From Publishers Weekly
In this gentle, straightforward picture book, Mother Bear has a harder time than most parents getting her baby to sleep, as bedtime here means winter hibernation. The beleaguered mother fetches a snack and then a drink into the cave, but when Baby Bear says that he can't fall asleep without the moon, she is stumped?until her resourcefulness comes to the rescue. Baby Bear's realistic bit of grumbling only makes the book seem sweeter. Asch (Barnyard Lullaby; the Moonbear books) uses a soothing palette of browns and blues: the simple bear figures are darkly outlined, and the cave's background sponged to add texture and a touch of luminosity to the cavernous tones. The story is a welcome addition to the bedtime genre, one parents will be glad to have as a resource when it's time to get their own little ones to nod off. Ages 2-6.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-K-A worthy addition to the many tales about recalcitrant bed-goers. Winter is coming and Baby Bear's mother leads him to their cave to hibernate. However, the cub wants a drink, a snack, and then the moon itself before he can go to sleep. Mother Bear affectionately copes with all of his demands, coming up with imaginative solutions, until Baby Bear finally settles down. Asch uses more varied art techniques than in his previous titles (sponges, acrylic paint, bristol board) and a larger format, but with the same outstanding results-a simple text, large illustrations, elegant format, and definite child appeal. Perfect for reading aloud at tucking-in time, this story will also be a good choice for units on the changing seasons.
Judith Constantinides, East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LACopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.