Review by Booklist Review
Ages 3-5. Walking through the snowy woods, Little Bear has misgivings about the sounds he hears: "Plod, plod, plod . . . I think it's a Plodder." But when Big Bear reassures him that the plodding is the sound of Big Bear's big footsteps in the snow, Little Bear continues walking. Soon, though, he's spooked by a "Drip, drip, drip," which Big Bear identifies as the sound of ice dripping into a stream. When the "Plop, plop, plop" of snow falling from tree branches immobilizes Little Bear once again, Big Bear picks him up and carries him home for the coziest ending this side of The Little Fur Family. Waddell's words flow into pleasing rhythmic patterns, and the illustrations capture every nuance of emotion. Firth tints her sensitive sketches with the restrained colors of the snowy woods. This endearing portrayal of a warm father-son relationship will brighten many winter story hours and, of course, bedtimes. ~--Carolyn Phelan
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In a starred review, PW called this sequel to Can't You Sleep, Little Bear? simply ``delectable.'' Ages 3-up. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Horn Book Review
As Little Bear and Big Bear walk home through the snowy woods, Little Bear is frightened by the sounds he hears, and it takes Big Bear's rational explanations to encourage him to finish their journey. In Firth's gentle watercolors, Little Bear's hesitancy, perfectly defined in his posture, contrasts with the large bear's all-encompassing reassurance. With its warmth and comfort, the tale is perfect for sharing on a snowy day. From HORN BOOK 1993, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The beguiling bears introduced in Can't You Sleep, Little Bear? (1992) are coming back from a walk in the snowy woods. When Little Bear tells his huge companion about the noises he hears following them (``Plod, plod, plod...I think it's a Plodder!''), Big Bear reassures him (``The plod was my feet in the snow''; and, later, ``That was the ice as it dripped in the stream''). But though Big Bear keeps saying, ``Come on,'' he ends--as big people do when tired little ones lag--by carrying Little Bear. Varying his comfortably repetitive tale with new sounds that Little Bear reports and new words to describe his slowing pace, Waddell again comes up with a well-nigh perfect nursery tale; he even rounds out his own beautifully constructed story with the one Big Bear tells Little Bear back in the cozy cave: the events of their walk home. Firth re-creates these endearing characters in soft pencil and watercolors of mostly brown and snow-shadow blue, in a relaxed style that perfectly captures the affectionate mood. (Picture book. 2-6)
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
