Sleepy Bears [Hardcover]

Mem Fox (Author), Kerry Argent (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 16, 1999 | Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Winter is here, and in winter, bears sleep. But how do you convince six not-so-sleepy bear cubs to go to bed? Mother Bear, of course, has found a way--with a cozy rhyme for each of them. Once again, beloved author Mem Fox enchants little ones--and their parents--with a tender bedtime story, irresistibly illustrated by Kerry Argent.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Mother Bear's six children are balking at bedding down for the winter, but she coaxes them under the patchwork quilt with a clever stratagem: each cub gets a personalized bedtime rhyme. Baxter Bear hears about a pirate adventure: "Raise the skull and crossbones,/ Breathe the salty air,/ Find your treasure, count your gold,/ And sleep without a care!" In Tosca Bear's rhyme, the aspiring princess wears "a crown of diamonds for your head,/ And gorgeous gowns of silken thread." By the end, everyone is fast asleep, and it's up to a stuffed elephant to blow out the bedroom candle. Argent (previously paired with Fox for Wombat Divine) depicts the various bedtime fantasies with gusto in double-page, full-bleed spreads; one tableau showing a cub/hunter holding onto a magnificently rendered tiger by the tail is particularly striking. Following each rhyme, the book returns to the same wide-angle view of Mother and cubs under the quilt, each sleeping cub magically acquiring an accessory from his or her dream (e.g., Baxter sports an eye patch and pirate's hat; Tosca has donned crown and wimple). They look cuddly and warm, curled up together in a room suffused with golden candlelightAitself an enticement, since most children love the idea of a family bed, whether or not their parents do. With its sweetly varied scenarios, this amiable bedtime book offers a little something for everyone. Ages 3-6. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1-A cleverly written bedtime book with very distinct characters, each with its own hibernation-time rhyme. Mother Bear tucks in her six cubs, sending them off on dreamy adventures. Baxter dreams of pirates, Bella of the circus, Winifred of the jungle, Tosca of kingdoms, Ali of divine foods, and Baby Bear of moonbeams. "And all of them slept until spring." The rhymes are well written, and the charming pictures, done in gouache, watercolor, and colored pencil, are full of funny details. When the cubs are in bed waiting to drift off, the room is draped in a yellow hue lit by candle. Dream scenes show distant lands with the youngsters sleeping peacefully in the corners. On the penultimate page, the bears are lined up across the bed in hats or headdresses that represent their particular dreams. A fuzzy, stuffed blue elephant that plays and rests with the bears throughout the book blows out the candle on the final page. A fanciful story that's sure to be popular.
Shelley Woods, Boston Public Library, MA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1 edition (August 16, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152020160
• ISBN-13: 978-0152020163
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 10.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #442,576 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

MEM FOX is the author of many acclaimed books, including Possum Magic, Koala Lou, Time for Bed, and, for adults, Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever. She lives in Adelaide, Australia.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved by us!!!, October 15, 1999

By 

Kerry Haynes ([e-mail]) (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sleepy Bears (Hardcover)

Beautifully written and richly illustrated, Sleepy Bears is a delight! It's cosy warmth and sleepy themes make it a perfect bedtime companion. Although recommended for the 4-8 age group, my two-year-old boy reaches for it every night. He loves it - so does his Mum!!!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sleep Bears conducive to sleep!, January 13, 2000

By 

Ann in San Diego (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sleepy Bears (Hardcover)

This has become my 4-year-old son's all-time favorite book. It's the last book we read for the night, and as each bear yawns, so does my son! It is a cozy, caring book that makes a child feel warm and secure. You'll find yourself yawning too with each page you turn. The illustrations are beautiful and lend themselves to a child's rich imagination. My son has the story just about committed to memory. I recommend this along with Good Night Moon.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Story, February 19, 2005

By 

Lesa Scott "Lesa" (Peoria, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sleepy Bears (Hardcover)

I read this as a naptime story to my two year old nephew who did NOT want to take a nap. He would not lay down on the couch with me, so he sat up next to me and looked at the pictures and listened to me read. I read it in a nice soft voice to go with the story. By the time the third bear fell asleep he was yawning so much that it was all I could do to not start laughing. By the time the fourth bear fell asleep, he kept having to jerk his head up because he was nodding off. By the time the last bear fell asleep, he had fallen over, face first into the book. I had to lift him up and lay him backwards, scared that I was going to wake him up....but he was OUT. And at that point I was ready for a nap myself. I don't know who yawned more....him or me. This was an enchanting book with beautiful illustrations. The perfect bedtime story.