Again!
Cedric demands his bedtime story again and again, as the story inside the book gets shorter and crosser with each request. The book ends with a physical hole burned through the back cover, which is a fun tactile surprise.
Again! by Emily Gravett is estimated to take about 4.5 minutes to read aloud (274 words, about 2 sentences a page), and it lands best with children aged 2-5.
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- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 4.5 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Word count
- 274Counted words
- Sentences per page
- 2Sentences per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 5/5still good at forty
- Vocabulary level
- 2/5everyday words
- Best for
- Ages 2-5Our editorial fit
Our review
The book perfectly captures the feeling of a bedtime routine where a child just can't get enough. The way the mother gets sleepier and the story gets more impatient as they go is very relatable.
Children will love the interactive element of the die-cut hole at the end. It is a great way to mirror a real-life toddler's persistence while keeping the tone light and humorous.
Before you buy it
There is a die-cut hole through the last page and board that is part of the joke. If a toddler picks at it, it will tear, though that is how it is designed.
Themes
- bedtime
- dragons
- re-reading
- mothers
- temper
Books like Again!
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
Llama Llama Red Pajamaabout 4.5 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!about 4 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
The Going-to-Bed Bookabout 2 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry...about 3.5 minutes estimated · 4/5 re-read
Press Hereabout 4.5 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read Again! aloud?
About 4.5 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 274. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.
What age is Again! actually for?
Ages 2-5 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 2 sentences a page and vocabulary at 2 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does Again! survive being read on repeat?
Yes - this is one of the few that is still fine on the fortieth reading, which is why it scores 5 out of 5 with us.
Is Again! a good book for a child who will not sit still?
It helps that it rhymes, and it has a refrain a child can join in with, and it asks the child questions to answer out loud. Those three features are what keep a wriggling toddler listening, far more than the subject matter does.
Will my child memorise Again!?
Probably, and fast. The book leans on a repeated refrain, and at 5 out of 5 for re-read tolerance it survives the nightly repeats that get a book memorised. Expect your child to chant the pattern back before they can actually read.
Can a beginning reader read Again! on their own?
It is closer than most picture books. With 2 sentences a page and plain vocabulary (2 out of 5), a confident early reader can attempt it, though it is written to be read aloud first.
What themes does Again! cover?
We tag it with bedtime, dragons, re-reading, mothers and temper. Those are the threads that actually run through the book, not just the ones on the cover, which is how it earns its place on our themed lists rather than a keyword match.
Lists Again! is on
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45 reviewed booksBest Books to Read to ToddlersA curated list of books for ages one to three. Sorted by interaction, speed, and bedtime utility, with estimated read-aloud times for every book.