Product Description

A warm, inviting bedtime book from a Caldecott winning illustrator.

Bear sniffed once.
She sniffed twice.
"I smell winter in the air," said Bear. "It is time to crawl into my cave and sleep. But first I must tell Snail."

Denise Fleming presents a warm-hearted story about animals of the forest settling down for their winter nap. But, like children who must go to bed for the night, they each find a way to put it off just a little bit longer. Richly illustrated in fall colors, Denise Fleming's story book world is right on target for preschoolers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26520 in Books
• Published on: 2001-09-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780805067675
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
W said, "Children will easily discern the distinct clues of autumn's transition to winter as well as the hibernation habits of several common animals, while enjoying this entertaining tale that doubles as a bedtime story." Ages 4-8.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
PreS. Frost on the grass. Falling leaves. Days growing shorter. A sky full of geese. Even a skin "so tight I could not eat another bite" is a sign that winter is on its way. Clearly it's not just your everyday bedtime but the long winter's sleep we're dealing with here, as Bear smells winter in the air and gets ready to hibernate. First, though, she must tell Snail, who must tell Skunk, who must tell Turtle, and so on until Ladybug brings it full circle, waking Bear to tell her...It's Time to Sleep. Fleming uses colored cotton rag fiber to create her jewel-toned illustrations, erupting here in fiery autumn colors. Their angular composition heightens the sense of activity generated by the animals' preparations until Bear's solid, slumbering form brings it all to a cozy, comfortable close. This gem of a picture book, subtly informative and poetic in its simplicity, is certain to become a staple of seasonal storyhours and nursery-school curricula. No children's collection should be without it!?Marcia Hupp, Mamaroneck Public Library, NY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
A well-wrought bedtime book from Fleming (Where Once There Was a Wood, 1996, etc.), who sends little ones cheerfully off to their dreams. When Bear smells winter in the air, she knows it's time to sleep, and she will, just after she tells Snail. Snail recalls the frost on the grass this morning and knows Bear is right--it's time to sleep, right after Skunk is told. It is Ladybug who carries the news full circle back to Bear, snoring in her cave. Sleepy goodnights end the book as white flakes appear in the dark forest. The illustrations, created by pouring colored cotton pulp through hand-cut stencils, feature boldly life-like small animals and insects who face the coming of winter in a simple, truthful manner. Visual delight and solid natural history aside, the joy of the story is the way in which it incorporates childlike attempts to delay bedtime and a beautifully turned, humorous ending. A perfect fit for the audience. (Picture book. 2-7) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Customer Reviews

I loved using this book with my kindergarten class!!
This is a wonderful book to use when explaining the concept of hibernation and change of season. There is a terrific flow from page to page with a "surprise" ending that my students loved. It is a wonderful spring-board for class discussions and "acting - out" activities!

Teaches a valuable lesson
My 3 year old loves this book for the beautiful illustrations of the animals and the forest during Autumn. However, one night after we read it a bedtime, she looked over at me and said that she liked "how all of the animals took care of each other." If she can get this simple, yet crucially important lesson from a children's book, I would say that the author has gone above and beyond her intentions.

A BEAUTIFUL TREAT
This book is another stunning sucess for Fleming. Beautiful illustrations, which employ autumn-ish color schemes, make for a visual treat, while the story conveys a wonderful message of social responsibility. Highly recommended for bedtime as well as discussions about hibernation (all the information about each animal's hibernation behavior is accurate, and obviously researched).