Customer Reviews

Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Here's a doozy of a question for you. How is it that British picture books have cornered the market on the old scared-of-the-dark theme? I am referring, of course, to not only "The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark" but also the delightful, "Can' You Sleep, Little Bear?" Both British, these books have won wild applause and great heaping helpfuls of praise from professional and (ahem) amateur reviewers alike. In the case of the Waddell and Firth book, "Can't You Sleep, Little Bear" was once referred to by none other than the Sunday Times of London as, "the most perfect children's book ever written or illustrated". High praise that is not generally amiss.

Big Bear and Little Bear live in a somewhat hibernationless state of their own. One day they play all day in the sunlight and at night return to their comfy cave. After tucking Little Bear into bed, Big Bear tells the young 'un to go to sleep, retiring to his own claw footed (and armed) comfy chair to catch up on some reading. Unfortunately, Little Bear cannot fall asleep. He points out that there is a lot of dark around them and that it frightens him. Big Bear accommodates the small fry by providing a little nightlight lantern for the nightstand. But Little Bear is still afraid. With well hidden reluctance, Big Bear puts down his very interesting story and gets Little Bear a bigger light. When that (again) doesn't work he brings in something that the book calls, "the Biggest Lantern of Them All". But STILL Little Bear is afraid. After all, there's no denying that outside the cave the dark is all around. Taking Little Bear out into the nighttime, Big Bear offers the only comfort he can. He presents to Little Bear the moon and all the stars in the sky. Finally convinced that he is safe from the dark, Little Bear falls into a sound slumber and the two bears cuddle up in front of the roaring fire where Big Bear can finally finish his book.

The text has the nice repetitive structure and comforting protagonists that kids will be readily drawn to. Little Bear is never obnoxious in his fears, instead acting very much the toddler as he hops about his bed, unable to find rest. Likewise, there?s a comfort to Big Bear's patient nature. Every time he puts down his book we are told how many pages are left until "the interesting part" (a number that corresponds to the moment when Big and Little Bear step outside their cave into the dark night). He remains a calm sturdy presence, offering comfort and love to the little one. Waddell's text is matched superbly with Barbara Firth?s illustrations too. The first picture in the entire book is a view, from a distance, of the two bears standing in thick white snow, a little ways from their cave. The light in this scene suggests that it just might be late afternoon in a winter month, a beautiful thing to suggest. Once inside the cave, each picture is filled with tiny delightful details. There's a trophy of a bear shot putting with the words, "Ursa Major" underneath. There's an open jar of honey and a photograph of the two bears wearing identical striped shirts. In Little Bear's room the light from the Biggest Lantern of Them All reveals marionettes and handmade pictures. The interactions between the characters are especially touching. When Big Bear leads the little one up the cave's steps in the night, he holds Little Bear's paws as the small creature works at the stairs one at a time. From the shot of Little Bear snuggled against the big one's shoulder to his fearful pointing towards a darkened corner of the cave, this book rightly earns itself the moniker of "charming".

Lots of picture books deal with fears. From the odd, "Go Away, Big Green Monster" to the delightful, "There's a Nightmare in My Closet" these books serve to empower kids to some degree. They give little ones the power to face their fears and deal with them as they see fit. "Can't You Sleep, Little Bear", recognizes the importance of giving toddlers' fears a voice, but it also understands the necessity of strong adults in a child's life. Because the exact nature of the relationship between the two bears is unclear (are they father and son, brothers, or just friends?) this book serves to speak to a variety of different family situations. On top of that, it's sweet as honey on the vine. Cuddle up to it immediately.

As a 1st and 2nd grade teacher who owns over 1,500 children's books... I have to say that this book is in my top 2 for reading aloud to my students, or anyone who will listen. All it took was a thought to what little bear might sound like (little, scared, and a little bit mischevious). Once I got the voice down, this book became a frequently requested, and rerequested read aloud. My students, it seems could listen to it again and again. They enjoy the illustrations and watching Little Bear "try to go to sleep", while gradually revealing quite a fear of the dark, which some of them identify with. This is a great story to read out loud at bedtime or anytime!

This book is one of my children's favourites. The illustrations are beautiful and adorable and the writing is exellent in helping children read because it repeats familiar phrases. It is also one of the few books I've read that has a male care-giver with a child and I think it is wonderful. I hope there are many more to come.

My four year old son Joseph has had this book for two years now. We borrowed it from the library but he wouldn't part with it so we bought him his own copy. His bedroom is full of books but this one and the sequel 'Let's go home little bear' are the books he always gets out for me to read to him at bedtime, over and over again.

As a little kid I was an avid reader. I was also very picky about what I liked. I cant remember how old I was when I first got this book but I know now, that at 17 I finally realize how much I loved and still love this one in particular. After recently going through old boxs of dozens of books from when I was younger, and setting aside ones I wanted to look through later, just for memories sake, i found this one. I instantly opened it up and could hear my moms voice reading it aloud to me. cheesy i know but this honestly has to be one of the few books from my childhood that after one quick read through i could remember almost every line and how the smooth short sentences transfered to the beautiful pictures so well. Myself, being very nostalgic kept 3 or 4 books from the many boxes and put them on my shelf. I still have this one.
Its hard to describe a book in general but i especially think a children's book more so. And seeing parents in book stores looking for books for there kids and not even knowing where to begin, its hard to say why i think this one should be the first one you pick up. Except that 10 years later a kid that had this one book among her literally hundreds remembers this one as a stand out i hope gives you enough of an example as to why this should deffiantly be on your list to check out.

i read this to my toddler, too. he also laughs at the funny positions little bear tries so he could sleep. i think though, that this is more than about the excuses and tricks of a toddler to escape going to sleep. instead, it is about human comfort and physical contact our little ones need in order to make them feel comforted and safe. and about us adults trying to meet those needs and going beyond simply giving them a conducive atmosphere where they could sleep (giving all kinds of 'lamps'). all they really need is the warmth, love and physical presence of a parent or guardian.

My daughter laughs at Little Bear as he tries all the different sleeping positions. The illustrations are colorful and interesting. As in all of Martin Waddell's books, the text is not too long, nor too short. It is a perfect feel good bedtime book.

This is a dilariously sweet novel that combines the simple story of fear-of-dark with some clever and intricate illustrations that bring the right amount of humor to Little Bear's plight. What seemed predictable at first ended with an awe-inspiring declaration of both the wonder of the natural world and good ol' love. The illustrations are beautiful and the writing is just as pretty as anything. Great bedtime book.

Purchased this book for 1 of my grandkids. Love the story and the artwork. Great read for going to bed :). I just purchased another one for another of my grandkids and am looking forward to spending some "grandma" time with her.

My daughter received this book as a Christmas gift last year, and she still loves it. Not a week goes by without this book being read. The story is simple enough - Big Bear puts Little Bear to bed, and settles down to a night of reading. Little Bear however, can't seem to get to sleep - the different positions tried by Little Bear is so reminiscent of a child's tossing and turning in bed, and the illustrations made my daughter laugh. It turns out Little Bear is afraid of the dark, and the rest of the story deals with Big Bear's efforts in trying to provide Little Bear with light, when all is really needed is a big hug and reassurances. Its a wonderful tale about the importance of nurturing and reassuring one's child so that they grow up feeling secure in our love for them.