows nothing will get him out of his morning bed, neither peas and beans nor the United States Marines.
Description from Open Library.
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