Sleepover with Beatrice and Bear

May 12, 2014
When Bear goes into hibernation, his best friend, a bunny named Beatrice, figures it’s just an extended slumber party and eagerly joins him—until she realizes that his kind of slumbering is out of her league. (The scenes in which the bunny tries her best to sleep like a log should resonate with temporary insomniacs.) “Winter is ruined!” Beatrice says, sounding very much a petulant human child—or an adult’s inner child. But with wise counsel and help from a squirrel, Beatrice realizes she can share winter with her friend (who, after all, has never experienced the season) by documenting all the ways she enjoys it. Carnesi (Little Dog Lost) is one of those authors who make storytelling appear effortless and intuitive while conveying a wealth of empathy, personality, and humor. There isn’t a wasted word in her text, and the watercolors brim with good will and just a touch of silliness. Her take on maintaining connection in the face of separation feels both timeless and very much of the moment. Ages 3–6. Agent: Teresa Kietlinski, Prospect Agency.

In a gentle tale for the very young, a rabbit named Beatrice finds an ingenious way to share winter with her hibernating best friend, Bear.The first sentence, appearing over a winsome bear sitting in a carrot patch, announces, "Beatrice and Bear met on a clear spring day." Little readers will squeal with delight when they comprehend the next page, which says, with great understatement, "They did not get off to a good start." Bear looks down at an irate rabbit vainly trying to shift Bear's large bottom off the squashed carrot plants. But the relationship improves. The story of their blossoming friendship continues, with sweet-faced Beatrice and Bear engaging in all sorts of human activities throughout spring, summer and fall. Beatrice's naivete will evoke chuckles when, after a friendly squirrel kindly explains that "hibernation" is not a place, Beatrice jumps to the conclusion that it's a sleepover and rushes to "hibernate" with Bear. Very funny pictures, including one of Beatrice wearing a sleep mask, illustrate her inability to join Bear's deep sleep. The squirrel again comes to Beatrice's aid, helping her arrive at a "brilliant idea" (begging the question of why the squirrel cannot be a third, named friend). The illustrations are simple cartoons with watercolor washes, and they skillfully convey both the many anthropomorphic touches, such as Beatrice's carrot-decorated blanket, and a subtle range of emotions on the best friends' faces.Winningly sweet. (Picture book. 2-5) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from May 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 4-The author of Little Dog Lost (Penguin, 2012) has another winner here. When Bear sits on Beatrice's carrots while beehive watching, he doesn't make a very good first impression. However, despite a rocky beginning, the bear and the bunny become great friends sharing adventures all through the spring, summer, and fall. Then one day Beatrice can't find her pal, and Squirrel informs her that he's hibernating-a long winter sleep. Beatrice loves the idea and soon joins Bear. "Really? Bunnies hibernate too?" "Definitely!" said Beatrice. "Bunnies are GREAT hibernators." But as Bear drops off to sleep, poor Beatrice can only toss and turn. Finally giving up, she leaves the den declaring, "Winter is ruined!" But with the help of Squirrel, Beatrice puts her friendless time to good use, and when Bear awakens, she greets him with a scrapbook of the season. This wonderful book is filled with pictures, drawings, and notes that they can read together again and again. Carnesi's sweet illustrations perfectly capture the joys of friendship, the frustration at being left behind, and the satisfaction in making something for a friend. The spare text is an excellent complement to the lively illustrations, and the addition of speech balloons for Beatrice's big emotions really lets her perky personality shine. Sure to be a hit in every library.-Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH

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