"BEAR is going," I say.
He'll be
awfully
lonely
without you."
Suddenly, you come
running."
We know the arguments that can be voiced by young children not at all prepared to succumb to sleep. This one is no different. No is the repeated drum beat that parents must endure when bedtime is announced. Wondering 'who' is meant when considering the announcement, the narrator ignores the lament suggesting that the child's stuffed bear is on its way.
Bear in hand, the child reluctantly and angrily climbs into bed. Assuring safety from all manner of imagined threats, including the family cat, leads to a bedtime story and a final attempt to avoid sleep.
"You yawn
and grind
your teeth like a
SQUIRREL,
ready to nibble the night.
"I'm not sleepy,"
you tell me.
I smile and
tuck you in tight."
Hooting, growling, hissing, roaring ... none of these sounds and complaints change what is happening. A hug, a warm kiss and an assertion of love seem the perfect ending to their day. Lights are dimmed ... but wait, what about a glass of water and a bathroom break? Patience and creativity win out, and soon the house is silent. Parents are tucked in as well. A final request is met with warmth and cozy comfort.
Parents and their children have been there. This epic and emotional battle is accompanied by a collection of vibrant and stylized animals created with paint and collage, as well as expressive faces for each of the varied characters. What a lovely way to entice children to restful sleep and peaceful dreams.
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