Bear's Big Dreaming

Be ready to share a dream with the little one who asks you to read this.

Rosen's words and Egnéus' lovely pictures combine to create a soothing tale that will be welcomed in autumn or at bedtime in any season of the year.

Little Bear is worried he will run out of material during the Big Dreaming of hibernation, so he sets out to gather spare dreams from the other animals in the forest. Squirrel tells a Happiness Right Now dream, Rabbit tells the dream of Coming Home Safe, and Wolf tells a dream of Always Having Hope. When Little Bear realizes he is lost in the forest and it's starting to snow, he remembers the three dreams given to him by his forest friends. He finds his way home just in time. Youngest readers will find this sweet bedtime story cozy and comforting, even if parents find it somewhat predictable. A poetic refrain makes this an appealing read-aloud. Egnéus's loose watercolors and use of contrasting dark and light values for the backgrounds are gorgeous and will make readers feel as if they are in a forest. VERDICT A solid purchase for any preschool collection.—Hillary Perelyubskiy

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"Luminously beautiful." —The Guardian on BE WILD, LITTLE ONE, illustrated by Daniel Egnéus

"* Extraordinary in writing and illustration." —The Horn Book, starred review, on FOX, illustrated by Daniel Egneus

"* A deeply fulfilling look at the ups and downs of natural selection." —Shelf Awareness, starred review, on MOTH, illustrated by Daniel Egneus