SLEEP, BIG BEAR, SLEEP!
by Maureen Wright & illustrated by Will Hillenbrand
Big Bear is hard of hearing, so each time Old Man Winter tries to tell him to “Sleep, Big Bear, sleep,” he hears something different, from “drive a jeep” to “leap” to “dive deep.” Yawning mightily all the while, Big Bear tries to follow instructions till Old Man Winter bellows in exasperation to “GO TO BED.” Hillenbrand’s snowy landscape gets darker and darker as poor Big Bear does as he’s told, accompanied by a brown hare. Perspectives and even orientations vary to keep the visual interest high even as the repetitive tale makes its way through goof after goof. Wright’s text makes for a terrific read-aloud, with couplets and triplets lining up easily on the tongue and a catchy refrain kids will join in on. Bear-gets-ready-for-winter books abound, but this one’s worth adding to any collection. (Picture book. 3-8)