Bear Snores On (Bear Books)

The title also serves as the book's refrain: because he's hibernating, the fluffy, snoring Bear remains oblivious as Mouse, Hare, Badger, Mole, Wren and Raven seek refuge in his cave from the blowing snow and frigid temperatures. Working in soft-textured acrylics, Chapman (Happy and Honey) makes both the biting weather and the warm, womb-like shelter of Bear's cave palpable. The once bedraggled animals perk up considerably, and first-time author Wilson describes the ensuing high spirits with a musical flair: "They tweet and they titter./ They chat and they chitter./ But the bear snores on." There's a moment of tension when Bear unexpectedly wakes up and the uninvited guests wonder if they'll be evicted. But Wilson demonstrates how well she knows her audience: the bear only bemoans the fact that he slept through all the fun; the unwitting host proves that he may be the biggest party animal of all. Ages 3-7. (Jan.)

Copyright 2001 Publishers Weekly LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 3-Wilson has crafted a story that is just right for chilly winter nights. Snow is falling and Bear is sound asleep in his warm, dark cave. Trying to escape the weather, Mouse crawls inside and builds a fire. Seeing the crackling blaze, Hare hops in to share some popcorn and black tea. One by one, other woodland creatures join the impromptu party, each bringing a contribution. Through it all "-the bear snores on" until, finally, a small fleck of pepper makes him sneeze. Once he is awake, his gruff reaction to the merrymaking is not exactly welcoming, but he quickly comes around. The cadence of the narrative is infectious: "And they nibble and they munch with a/CHEW-/CHOMP-/CRUNCH!/But/the bear/snores on." The layout, with unusual breaks and oversized verbs, emphasizes the rhythm of the story. The characters are infused with warmth and humor. Though anthropomorphic, they retain their realism, due in part to the detail with which they are rendered. The warm, soft tones of these acrylic illustrations perfectly capture the coziness of Bear's lair and capture the action. The descriptive rhyming text, reminiscent of Bill Martin, Jr.'s Listen to the Rain (Holt, 1988), is perfect for reading aloud as well as for one-on-one sharing. Kids will ask for this book again and again.-Heather E. Miller, Homewood Public Library, AL

Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

The delightful illustrations on over-sized pages depicting the animals’ party are the perfect accompaniment to the lyrical text.