Sleep, Black Bear, Sleep
by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple; illustrated by Brooke Dyer
Reviewed by Kelly Herold
Bedtime can be such a difficult row to hoe. A few books before bedtime always help, but you can’t read just any old book. Leave riotous rhymes and trouble-making protagonists for the morning—we need calm, sleep-themed books for the witching hour.
Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple’s Sleep, Black Bear, Sleep is a perfect bedtime book. Yolen and Stemple link bedtime to hibernation with short six-line poems instructing an animal off to the Land of Nod. Animal-lovers ages two to six will enjoy the variety of creatures populating Sleep, Black Bear, Sleep. As an example, one of my favorite poems in Sleep, Black Bear, Sleep speaks to the badger:
Nod, badger, nod
Within your house of sod.
Inside your sett you settle down,
Surrounded by familiar ground,
A welcome house in earthy brown.
Nod, badger, nod.
Yolen and Stemple are in top form here with these friendly, drowsy poems. Brooke Dyer’s warm illustrations suit the text to a T. The animals are shown warm and cozy in their comfortable dens, asleep or nearly asleep—sometimes with a book in hand. Sleep, Black Bear, Sleep concludes with a final lullaby addressed to the child-listener:
And even YOU, it’s time for sleep,
So snuggle down and burrow deep.
The sheet and quilt will keep you warm
Through winter or through summer storm
Till you awaken in the morn.
Sleep, my little child, sleep.
With that you can close the book, switch off the light, kiss a forehead and leave the room, crossing your fingers in hope for the best.
Rating: *\*\*\*\
I have a review of this title up today, too (in a round-up post). In fact, I came to Book Buds to try to find Kelly's review to link to (since I remember the Norbert-Book-Killer post and that Kelly was going to be reviewing it soon). How weird that they both ended up on the same day! Anyway, it's good to read another review. I'll have to addend my post from today to link to this one.
Posted by: jules | May 10, 2007 at 06:21 AM
Happy Mother's Day!
Posted by: Little Willow | May 13, 2007 at 05:44 PM
Happy Mother's Day!
Posted by: Little Willow | May 13, 2007 at 05:44 PM