Walker Sleep Tight Little Bear

Little Bear has found a little-bear-sized cave to play in ...and when night falls, he decides to sleep there too. But as he looks out of his cave at the moon shining through the dark trees, Little Bear starts to wonder whether Big Bear might not be lonely without him... Editorial Reviews From School Library Journal PreSchool-K-Little Bear's many fans will be happy to see this charming new title. When the cub finds a small cave, it seems just the right size for him. He sets up house there, with Big Bear's reassuring presence nearby. At bedtime, he asks to sleep alone in his new home, and Big Bear agrees. Then, Big Bear plodded all the way back to the Bear Cave alone, without Little Bear. The accompanying illustration demonstrates how much Firth's work adds to this simply written and graceful story. Big Bear is seen from behind, walking away, holding a lantern; he's a beacon of light and safety as a soft darkness falls over the forests and mountains. The artist's compositions add a subtle kind of originality, and the soft colors and artful lines add appeal, character, and atmosphere. Preschoolers respond to stories about the tension between independence and protection. While this one does not break new ground, it is a stellar example of its kind.-Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL Copyright å¨ Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. From Booklist PreS-K. If Minarik and Sendak's Little Bear is the most cherished character by that name, then Firth and Waddell's must clock in at a close second. In his fifth picture book, winsome Little Bear discovers "his own little cave," perfect for a playhouse. With Big Bear's permission, he plays, eats, and prepares to camp out. Adults will recognize Big Bear's obvious mixed emotions as Little Bear tests his independence, while children will respond to the cub's delight in claiming a corner of his own, and, later, to the loneliness that eventually sends him dancing back into his guardian's lap. Waddell, the winner of the 2004 Hans Christian Andersen Medal, offers a lilting text with gently comic touches (Little Bear's housekeeping tasks include making his bed, then jumping on it), while Firth's expressive artwork, washed in muted tones of pebble, wood, and sky, harnesses the emotional undercurrents. This graceful addition to a popular series may have particular resonance for children in single-parent households. Jennifer Mattson Copyright å© American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.