Mika: The Bear Who Didn't Want To Sleep

PreS-Gr 1—Little Mika, a bear cub from the Far North, enjoys his summer, splashing in the river and eating delicious food that Mama and Papa Bear bring him. As days grow colder and winter approaches, Mika talks to an old owl and finds out about hibernating, and also about the Northern Lights. Not wanting to miss the special sight, he decides that he will not sleep through the winter and sneaks out of his den when his parents fall asleep. He asks different animals for directions, and eventually encounters the owl again, who points out the magnificent display in the sky. While the little bear watches, his worried parents arrive, having tracked his prints in the snow. Together, they watch "the beautiful lights" and retreat back to their cave for peaceful slumber. Kriek's delightful illustrations have a vintage feel; the cover is reminiscent of Lynd Ward's The Biggest Bear, though the images are closer in style to Robert McCloskey's.