Bear's Big Dreaming

July 1, 2023

PreS-K-Little Bear is worried he will run out of material during the Big Dreaming of hibernation, so he sets out to gather spare dreams from the other animals in the forest. Squirrel tells a Happiness Right Now dream, Rabbit tells the dream of Coming Home Safe, and Wolf tells a dream of Always Having Hope. When Little Bear realizes he is lost in the forest and it's starting to snow, he remembers the three dreams given to him by his forest friends. He finds his way home just in time. Youngest readers will find this sweet bedtime story cozy and comforting, even if parents find it somewhat predictable. A poetic refrain makes this an appealing read-aloud. Egn�us's loose watercolors and use of contrasting dark and light values for the backgrounds are gorgeous and will make readers feel as if they are in a forest. VERDICT A solid purchase for any preschool collection.-Hillary Perelyubskiy

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 15, 2023
A small bear getting ready for hibernation gathers other animals' dreams so he won't run out. Little Bear has never been through the Sleep before, and he's nervous about the unknown. He and Big Bear decide that the Sleep is a "Big Dreaming." But Little Bear's newest worry is that he will run out of dreams; "then there would be a Big Nothing." So he sets off to look for some dreams, asking Squirrel, Rabbit, and Wolf if they have any spare dreams. "Squirrel, Squirrel, Squirrel," he says. "We're getting ready for the Big Dreaming, / we're getting ready for the Sleep. / Do you have any spare dreams, / for when we sleep, deep, deep?" Each does, and it turns out to be a good thing, as their lessons prove vital in helping Little Bear find his way back to Big Bear once the snow starts falling. In palette, tone, and layout, Egn�us' illustrations resemble the artwork from older Golden Books, with highlights of turquoise, orange, deep red, and greens. The animals are more realistic than not. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Be ready to share a dream with the little one who asks you to read this. (Picture book. 3-7)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 1, 2023
Preschool-Grade 1 *Starred Review* Winter is coming, and so is Little Bear's first experience with hibernation. Big Bear explains how the "Big Sleep" works, but the youngster is concerned there won't be enough dreams to take the pair through to spring, so he decides to go in search of some they can share over the long, cold months. In the forest, the small brown bear encounters Squirrel, Rabbit, and Wolf and, in a repeated refrain, asks if they will share a dream with him. The animals comply with Little Bear's request, each relating a dream and the significant message it contains. Using the morals gleaned from the dreams enables the cub to return home safely, feeling much more settled with the idea of sleeping through the winter. Engaging illustrations reveal a forest in autumn with varied colored leaves falling from birch, oak, and maple trees and hazy mountain peaks in the distance. Red, orange, deep green, and blue grace the pages as the little one traverses the woods in search of dreams, and the landscape changes from a bright, sunny fall to a wintry white. Rosen's words and Egn�us' lovely pictures combine to create a soothing tale that will be welcomed in autumn or at bedtime in any season of the year.

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