Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
For Elliott, a young bear, going to sleep before spring is like going to sleep the night before a birthday. In his cave, snuggled up to his hibernating mother, Elliott dreams "of golden sunshine, soft grass, and budding flowers." But he wakes up while it's still winter and can't get back to sleep. Switching positions and thinking pleasant thoughts don't work: he's "Still. Wide. Awake," a problem familiar to many readers. Endlessly patient, Elliott's mother offers reassurance, snacks, and (best of all) a sign that spring really is coming. Debut illustrator Kim textures her digitally colored images with soft graphite, and her bears are smooth and roly-poly. Colors are muted in the bear cave, but tints of spring are evident outside. The episode in which Elliott's mother helps him through his fear of the dark seems like the solution that will help him sleep, but it's just the first in a series of encounters in a long "night" of hibernation. Elliott's difficulty falling back to sleep might help other bed-goers sympathize-and might make them sleepier. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary. (Jan.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-A baby bear can't fall back asleep, which is problematic since he is supposed to be hibernating. Elliott and his mother retreat to their den for a long winter's nap. The cub dreams of spring, his favorite time of year. He finds himself wide awake with nothing to do, so he tries every trick in the book, but nothing works. Spooky shadows on the wall give him a good scare and he wonders if spring will ever come again. Finally, his adoring mother rouses herself and assures Elliott that warmer weather is right around the corner. They make friendly shadow puppets and eat a snack. Finally, Elliott lets out a big yawn and they are able to fall back asleep together. Kim's illustrations are lovable and uncomplicated. Children will be able to easily relate to the plight of not being able to go back to sleep. VERDICT A gentle tale that makes for a good bedtime read-aloud any time of year.-Gretchen Hardin, Sterling Municipal Library, Baytown, TX © Copyright 2018. 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 Kirkus Book Review
While all bears grow heavy-eyed in the winter, some little cubslike some little humansare too anxious to sleep.Elliott can't quite catch a wink when his mother bear tells him it's time to nap until spring. He misses the season too muchand he's impatient for it to come. He tries again and again to lull himself to sleep (changing his position, fluffing the bark strips, plumping up his pine-needle pillow), but nothing works. He is "Still. Wide. Awake"a pleasing refrain. When he starts seeing scary shadows, Elliott turns to his mother for comfort. She instructs him to look closer to see the signs of spring. Sure enough, Elliott sees a "brave bud" growing in the snow, and he decides that if spring is asleep, he may as well sleep too. The refrain, poetic imagery, and well-paced sentences make this a smooth read-aloud. Yet it's a bit too text-heavyexplaining too much at times when the art could do the heavy lifting. Kim's soft, digitally colored graphite pencil illustrations evoke the comfort of the winter cave. The endpapers, featuring slice-of-life depictions of fall and spring, are a fitting frame.A warm, cozy counterpoint to Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman's Bear Snores On (2002) but without the "Again! Again!" readability. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
