Stop Snoring, Bernard! [Paperback]

Zachariah OHora (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 14, 2012 | Age Level: 3 and up

Bernard loves curling up to go to sleep. But there is one little problem. Bernard snores . . . LOUDLY! So loudly that he keeps all of the otters awake during naptime. So loudly that Grumpy Giles tells Bernard to move his snoring somewhere else!

Sad and lonely, Bernard tries sleeping in new places far away from the other otters: in a lake, in puddles, in a fountain. But no matter where he tries to nap, somebody complains. He just wants to hear two words: “Goodnight, Bernard!”

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The endearing tale—told in simple images whose heavy black outlines and graphic shadows are sometimes reminiscent of century-old Arts and Crafts woodcuts—follows Bernard’s travails with humor but also a good dose of empathy.”—Time Out New York Kids

 

“Jaunty compositions, with animal characters busting out of the frames, makes for audacious humor, and hand-painted lettering signifying Bernard’s snoring and the animals’ admonitions adds visual zing. Young children will fall for Bernard’s over-the-top noisemaking and relish joining in with the quickly familiar phrase, ‘Stop snoring, Bernard!’”—Booklist

 

“Gentle text and a low-key story line allow debut talent OHora to put lots of energy into his spreads. . . . A promising debut.”—Publishers Weekly

 

“An artist to watch.”—Kirkus Reviews

 

“Here’s a debut that’s sure to make a splash. . . . This is a crowd-pleaser sure to send youngsters clamoring for more from snoring Bernard.”—Shelf Awareness

About the Author

Zachariah OHora’s illustrations have appeared in numerous publications, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Flavorpill, and The Big Book of Fashion Illustration. He lives in Narberth, Pennsylvania, with his wife and two sons. This is his first book for children. [zohora.com]

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Square Fish (February 14, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1250007178
• ISBN-13: 978-1250007179
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #698,866 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #67 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Zoos > Fiction

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gift for the sleepy, April 18, 2011

By 

J. Prather (IN USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stop Snoring, Bernard! (Hardcover)

Poor Bernard, his favorite time is nap time, but nobody wants him to sleep around them because he snores! He tries lakes, ponds, fountains and puddles until finally his otter friends realize how much they miss him and ask him to come back to the group. I don't really know what the moral of this story is, maybe sometimes you just have to put up with things in the interest of friendship? It doesn't matter in the end though, because this is just a fun little book that's perfect for both story time and bedtime. It's just the right length for a group of young preschoolers, and is guaranteed to have them snoring right along with you quicker than you can say night-night.

Kids will love the simple, bold line illustrations. The animals are expressive and it's easy to see their frustration with Bernard, and also Bernard's loneliness. Give this one a try, just be sure to practice your snoring in advance. It's sure to garner any story reader lots of laughs and get any squirmy little one thinking of his pillow. I loved the picture of all the little otters lying about like logs. Sure to charm, and recommended for ages 2-5.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cute and quick, June 10, 2011

By 

Tom - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Stop Snoring, Bernard! (Hardcover)

Although youngsters might not relate to a "snoring problem" the story is fast moving enough and cutesy enough for them to enjoy. It can be read to toddlers in under 8 minutes depending on how much time is spent on each illustration. A new young reader will also enjoy.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Richie's Picks: STOP SNORING, BERNARD!, May 3, 2011

By 

Richie Partington "Richie's Picks" (Sebastopol, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stop Snoring, Bernard! (Hardcover)

"It's raining, it's pouring,
The old man is snoring."
-- Traditional nursery rhyme

I snore. I always have, and I figure I always will. I've snored as a kid, as a teen, and as an adult. When I was but knee-high to a grasshopper, I'd often wake up in the morning all alone. All of my stuffed animals would have finally given up in the middle of the night and headed next-door to my sister's room in order to get some peace and quiet.

I come from a line of snoring guys -- my paternal line. When I was young, visiting my grandparents over vacations, my grandfather and I would perform nighttime duets that might easily be mistaken for the soundtrack to Jurassic Park.

Which is why I am so empathetic to the plight of Bernard, the otter.
"Bernard loved living at the zoo. He loved mealtime, playtime, and best of all...
"naptime!
"But there was one little problem. Bernard snored...LOUDLY!
One afternoon at naptime, Grumpy Giles had had enough. 'Snore somewhere else, Bernard!' he said."

And so Bernard heads off in search of alternative sleeping arrangements. But he disturbs the alligators in the lake; he disturbs the giraffes by the fountain; he disturbs the elephants near the puddle; and he would have disturbed the bats in the cave (where there is a subterranean pool) except that they don't sleep at night.

What's a poor little otter to do? Fortunately, Bernard's otter friends miss him and come to bring him home.

Zachariah O'Hora's acrylic illustrations are exceptionally expressive and fun. I couldn't help but smile when the mama elephant dumps a trunkful of water on the hapless otter.

Hopefully, that won't happen to me.