 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?
- By Martin Waddell
- Genre: Picture Book
Common Sense Media says
As reassuring as a goodnight hug.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the familiar story and charming illustrations have children turning pages and chanting along with the dialogue.
What's the story?
Why is bedtime so frightening? "I don't like the dark!" Little Bear tells Big Bear, who goes to great extents to comfort his charge. Finally, Big Bear makes Little Bear face the dark head on, and this duo finds that there's nothing to fear--as long as they have each other.
Is it any good?
As reassuring as a goodnight hug, this sweet tale of a little one's fear of the dark will ring familiar to young listeners and to their parents. Big Bear epitomizes parental devotion, as he goes to any extent to comfort his little charge. This is a good bedtime book, lulling in its repetition, and the children love saying Little Bear's repeated "I'm afraid!" each time the reader asks the title question.
The pencil and watercolor illustrations, surrounded by an arch-shaped border, echo the shape of the bears' cave. They are soft in tone and capture the bears' expressions. "That's just what I do!" one 4-year-old girl said as she studied the illustrations of Little Bear attempting to fall asleep. When the story was over, she turned to her mother and asked, "Will you read this to me before bed?"
What families can talk about
Families can talk about bedtime fears. Kids: Are you afraid of the dark? What do you find comforting at night?
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AGE
Reassuring bedtime story
This can be a very reassuring story for kids who might be scared of the dark. As the parent reading the book to the kids, it can be a little redundant each time the 2 bears go through the questions and answers.
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| Author: | Martin Waddell |
| Illustrator: | Barbara Firth |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Picture Book |
| Publisher: | Candlewick Press |
| Publication date: | January 1, 1988 |
| Number of pages: | 28 |
| Paperback price: | $5.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 2 - 4 |
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