Milton the Early Riser
Milton the Early Riser is a picture book by Robert Kraus about a young panda named Milton who wakes up far earlier than everyone around him. While the rest of the world keeps sleeping, Milton tries and fails to rouse his parents and the animals nearby, then sets off to fill the quiet morning on his own. The gentle story, illustrated by the team of Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey, captures the loneliness and wonder of being awake before anyone else, and ends on a warm note when Milton finally has company. The book is known for its soft humor and its appeal to small children who themselves rise early. First published in the 1970s, it remains a favorite read-aloud for young listeners.
What you might want to know about Milton the Early Riser
The questions readers send us most often, answered without spoilers.
An eager young panda wakes up long before everyone else and looks for someone to share his bright morning with.
The illustrations were created by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey, longtime collaborators with author Robert Kraus.
Milton the Early Riser was written by Robert Kraus, published in 1972 by Simon & Schuster.
Milton the Early Riser is 28 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, Milton the Early Riser takes most readers under an hour to finish.
Milton the Early Riser is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.