A Story for Small Bear

September 15, 2020
Preparing for winter hibernation instills a big lesson for Small Bear in this bedtime story. When a late-fall wind chills the child after an afternoon nap, Mama says, "I smell frost in the air....Tonight we'll start our winter slumber." But the day is packed; they must find sprigs of spruce to make a warm nest. There are juicy acorns to gather. And Small Bear needs to take a bath before their long sleep. Small Bear wants nothing more than to have enough time for a story before sleep, but Mama warns her: "If you help--no dilly, no dally--then we'll have time for stories," she says. Small Bear works hard to avoid temptations: snuggling in a cozy hole in a spruce tree, playing longer in the stream, and climbing higher in the tree. But Mama's instruction helps Small Bear to stay on track and remember "to save time for stories." Of course, Small Bear's resistance to the kind of procrastination that would sink many others is rewarded with Mama's best story, and sleep comes quickly. McGinty's rhythmic prose and absolute mastery of pace elevate a simple story to something poetically potent. Jones' deeply textured illustrations make every spruce sprig and, especially, the bears' fur stand out beautifully. A standout spread rotates the book 90 degrees for a tall tree climb; it's a delight, just like everything else in this expertly executed picture book. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.5-by-21-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.) Hibernation has rarely felt so well earned and enchanting. (Picture book. 3-7)

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 1, 2020

Toddler-PreS-It's late autumn, and it is time for Small Bear to settle down with her mama for the winter. Small Bear asks her mother if there will be time for stories before they must sleep, to which Mama replies that she would love that, as long as there is no dilly and no dally in their remaining preparations. Small Bear finds that there are so many fun activities and temptations to linger, but continues to remember Mama Bear's caution not to dilly or dally. Finally, they return to their den as the sun is setting, snuggle together in their spruce-bough nest, and in a sly bit of metafiction, Mama Bear begins to tell a story about a small bear who likes play, but loves time for stories. In warm autumnal hues, full-page collage illustrations resembling torn tissue paper enhance the lyrical story and invoke a cozy atmosphere. The subtle message about self-regulation and working toward earned rewards is an additional bonus. VERDICT This is a lovely, feel-good addition to the hibernation-themed canon, to be savored during story times or one-on-one sharing at bedtime.-Jessica Marie, Salem P.L., OR

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from November 9, 2020
A mama bear and her cub prepare for hibernation in this gentle seasonal bedtime story by McGinty. When Mama Bear sniffs frost on the air, she says it’s time to start their winter slumber. “Will you tell me stories before we sleep?” requests Small Bear. “If you help—no dilly, no dally,” replies Mama in what becomes a refrain. As signs of winter persist (“wind was biting, winter knocking”), the pair gather pine sprigs, bathe in a stream, and tuck into a meal of berries and acorns, and Small Bear, doing her best not to dally, gets a final moment with favorite forest spots. When at last the duo snuggle into their cozy den, the tale that Mama Bear recounts brings the book to a satisfying full circle. Working with acrylic and watercolor, Jones layers illustrations for a richly textured effect. Smudgy landscapes create calming backdrops against which wildflower-filled forest scenes play out; together with McGinty’s expert prose and pacing, they elevate a predictable arc into something memorable. Ages 3–7.