Books.org participates in affiliate programs including Bookshop.org and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.
Synopsis
A lyrical bedtime tale of a little boy and his bear is an ode to the magic of dreams — and the transformative power of the imagination.
As a little boy falls peacefully into sleep and starts to dream, his teddy bear grows and growls and pops his button nose to turn into a real grizzly bear. And amazingly, the boy becomes a grizzly bear, too — following his friend to the nighttime forest to hunt and prowl, feast and fish until the morning sun returns. David Elliott's spare, poetic text and Max Grafe's luminous illustrations tell a transfixing bedtime story, gently carrying sleepy listeners into dreamland.
Children's Literature
Sleepy listeners will be transported to a magical tour of the nighttime forest in this poetic offering. Cuddled in bed with his teddy, a small boy sleepily watches his teddy begin to growl, grow, and pop his button nose, becoming a large grizzly bear who leads the boy outside into the forest. Together they explore ledges and streams as they watch and listen throughout the night. At times playful, the two even have a game of hide and seek before heading back to the house. Grafe's realistic watercolors are softly colored browns, greens, and blues that have texture—the reader's hand will want to touch the teddy's soft curly fur or dip a hand in the stream. The soft colors and words provide a sense of peacefulness and comfort, keeping this from being the least bit scary for young readers. Youngsters will enjoy searching the paintings for details like the button on the sheets or the rabbit coming out at dawn. An inviting entry into a magical realm that combines childhood comfort with adventure. Reviewer: Peg Glisson