Sleep Tight, Little Bear

PreS-Gr 1—Little Bear and his mother are preparing their cave for a long winter's sleep, but before they settle in, they travel through the forest saying good night to all their friends: Badger, Mommy Fox and her cubs, Deer, Rabbit, the mice, Squirrel, Wolf, and even grumpy Owl. Finally, after snuggling together on a hill to watch the setting sun, they retire to their cozy nest of soft leaves. The flat, mixed-media illustrations vary from spreads depicting the forest habitat to charming vignettes of stylized animals nose-to-nose in farewell. Teckentrup evokes the colors of late autumn by rendering some bare trees, an evergreen in bright red, and the forest hills and floor in different golden hues. As the day wanes, the background transforms from light to ever-darker shades, lightened only temporarily by the disappearing sun. Baby Bear's desire for reassurance that his mother with remain with him always, and his requests for "one more hug" and "one more kiss" before he nods off are needs often experienced by little ones, making this a fine choice for bedtime. Teachers will find this story, along with the author's note that describes how each of the bears' animal friends spends the winter, helpful for sparking discussion about changing seasons, animal habits, and students' own winter activities.—Marianne Saccardi, Children's Literature Consultant, Greenwich, CT