Product Description

"This follow-up to the best-selling KISS GOOD NIGHT will comfort little ones like a cozy blanket that’s tucked in just right." -- BOOKLIST (starred review)

In the little white house, Mrs. Bear is putting Sam to bed, when suddenly -- HCK HCK! coughs Sam. Mrs. Bear gets some syrup. But the syrup tastes bad, and there’s too much of it on a too-big spoon, and it’s too hard to swallow. What will make Sam feel better? Acclaimed picture-book creators Amy Hest and Anita Jeram revisit Sam and Mrs. Bear as they share a quiet moment of comfort that is enough to conquer the coldest night.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #62101 in Books
• Published on: 2007-02-13
• Released on: 2007-02-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

From Publishers Weekly
In this followup to the team's Kiss Good Night, bear cub Sam comes down with a cough "Hck, hck!" he hacks and is doted upon by his unflappable mother. If Sam can steel himself to take his cough medicine ("Tastes bad," he says, before his mother even pours out the syrup. "I don't have a cough"), then Mrs. Bear will reward his bravery by letting him stay up to watch the snowfall. "Sam leaned back on his mama's soft belly, and it wriggled while she talked," writes Hest after the deed is done. "The little fire glowed and the kitchen was warm." Jeram nestles tiny Sam into Mrs. Bear's voluminous girth (sweetly playing up the contrast in their sizes, as she did so effectively in the first book), while the thickly textured ocher walls of their snug home seem to stand guard against the frigid night. As in the earlier title, Hest's soothingly rhythmic and repetitive prose, Jeram's burnished-hued acrylics, and the unwavering affection between Sam and his mother conjure up the essence of familial warmth. Being sick may have its downside, but the author and illustrator emphasize the extra coddling and indulgences that come with feeling under the weather. Ages 2-6.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
reSchool-Grade 2-When putting Sam to bed, Mrs. Bear hears him cough. She tries to give him medicine but he doesn't like the taste and there is too much of it. With the promise of waiting together for the snow to come, the cub finally takes the cough syrup. Mother and child go downstairs, have some tea, and cuddle up in a soft, cozy chair, where Mrs. Bear tells a story about a bear named Sam. As they sleep, the snow begins to fall, and the last page shows them building a snowbear. Jeram's soft, saturated acrylic illustrations extend Hest's quiet, gentle text. The bears are the focal point on every spread, and their household has lots of warm, subtle touches and curving lines that give the book a comfortable look. Two mice appear throughout; they, too, are part of this loving environment. A feel-good story to curl up with on a cold winter night.
Kathleen Simonetta, Indian Trails Public Library District, Wheeling, IL
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
*Starred Review* PreS. This follow-up to the best-selling Kiss Good Night (2001) will comfort little ones like a cozy blanket that's tucked in just right. It's another stormy, winter bedtime on Plum Street, and Sam begins to cough. Mrs. Bear plies him with syrup, but it tastes bad, and there's "too much syrup on a too-big spoon." Mrs. Bear tells Sam to be brave, and she promises that once he downs the medicine, they can wait together for the snow. Sam swallows the bitter syrup, and the bears make tea and snuggle together next to the fire for stories. Just as they doze off, the snow arrives. As in the first title, Hest's words and Jeram's pictures are a winning combination. The simple text's repetitive rhymes and lulling rhythms transform the language of a fussy preschooler who doesn't feel well into a mood of reassuring, snug warmth that is beautifully echoed in Jeram's paintings. The soft acrylics in deep red, gold, and green get the cozy details just right--the big purple chair; Sam's thick robe and slippers; the friendly mice warming themselves by the fire. Best of all is the irresistible tenderness in the bears' faces, figures, and small gestures. A quiet, shining story of things made better. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

Don't, You Feel Well Sam?
I don't know about your children, but my hate medications. What a suprise when 2 years old Emi said "I will be brave like Sam" Since I got the book we don't struggle anymore with meds. What a relief.

A joyful, feel-good book!
Little Sam Bear just can't fall asleep; the cough in his throat is keeping him awake. When the love and cuddling Mrs. Bear shares don't work, she knows Sam needs medicine. Not wanting to take the cough medicine, Sam tries everything to convince his mom that he does not need it. "I don't have a cough!" Sam cries. "Taste bad," he explains. It's only when Mrs. Bear explains to Sam that after taking the medicine, they can go downstairs and wait for snow. Excited and brave, Sam swallows the syrup. All warm from the hot tea and cuddling, Sam is fast asleep when if finally snows.
The short tale of a sick cub and his loving mama is a wonderful book for all young readers. The way in which the author describes the setting is very inviting. Sam's red blanket is cozy, and his mama's belly is soft and wiggly as they snuggle in the big, purple chair while it snows. The pleasant setting will make any reader feel warm inside. The illustrations support this warm feeling. The soft colors bring out the best in both Sam and Mama Bear. This is a joyful, feel-good book!

Delightful story for wintertime
This is the short tale of Sam who his mother has discovered has a cough. Sam's mama patiently negotiates getting Sam to take his bad tasting cough syrup from the too big spoon. Then they snuggle in and wait for the snow to come. This a great story to read to your kids quietly before snuggling into bed on a cold winter night.