The bear had curled itself
up into a ball.
He was bedding down
where he would stay until
spring.
"Sleep, big black bear," said
the boy's mother.
"Shh," said the boy."
This beautiful bedtime story is centered on a young boy, his mother, his favorite book and their nighttime ritual. As they read the story of a hibernating bear, they do all those things that make reading before settling in for the night such a pleasure. The child chooses the book. He is given time to scan its pages before handing it to his mom. Then, they cuddle up and prepare to share its familiar story once again. As she reads, she patiently listens to her son's questions and comments:
"Snowflakes began to fall across the pages of the book.
The snow sat snugly in the boughs of the trees.
The boy could almost feel it.
"Snow is cold," he said. He nestled closely against his mother.
"I like snow," he said.
"Winter settled like a big hush," read the boy's mother.
"And the big black bear slept."
"Shh, " said the boy."
Without ever making us feel that this is a lesson in the making, Kate Banks models sharing a book with a young child. The closeness between parent and child, the time given to look carefully at every page, the talk about what is happening, and all with no rush, no refusal to answer questions that have probably been asked over and over again. It is a gentle, peaceful, quiet and satisfying time for both. A perfect end to the day.
The artwork is thick with deep color. Each turn of the page allows listeners to watch the two stories sit side by side...one about the boy, the other about the bear. The bear scenes reflect the cold of the winter landscape while the warmth within the bedroom is reflected in oranges and yellows. As spring arrives Georg Hallensleben fills the final pages with bright blue skies, and floral fields of yellow and bright green. The warm breeze wakens the bear, just as the young boy falls into a deep sleep.
It is truly a remarkable read, and a perfect bedtime book!
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