School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-It's the first night of winter, and snow has fallen. Within the cozy rooms of the bear household, Little Miss Bear insists that she is not ready to sleep-"Not even a wink." Little Miss and Mother watch the flakes fall for a long time. As the snow outside slowly covers the ground, Mother Bear soothes each of her little one's fears. Will the stars, the moon, and Mother Bear be there when she awakens in the spring? Will the hills still be there for rolling? Will there be toast? Mother Bear gently reassures her cub, and they take a trip out into the frosty night for one last roll in the snow. This book is well suited for storytime or bedtime, with good-night kisses, hugs, and final questions in a child-friendly home filled with softly smiling faces and plenty of pen-and-ink detail. All eyes finally close. "Winter is for sleeping, because that's what bears do." VERDICT This warm and lovely book emphasizes parental love and may encourage kids to investigate what real bears do during the winter. An excellent bedtime selection for all libraries.-Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Bears, snow, and anticipation for a very long winter's slumber figure into this bedtime book with a bittersweet twist. Little Miss Bear, a cub, can't sleep, but it's not the usual childhood anxieties. Mother Bear's little one can't catch a wink because she's afraid everything will have changed when she wakes from hibernation. Instead of simply soothing her cub, Mother Bear takes her for one last roll in the snow before covering her face with kisses and tucking her in. "And when we wake up, the stars will be bright," Mother Bear tells her. "The moon will be round. The hills will be grassy. And we'll be right here, in our very own place, together." Veteran children's author Hest wisely understands it's not just the cuddles that bring rest, but a parent's reassurances that sleep won't bring chaos and disorder, even one as long as winter. Tobia employs cozy, soothing hues for her anthropomorphic bear characters, who are warm and safe in their mountain chalet against the more mysterious, dense backgrounds of the woods outside. This is the rare children's book that is as reassuring as it is sweet. It won't rewrite the book on bedtime, but it will make some older readers envious of Mother Bear's sanguine, calming attitude toward the passing of the seasons. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
It's the first night of winter, time for Little Miss Bear and Mother Bear to begin their long sleep. But snow has fallen on the hills outside their cozy house, and the cub just can't sleep. Cuddling with her mother and eating toast while looking out the window, she lists the things she will miss while sleeping, like the stars and the moon. They go outdoors together and roll down the snowy hills until it's time to go home to sleep at last. Warm and reassuring, the quiet text is well structured and reads aloud beautifully. In the lovely digitally assembled pencil-and-ink illustrations, the snow-covered landscapes contrast effectively with the bright, richly colored interiors. Several effective double-page spreads offer a dual view: a large picture of the moonlit vista as seen from indoors, paired with a smaller picture that shifts the viewer outdoors and shows the bears peering out through their window. As comforting as the cinnamon toast Little Miss enjoys, this handsome picture book just might soothe restless children at bedtime.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2016 Booklist
