Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Something's lost in translation-to funny effect-in this picture book about a hard-of-hearing bear's bungled preparations for a long winter's nap. As autumn rolls along, Old Man Winter, a whiskery face in the clouds, warns his friend, Big Bear, of the approaching cold weather. But Big Bear can't quite make out Old Man Winter's recurring suggestion-"Sleep, Big Bear, sleep"-and instead hears all manner of like-sounding phrases such as "Drive a jeep, Big Bear, drive a jeep," or "Climb a mountain steep, Big Bear, steep." Each misguided effort leaves Big Bear more and more tired, until Old Man Winter finally makes himself heard. First-time author Wright creates an appealing blend of silliness and read-aloud exuberance in her rhyming text. Hillenbrand's (Louie!) brown bear, accompanied by an energetic rabbit sidekick, has a friendly, expressive face and attacks his tasks with verve, despite his growing exhaustion. The rolling countryside, glowing in seasonal moonlight, or dotted with fine white snowflakes and crisp evergreens against a wintry gray sky, will have readers longing for a cup of hot cocoa. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-It is getting cold and time for hibernation, so Old Man Winter says, "'Sleep, Big Bear, sleep.'/But Big Bear didn't hear very well.." Instead he mishears Old Man Winter and, in attempting to follow his directions, drives a jeep, sweeps a house, climbs a steep mountain, etc. Ultimately, Old Man Winter yells loudly enough for Big Bear to understand him, and the bear heads off to his den for a much-deserved rest. The text moves at a steady clip, and the refrain will encourage child participation. The fact that "sleep" seems unlikely to be mistaken for "climb a mountain steep" or "drive a jeep" probably won't bother the intended audience. The story reads aloud well, and the limited text and oversize illustrations will be effective in storytime. The artwork is the real star here, though. Hillenbrand imbues his characters with motion and personality; their growing exhaustion is evident in their drooping eyes, ears, and body, and their startled expressions when Old Man Winter yells could not be clearer. An above-average addition for libraries looking for more bear, hibernation, or winter stories to freshen up interactive storytimes.-Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Wright and Hillenbrand reverse just about everything in the familiar scenario of a child delaying his inevitable bedtime. Big Bear's ready to call it a summer, but he's a bit hard of hearing. Each time Old Man Winter reiterates his titular command, the sleepy Bear mishears ("He thought he heard as twilight fell, / 'Drive a jeep, Big Bear, drive a jeep'") and does his best to comply: he "leaps" with his friend the frog, dives "deep," and finally, much as he "wishe[s] for a blanket and a fold-up cot," climbs a mountain "steep" in a blizzard. At last, loud and clear does it: "'Hey there, Bear! / Did you hear what I said? / It's wintertime, / now go to bed!'" And a grateful bear tucks himself in. Though it doesn't have the happy inevitability of the best rhymed narratives, Wright's verse has a chuckle-worthy lilt. Hillenbrand picks up on the tall-tale humor in ample double-page spreads, adding a concerned rabbit and contributing creatively to both action (the jeep's alarmed owners) and detail (the teddy bear Bear takes to bed). He also makes the expansive wilderness, with its deepening winter tones, quite lovely. Pair this with Martin Waddell's wakeful Little Bear for a grand fall story hour. From HORN BOOK, (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
Big Bear is hard of hearing, so each time Old Man Winter tries to tell him to "Sleep, Big Bear, sleep," he hears something different, from "drive a jeep" to "leap" to "dive deep." Yawning mightily all the while, Big Bear tries to follow instructions till Old Man Winter bellows in exasperation to "GO TO BED." Hillenbrand's snowy landscape gets darker and darker as poor Big Bear does as he's told, accompanied by a brown hare. Perspectives and even orientations vary to keep the visual interest high even as the repetitive tale makes its way through goof after goof. Wright's text makes for a terrific read-aloud, with couplets and triplets lining up easily on the tongue and a catchy refrain kids will join in on. Bear-gets-ready-for-winter books abound, but this one's worth adding to any collection. (Picture book. 3-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
