Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep! [Hardcover]

Maureen Wright (Author), Will Hillenbrand (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 20, 2009 | Age Level: 3 and up

It's time for Big Bear to hibernate, so Old Man Winter keeps telling him: "Sleep, Big Bear, sleep." But Big Bear doesn't hear very well. He thinks Old Man Winter has told him to drive a jeep, to sweep, and to leap. Big Bear just can t seem to hear what Old Man Winter is saying. Finally, Old Man Winter finds a noisy way to get Big Bear's attention.
Cozy illustrations rendered in pencil and mixed media by Will Hillenbrand bring this bedtime story to a fitting conclusion.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1—It is getting cold and time for hibernation, so Old Man Winter says, "'Sleep, Big Bear, sleep.'/But Big Bear didn't hear very well…." Instead he mishears Old Man Winter and, in attempting to follow his directions, drives a jeep, sweeps a house, climbs a steep mountain, etc. Ultimately, Old Man Winter yells loudly enough for Big Bear to understand him, and the bear heads off to his den for a much-deserved rest. The text moves at a steady clip, and the refrain will encourage child participation. The fact that "sleep" seems unlikely to be mistaken for "climb a mountain steep" or "drive a jeep" probably won't bother the intended audience. The story reads aloud well, and the limited text and oversize illustrations will be effective in storytime. The artwork is the real star here, though. Hillenbrand imbues his characters with motion and personality; their growing exhaustion is evident in their drooping eyes, ears, and body, and their startled expressions when Old Man Winter yells could not be clearer. An above-average addition for libraries looking for more bear, hibernation, or winter stories to freshen up interactive storytimes.—Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT END

About the Author

Maureen Wright lives in Athens, Pennsylvania.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Childrens Books (September 20, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761455604
• ISBN-13: 978-0761455608
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 10.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #378,170 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This big old hard of hearing Bear will tickle the funny bones of young and old alike! "Sleep, Big Bear, SLEEP!", March 17, 2010

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep! (Hardcover)

Old Man Winter was up in the cloudy sky puffing up his big cheeks to puff a breeze down toward the earth to tell the brown bear, "Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep." Well, the bear was reaching for a bee's nest in a leafless tree as the other critters of the forest looked at him. Of course the bear didn't hear very well and thought Old Man winter was telling him something about driving a jeep. He put his paw to his chin and looked a bit perplexed as he glanced over at a campground. There was a jeep and as soon as he hopped in it . . . well, let's just say you've never seen campers run so fast. Even the raccoons, who were stealing bread, didn't hang around long.

Old Man Winter tried again, saying, "Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep." Gee, now the old man wanted him to sweep so Bear headed for a cottage to do just that. When everything was neat as a pin, Bear heard that voice again, but this time he thought it was saying, "Leap, Big Bear, leap." "So big Bear found a frog he knew / and played leapfrog while the cold wind blew- / till all at once he fell to the ground. / The wind through the trees was the only sound, / and Old Man Winter said with a frown, / `Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep.'" And so he glanced over the moonlit pond at the moose and a frog and a rabbit stood by his side. Dive deep it was. Was Bear ever going to understand just what Old Man Winter was trying to tell him?

This big old hard of hearing Bear will tickle the funny bones of young and old alike. From the first page to the last everyone will be smiling at the antics of this big goofy bear who misinterprets what Old Man Winter is trying to tell him. The gorgeous artwork captures the slightly daffy, mystified look on Bear's face perfectly. When bear is contemplating doing something, Old Man Winter has supposedly told him to do the reader knows that when the page is turned there will be a big comical surprise waiting. If you can read in an animated tone of voice, this would be a fun book to read during circle or story time . . . be prepared for a lot of giggling!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love the bear and bunny, September 4, 2009

By 

pics only "pics only" (Camp Hill, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep! (Hardcover)

Simple story for kids and wonderful illustrations. Always find something new on the pages to entertain. Love the BIG bear!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book, April 21, 2010

By 

Lily White (Illinois) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep! (Hardcover)

I am really pleased with this book. I collect children's illustrated books and sometimes you just keep seeing the same thing
over and over. The title sort of turned me off because it is too much like the hundreds of other bear books, but I checked it
out at the local library before buying, and I loved it. Hillenbrand is a great illustrator and I liked the fact that this
story is told not only in rhyme but in a comfortable, easy-flowing rhyme.